CSIRO’s Australian Centre 
for Disease Preparedness

2022 | Year in Review



Citation 

CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness 2022: 
Year in Review. CSIRO, Australia. 

Copyright 

© Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research 
Organisation 2022. To the extent permitted by law, all rights 
are reserved, and no part of this publication covered by 
copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by 
any means except with the written permission of CSIRO. 

Acknowledgements 

This activity receives grant funding from the Australian 
Government through the National Collaborative 
Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). 

Important disclaimer 

The information included in this document is based 
on the calendar year from 1 Jan 2022 to 31 Dec 2022. 

CSIRO advises that the information contained in this 
publication comprises general statements based on 
scientific research. The reader is advised and needs to 
be aware that such information may be incomplete or 
unable to be used in any specific situation. No reliance 
or actions must therefore be made on that information 
without seeking prior expert professional, scientific 
and technical advice. To the extent permitted by 
law, CSIRO (including its employees and consultants) 
excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, 
including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, 
expenses and any other compensation, arising directly 
or indirectly from using this publication (in part or in 
whole) and any information or material contained in it. 

CSIRO is committed to providing web accessible content 
wherever possible. If you are having difficulties with 
accessing this document please contact csiro.au/contact.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners 

CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness 
respectfully acknowledges the Wadawurrung people 
of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Owners of the land 
on which we undertake our science and business today. 
We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 

We thank the Wadawurrung people for their 
custodianship of the land and acknowledge their 
deep connection with this country. We strive to learn 
from their unique perspective and knowledge.

Cover image: ACDP on the evening of the lunar eclipse, November 2022.



Contents

From the Director.......................................................................................................................................22022 snapshot............................................................................................................................................4Our capabilities..........................................................................................................................................6Working with us .......................................................................................................................................17Securing Australia and the region ..................................................................................................18Protecting Australia from emergency animal diseases .......................................................22Supporting preparedness...................................................................................................................28Our science ..............................................................................................................................................30Maintaining our infrastructure .........................................................................................................36Engagement and outreach ...............................................................................................................38Developing our people, culture and workforce ......................................................................40CSIRO’s Trusted Medal Award .........................................................................................................47Future focus .............................................................................................................................................48Publication list .........................................................................................................................................49

From the Director

I’m very pleased to present the 2022 
Year in Review for CSIRO’s Australian 
Centre for Disease Preparedness, 
situated here in the beautiful lands of 
the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin 
Nation in Geelong, Victoria and I pay my 
respects to their Elders past and present.

Australia’s wildlife, feral animal populations and systems of 
domestic animal production present some rather unique 
challenges, in terms of disease prevention, preparedness, 
surveillance and response. With the transition to learning 
to live with COVID-19, increasing numbers of people 
and products are crossing our borders, with significant 
emergence of biothreats that are new to our region.

The steady move southwards in Asia of foot-and-mouth 
disease, lumpy skin disease and African swine fever 
represent probably the greatest risk of incursion Australia 
has ever faced. Naturally, mitigation has been a key 
element of our approach over the last year, with many 
strands of work being pursued, including predictive 
modelling; development of more efficient methods of 
surveillance; vaccine development; and our international 
program, which aims to assist our neighbours to develop 
improved capability in diagnosis and response.



We take a One Health approach to our work and the 
incursion and spread of Japanese encephalitis in many 
states of Australia in 2022 has posed a threat, both to 
our pig production and to our people, with several 
human cases also diagnosed. We have been working to 
understand more of this particular genotype IV, the wild 
reservoirs and vectors that play a role in its transmission 
and the efficacy of existing vaccines to this disease.

Not all viral threats are exotic to Australia. We continue 
our work to understand more about the novel genotype 
of Hendra virus detected in a horse for the first time in 
2021. Likewise, the perennial challenge of avian influenza 
has also occupied much of our time, and this Year in Review 
outlines some insights into the emerging strains that 
threaten our poultry production, as well as our wildlife. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to 
understand more of pathogens that exist in wildlife. 
We are delighted that our application to be a Reference 
Centre for Zoonotic Coronaviruses with the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was 
successful, and we look forward to working within 
that network in the future. 

As an institute, ACDP works closely with scientists across 
CSIRO, and with academia and industry, to achieve 
maximum impact. We continue to bolster our animal and 
zoonotic disease research portfolios and have significantly 
grown our post-doctoral and PhD student cadres. I hope 
you will enjoy reading more of the investments we have 
made in our science, our people and our infrastructure 
over the last year, and our plans for the future in helping to 
assure a safe, secure and prosperous Australia and region.

