CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Moreover, this achievement highlights its ongoing role in protecting Australia and the broader Indo-Pacific region from infectious disease threats. Located in Geelong, Victoria, the ACDP is a high-biocontainment facility managed by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has designed this vital national infrastructure to safely conduct research on the world’s most dangerous pathogens. It serves as a national reference laboratory for animal and zoonotic infectious diseases.
Since opening in 1985, the ACDP has been a leader in biosecurity. It was the first high-containment facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Its innovative design, featuring a unique “box-in-a-box” approach, was groundbreaking. The laboratories still exceed the highest modern biocontainment standards. The skilled team at ACDP is available 24/7. They conduct around 50,000 tests each year for state and territory governments, allowing for the quick confirmation or exclusion of emergency diseases and the identification of new threats. This rapid response capability represents a major improvement compared to the pre-ACDP era when samples for exotic animal diseases had to be sent overseas for testing.
Its scientists have led efforts to detect and respond to multi-state outbreaks of H7 bird flu and Japanese encephalitis virus in recent years. Additionally, last month, the ACDP announced the discovery of the new Salt Gully virus, related to Hendra, found in Australian flying foxes. The Centre’s influence goes beyond Australia. ACDP offers essential technical advice and training to veterinarians and government workers throughout Australia and the Indo-Pacific region. This support equips frontline workers to effectively detect and manage emergency animal diseases while enhancing regional surveillance efforts. The facility’s mission, based on the One Health approach, heavily relies on this international collaboration. This framework acknowledges the connections between human, animal, and environmental health.
At its core, the ACDP’s mission goes beyond reacting to emerging threats; it is also proactive. It is a designated World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Reference Laboratory for avian influenza and other serious diseases and holds three Reference Centre designations with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. This legacy of excellence and ongoing innovation ensures that ACDP remains at the forefront of protecting Australia and its neighbors from the constantly changing threat of infectious diseases for many years to come.
