Dr Greg Smith, managing microbiological and disease security at AAHL.
Dr Greg Smith: ensuring the containment of animal disease agents
Dr Greg Smith is responsible for microbiological and disease security at CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria.
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10 August 2009 | Updated 14 October 2011
Overview
Current activities
Dr Greg Smith is Leader of the Microbiological Security Group at AAHL. He has served as a member of the AAHL Security Advisory Group for two years and was part of the review team that examined its microbiological security operations in 2008.
AAHL includes a high containment facility to support its major role of diagnosing potential outbreaks of exotic (foreign) animal disease. It is the only laboratory in Australia licensed by the Commonwealth Government for experimental work with exotic animal disease agents.
Dr Smith is responsible for ensuring:
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exotic disease and other high risk agents are handled safely
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the building and laboratories are maintained and function according to specification
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staff are trained appropriately to operate without breaching microbiological security
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AAHL is quarantine compliant.
Dr Smith has more than 30 years' experience in medical and veterinary virology, specialising in virus research and diagnostics.
Background
Dr Smith has more than 30 years' experience in medical and veterinary virology, specialising in virus research and diagnostics. Prior to joining CSIRO in April 2009, Dr Smith was the Director of Forensic and Scientific Operations at Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services in the Queensland Health Department.
Dr Smith commenced his career at the US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, in the early 1980s. He then spent 13 years as a molecular virologist with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries followed by 12 years with Queensland Health. At Queensland Health, he managed the PC3 and PC4 facilities, so has extensive knowledge of the operational and regulatory frameworks surrounding high containment facilities.
Academic qualifications
Dr Smith has been awarded a:
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Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia, 1980
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Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Hood College, Frederick, Maryland, USA, 1985
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Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry from the University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia, 1992.
His thesis was titled Analysis of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Thymidine Kinase Genes and Construction of an Attenuated Vaccine. Centre for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
Achievements
Dr Smith has received a number of medals and awards, including:
- Staff Excellence Award for 'Excellence in Rural and Regional Service Delivery', Queensland Health Pathology and Scientific Services, 2002
- Australia Day Public Service Medal, Queensland Health, 2002
- Academic Achievement Award for appointment as Associate Professor with the University of Queensland, Queensland Health Pathology and Scientific Services, 2002
- Best Individual Effort Award, Queensland Health Pathology and Scientific Services, 1998
- Army Commendation Medal, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases for contribution to study of Hantaan and related viruses, 1984.
He is currently a member of:
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National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) Technical Assessor, Medical and Veterinary
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Institutional Biosafety Committee, Queensland Health Scientific Services
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American Biological Safety Association.
Dr Smith has published more than 130 scientific papers on virology research and biocontainment topics.
Find out more about AAHL and biocontainment.
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