Professor Trevor Drew
Director, CSIRO’s Australian Centre 
for Disease Preparedness



2022 snapshot

3 
WOAHCollaboratingCentres

3 
FAO Designated 
ReferenceCentres

10 
WOAHReferenceLaboratories

83 
active research projects

62,663 
diagnostic tests performed
– our highest number in 10 years!

5 CSIRO challenges supported
Food security and quality
Health and wellbeing 
Resilient and valuable environments 
Future industries
Secure Australia and region


Partnering in
2 CSIRO Missions
Infectious Disease Resilience 
Antimicrobial Resistance


Our people
57% female
43% male
7 post-doctoral fellows 
4 students
87 research staff
62 engineering and facility operations staff
43% of our leaders are women
9.7 million media audience reach

65 external enquiries regarding ACDP capabilities
76 peer-reviewed publications

Preparing antigens from purified proteins 
for use in research experiments. 

Our modern, high-containment laboratory allows scientists to conduct research requiring the highest levels of biosafety.

Our capabilities

CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease 
Preparedness (ACDP) provides Australia’s 
highest level of biocontainment within 
a purpose-built biosecurity facility.

CSIRO’s expert research and operational staff work 
together across multiple disciplines at ACDP, adopting a 
One Health approach that recognises that the health of 
people, animals and the environment are intricately linked. 

ACDP’s research helps protect Australia’s valuable 
livestock and aquaculture industries, and the community, 
from exotic and emerging infectious diseases.

Together, our staff: 

• Increase Australia’s preparedness and capability 
to rapidly respond to biosecurity challenges, 
such as threats to animal and human health
• Conduct fundamental research to increase 
understanding of infectious agents of 
significance to human and animal health 
• Support development and testing of 
vaccines and therapeutics for a broad 
range of human and animal diseases 
• Maintain world-class national facility 
infrastructure and accreditation.


ACDP prides itself on its dedicated and diverse 
workforce, who apply their skills across scientific 
and support roles to maintain this world-class 
facility and deliver impactful science. 

Our scientific expertise extends across the disease 
and science spectrum, from understanding 
disease pathogenesis and epidemiology, to virus 
characterisation, diagnostic testing and animal 
studies to validate new vaccines and therapeutics. 

Supporting our scientific research are highly specialised 
operations teams who maintain facility biocontainment, 
biosafety, quality assurance, training, site security and 
monitoring, engineering and infrastructure maintenance. 

ACDP operates across two sites: a high containment 
facility in East Geelong with laboratories at Physical 
Containment Levels 2, 3 and 4; and a Physical 
Containment Level 2 animal facility in Werribee, Victoria.



ACDP’s core activities

We work to protect Australia’s livestock and aquaculture industries, wildlife and people from 
emerging disease threats, and ensure the competitiveness of our agriculture and trade.

Disease identification 
and characterisation

In addition to housing research 
projects, as a national facility ACDP is 
tasked with characterising emergency 
terrestrial and aquatic animal diseases, 
so authorities can stay informed on 
the threats they pose to Australia. 

National emergency 
disease response

ACDP’s facilities are 
purpose-built so we can 
respond quickly and effectively 
to disease outbreaks, 
whilst meeting our quality 
assurance standards.

Diagnostic services

We provide quality assured 
diagnostic services for new, 
emerging and exotic emergency 
animal diseases, using 
accredited and validated tests.

Emergency preparedness 
and response

Our staff undertake regular training to 
be ready to respond to an emergency 
animal disease outbreak. New insights 
are incorporated into emergency 
animal disease response plans.

Technical advice 
and support

We provide expert advice 
on emergency animal 
diseases, diagnostic policy 
and biosecurity issues. 

Molecular epidemiology

We undertake molecular research studies 
on emergency animal diseases to inform 
epidemiological investigations, 
i.e. disease origins, distribution 
and patterns of infection.

We also contribute to national 
disease surveillance programs.

Reagent and specimen supply

We provide specialised reagents 
for emergency animal diseases for 
diagnostic activities in Australian 
state and private laboratories, and for 
outbreak response in neighbouring countries.

Laboratory diagnostic activities are routinely proficiency 
tested and reagents must be adequately quality assured.

Support to international 
activities

We provide scientific 
and diagnostic 
expertise to support 
Australia’s national 
interests in the 
region and beyond.

Research and development

We conduct research and development 
to support ACDP’s diagnostic capability 
in areas such as: assessment of novel 
technologies for improved diagnostic testing; 
new diagnostic tests to address identified 
gaps in capability; and pathogenesis 
studies to enhance understanding of 
control strategies for key diseases.

Training

We provide specialised 
training for Australian 
veterinarians and 
diagnosticians in 
emergency animal 
disease recognition 
and diagnosis.



Scientists conduct agent characterisations to assist in the 
understanding of animal disease events in Australia.



An automated workstation streamlines handling of multiple 
samples sent during disease outbreaks.

Animal research services 

Research projects undertaken at ACDP are supported by 
a specialised, trained Animal Services Team comprised 
of veterinarians and animal technicians who are highly 
experienced in the care and welfare of animals. 

An on-site Animal Welfare Officer works alongside the 
Animal Services Team and is responsible for monitoring 
the welfare of animals and ensuring current best 
practice techniques are applied during planning and 
conduct of research projects involving animals. 

All research project proposals involving animals 
are reviewed by an independent Animal Ethics 
Committee to ensure they are conducted in compliance 
with the Australian Code of Practice for the care 
and use of animals for scientific procedures. 

ACDP has capability to conduct research with animals 
across Physical Containment Levels 2 to 4.

Animal diagnostics for surveillance 
and emergency response

As Australia’s National Reference Laboratory, ACDP 
provides independent referral and diagnostic capabilities. 
In this capacity, we maintain laboratory equipment 
and skills to handle complex identification with 
rarely utilised tests. We also operate as a regional 
and international reference laboratory for specific 
diseases of concern to Australia and our region. 

As a high containment facility, ACDP is a vital part 
of Australia’s preparedness for disease outbreaks. 
The microbiologically and physically secure facilities 
at the lab allow teams to work safely with animal and 
zoonotic diseases while keeping them securely contained. 

Specialised services delivered by our teams include 
diagnostic and investigative laboratory techniques on 
samples sent to ACDP to confirm the index case of an 
emergency animal disease. In the case of large and ongoing 
outbreaks, our laboratory has surge testing capabilities to 
manage the influx of samples sent from across the country. 

Our teams also provide technical advice and support 
for emergency animal disease management activities 
to Australian Government agencies, state and territory 
governments, and national animal health bodies and 
committees such as the Consultative Committee on 
Emergency Animal Disease. Effective disease control and 
surveillance systems are not only important for quick 
diagnosis and response to disease outbreaks, but also 
for confirming the absence of diseases of interest – 
which is essential to facilitate export and import trade. 

ACDP also supports national disease surveillance programs, 
such as the National Arbovirus Monitoring Program and the 
National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program. 
Some of our key contributions include agent 
characterisations and molecular epidemiological 
assessments to assist with the understanding of emergency 
animal disease events in Australia. Diagnostic teams 
also perform quarantine testing on samples from 
cats, dogs, horses, chickens, and other animals being 
imported into Australia or moved internationally every 
year (approximately 15,101 tests in 2022). This testing is 
conducted as part of Australia’s strict biosecurity controls 
to ensure exotic disease outbreaks are prevented. 

Involvement in national, international and quarantine 
disease testing places the diagnosticians and disease 
experts at ACDP in a unique position. To capitalise 
on this for the benefit of disease preparedness, 
ACDP provides education and training to veterinarians 
and government personnel, ensuring Australia’s frontline 
animal health workers are informed about emergency 
animal disease identification and management, helping 
enable rapid detection of possible disease outbreaks.



ACDP is a reference laboratory 

As Australia’s National Reference Laboratory, ACDP provides independent referral and 
diagnostic capabilities. In this capacity, ACDP maintains laboratory equipment and skills 
to handle complex identification with rarely utilised tests. It also operates as a regional 
and international reference laboratory for specific diseases of concern to Australia 
and our region on behalf of the Australian Government, the World Organisation for 
Animal Health, and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.

ACDP’s Reference Laboratory designations

We work closely with veterinary and human health agencies around the world

World Organisation for Animal Health 
(WOAH)

WOAH Collaborating Centres:

• Laboratory Capacity Building
• New and Emerging Diseases
• Diagnostic Test Validation Science 
in the Asia-Pacific Region


WOAH Reference Laboratory designations:

• Bluetongue virus 
• Hendra and Nipah virus diseases 
• Highly pathogenic avian influenza and 
low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry)
• Newcastle disease
• African swine fever
• Classical swine fever
• Abalone herpesvirus 
• Ranavirus 
• Yellow head virus genotype 1
• Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus


National Reference Laboratory

Terrestrial animals:

• 27 diseases of multiple species
• 2 cattle diseases
• 5 sheep and goat diseases
• 11 equine diseases
• 16 swine diseases
• 10 avian diseases
• 4 diseases of other species


Aquatic species:

• 24 fish diseases
• 13 diseases of molluscs
• 15 diseases of crustaceans
• 3 diseases of amphibians


Proficiency and 
Innocuity testing:

• Test validation and 
lab competency
• Screening imported 
pharmaceuticals


The Food and Agriculture 
Organization of the 
United Nations (FAO)

FAO Reference Centre 
designations:

• Animal Influenza and 
Newcastle disease
• Laboratory Biorisk 
Management 
• Zoonotic Coronaviruses




The microbiologically and 
physically secure facilities at 
the lab allow teams to work 
safely with animal and zoonotic 
diseases while keeping them 
securely contained.



Meet Frank Wong, 
our avian influenza virus expert

ACDP is a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) designated 
reference laboratory for high impact animal diseases, and some of 
our scientists are world reference laboratory experts in those diseases. 
To find out more about what these designations mean, we spoke 
to our avian influenza virus expert Frank Wong. 

What does it mean that ACDP is 
a WOAH reference laboratory?

WOAH works to improve animal health and welfare 
across the globe. To assist with this, collaboration is 
key. They work to create a network of people around 
the world to help develop a knowledge base and 
information on animal diseases that can be shared.

Some diseases have a greater impact on livelihoods 
than others and WOAH maintains a list of 
diseases in livestock and wildlife which have a 
detrimental effect on trade and food security.

Avian influenza is one of these diseases. It can have a 
devastating effect on domestic poultry, causing high 
mortalities. In fact, a devastating global epidemic of 
highly pathogenic avian influenza is happening right 
now, with reports to the WOAH of over 10 million 
birds culled due to the disease in just a five-week 
period from 2 December 2022 to 5 January 2023, 
in every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

ACDP is a WOAH reference laboratory for this disease, and 
I am the designated reference expert for avian influenza.

As a reference laboratory, WOAH requires us 
to act as a focal point to pursue all scientific 
and technical challenges for that disease.

We are seen as a national and world leader in 
diagnostic and laboratory knowledge about avian 
influenza. Part of the role is to provide advice on the 
disease, and to supply training, support and scientific 
expertise to other countries that don’t have sufficient 
resources, capacity or reference lab capability.

As an international reference lab, ACDP has a 
responsibility to stay up to date with diagnostic 
techniques, and to be able to pursue scientific and 
technical investigations to help solve problems relating 
to avian influenza and its control, in particular its 
impact to poultry production and wildlife health.

What is required of you as the 
designated expert?

“I need to keep abreast of what is happening around 
the world regarding our understanding of changes to 
the epidemiology of avian influenza viruses and the 
different virus strains circulating in domestic and wild bird populations. This is done through gathering 
disease surveillance information. I also work with 
my colleagues at ACDP to collate virus information 
from our diagnostic results and research projects, 
to share at national and international meetings. 

I advise on diagnostic tests and our avian influenza 
projects, such as advising which relevant strains to 
use for different experiments and helping analyse the 
results. I also provide guidance to the team running 
the laboratory proficiency testing service in our region.

As the designated expert, I am also a member of the Food 
and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Technical Working 
Group on avian influenza in the Asia Pacific region.”

What do you enjoy about being 
a reference expert?

“A really interesting part is being invited as the 
representative for Australia to national and international 
meetings attended by other reference experts and 
researchers contributing to the understanding and control 
of avian influenza worldwide. At these meetings I hear 
about the new research happening elsewhere and people’s 
experiences with avian influenza in their countries. 

Another very rewarding part of the role is that we 
can directly assist Australia and other countries by 
helping control and mitigate risks of disease outbreaks, 
particularly contributing to our own national livestock 
and wildlife biosecurity and providing laboratory 
support to lower-economic countries in the Asia Pacific 
region which can be greatly impacted by the disease. 

Due to its potential for occasional spillover infections 
of people, impact to wildlife, and recognised pandemic 
risk, avian influenza is a classic example of a One Health 
disease problem and has well-established global 
networks. It has given me the opportunity to be 
involved in three major international organisations: 
the World Health Organization (WHO; human health), 
FAO (global food security) and WOAH (animal health). 
This has provided opportunities to be part of real-world 
solutions, including directly contributing to global 
discussions to a WHO pre-pandemic influenza vaccine 
composition meeting in Geneva and elsewhere.” 


Frank Wong is a World 
Organisation for Animal 
Health reference expert 
for avian influenza.

All samples received at the lab are labelled 
and documented at every stage from 
delivery and through each stage of testing.

Biocontainment management 

ACDP provides Australia with the 
capability to safely hold and conduct 
work on some of the most dangerous 
pathogens in the world. Through 
the expertise and dedication of the 
Biorisk Management Group, research 
at ACDP is microbiologically safe and 
secure, in full compliance with our 
national and international obligations. 

Highly trained staff provide specialised engineering 
requirements for the day-to-day operation 
of ACDP. This includes maintaining critical 
infrastructure, biocontainment, biosecurity 
and compliance with regulatory frameworks. 

Supporting our commitment to best practice, our 
internal processes of review, evaluation, education 
and training ensure ACDP operates at or beyond the 
highest levels of national compliance and safety. 

Our expertise in biocontainment management is highly 
valued and we provide training and technical advice 
to governments and customers around the world. 



Scanning quality 
assured samples for 
PCR proficiency testing. 

Quality and environmental management 

Quality and environmental management 
at ACDP is fundamental to delivering 
trusted science that protects a healthy, 
productive, and prosperous future 
for Australia’s animals, people 
and environment. 

ACDP proudly operates according to several 
quality standards and maintains the following 
certifications/accreditations:

• ISO 9001 Quality Management
• ISO 14001 Environmental Management
• ISO/IEC 17025 Testing & Calibration
• ISO/IEC 17043 Proficiency Testing 


The Quality Assurance and Compliance Unit are 
responsible for establishing and maintaining the 
framework, systems and processes to enable our 
scientific and support services to meet all applicable 
regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations. 
ACDP is committed to developing a single, site wide 
Integrated Management System that demonstrates our 
commitment to quality, the environment and addresses 
the requirements of all standards we operate under. 
The Integrated Management System will ensure that 
ACDP continues to deliver trusted science in a compliant, 
efficient and environmentally responsible manner. 

Read more on our commitment to 
quality and the environment. 



Validated diagnostic tests 
provide greater confidence to 
import authorities of a country’s 
freedom from disease status. 

Test validation 

ACDP, in partnership with Melbourne 
University and Massey University, 
is a World Organisation for Animal 
Health (WOAH) Collaborating 
Centre for Diagnostic Test Validation 
Science in the Asia-Pacific Region. 

Part of a collaborating centre’s 
role is to develop or improve 
diagnostic tests, with the aim of 
creating tests that meet international 
standards. WOAH sets international 
standards for validating tests.

In 2022, researchers from ACDP and the WOAH 
Collaborating Centre worked with a colleague 
from Canada’s University of Prince Edward Island, 
to scientifically validate two real-time diagnostic tests 
used to detect white spot syndrome virus according to 
international standards. White spot syndrome virus affects 
prawns and is a contagious viral disease affecting a wide 
range of decapod crustaceans, especially penaeid prawn 
species. It is considered a serious threat to prawn farmers.

The entire process of validation has been published in 
the peer reviewed journal Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 
The performance characteristics of the tests developed during 
this work have since been incorporated into the update of the 
Australian and New Zealand Standard Diagnostic Procedure 
(ANZSDP) for white spot syndrome virus. 

Knowing the tests meet international standards for 
accuracy and reliability in diagnosing white spot 
disease benefits the prawn industry, not only for future 
surveillance, but also to provide greater confidence 
for import authorities on establishing freedom from 
disease status in Australia and other countries. 

For more information contact Dr Nick Moody: 
nick.moody@csiro.au



ACDP’s insectary operates at Physical Containment Level 3. 

Working with us 

As a national facility, ACDP supports 
collaborations with Australian and 
international academics, government 
agencies, research organisations and 
industry to access our high‑containment 
research infrastructure and capabilities 
for infectious disease research. 
Our national facility role extends 
Australia’s capabilities in research and 
development and improves pathways 
for research to translate to applied uses. 

To enable this work, our access2ACDP program facilitates 
requests for information, collaboration or consulting 
services to ACDP. The program coordinates a review process 
for all proposed onsite research, ensuring the research: 

• will result in high impact science 
• is aligned with ACDP’s purposes and capabilities 
• meets the highest ethical and safety standards 
• will benefit the Australian community.


In 2022, ACDP received 65 applications to access 
laboratory capabilities for research collaborations 
from Australian and international entities, including 
universities, private industry, government departments 
and other research organisations.

National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy 

The Australian Government’s National Collaborative 
Research Infrastructure Strategy investment in ACDP has 
enabled CSIRO to deliver world-class research infrastructure 
for use by Australian and overseas researchers to benefit 
Australian’s national disease diagnostic capability and 
strengthen the country’s biosecurity framework. 

Access to these facilities enabled CSIRO’s research 
on COVID-19 earlier in the pandemic, such as 
testing of vaccines and antivirals, and research to 
gain an understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 
including genomic sequencing and imaging.

In 2022, following the outbreak of Japanese encephalitis, 
access to the NCRIS-supported high containment insectary 
at ACDP provided our scientists with the ability to 
conduct vector-competence studies, to determine 
whether a southern subspecies of Culex annulirostris 
could acquire and transmit the virus. This information 
will help determine the risk of Japanese encephalitis 
virus establishing in south-eastern Australia. 

NCRIS-funded infrastructure at ACDP includes 
Physical Containment Level 4 laboratories, a Physical 
Containment Level 3 immunology laboratory, the 
Physical Containment Level 3 bioimaging suite and 
the Physical Containment Level 3 insectary.



This year saw the start of a project, 
LabCap PNG, building laboratory 
diagnostic capability and capacity 
for field diagnostics in Papua 
New Guinea.

Securing Australia 
and the region 

ACDP delivers an international 
program to provide greater stability, 
prosperity and resilience to Australia 
and the Asia-Pacific region. 

Australian agriculture benefits significantly from the 
absence of several high-impact diseases which are 
endemic overseas, including in some of our closest 
neighbouring countries. Ensuring our regional 
partners have the capability to detect and control 
these diseases significantly reduces the risk of these 
diseases reaching our shores. It also leads to positive 
impacts on food security in affected countries. 

In 2022 there were outbreaks of foot-and-mouth 
disease and lumpy skin disease in neighbouring 
countries, leading to significant economic impact on 
livestock owners. These outbreaks have underscored 
the importance of Australia’s existing animal health 
status, and the need to continue preventing these 
exotic animal diseases coming to our shores. 

This year, in addition to bolstering our own capabilities 
to manage potential outbreaks of these diseases 
here in Australia, we have been working across the 
region in support of neighbouring countries, to assist 
them in their own preparedness and response. 



Signing the Letter of Collaboration with PNG’s NAQIA 
for the laboratory capacity building project.

Highlights from ACDP’s 2022 international work include:

• Supporting Pakistan’s response to an outbreak of 
lumpy skin disease, through a visit as an Australian 
Government-supported representative, as part of an 
emergency response field mission undertaken by the 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 
• Delivering training in PCR techniques for lumpy skin 
disease and foot-and-mouth disease diagnostics 
in Timor-Leste 
• Attending an expert workshop in Fiji, organised by the 
Pacific Community, bringing together relevant experts, 
government representatives and key stakeholders to 
strengthen animal health and production and improve 
veterinary services, which are lacking in the region 
• Establishing a project in Papua New Guinea with 
their National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection 
Authority, to provide guidance and training in field 
disease surveillance and laboratory diagnostics 
• Continuing to work on the BICOLLAB project in Indonesia, 
working with the Disease Investigation Centre at Wates 
to strengthen their laboratory capacity for avian influenza 
• Supporting partners from Indonesia and the Philippines 
to attend and present at the 7th World One Health 
Congress in Singapore.


Strengthening PNG against 
animal diseases, including 
African swine fever 

This year work on the new $3 million laboratory 
capacity building project (LabCap PNG) began in Papua 
New Guinea, funded by the Australian Government 
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and CSIRO.

The project, led by our international program, is 
working with PNG’s National Agriculture Quarantine 
and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) to strengthen and 
support PNG’s ability to detect and control priority 
animal diseases, using African swine fever as a model.

In recent years, African swine fever virus has spread 
rapidly throughout much of the Asia-Pacific region 
and was detected in PNG in early 2020. With much 
of the region’s population reliant on small-scale 
farming, pigs can often be a mainstay of people’s 
livelihoods. This is the case in PNG, where pigs are 
raised for food, economic and cultural purposes.

Our researchers had already been working with 
NAQIA, providing technical advice, training and 
development activities for field-based and laboratory 
diagnostic methods for detecting and testing for 
African swine fever and mosquito-borne diseases.

Following on from this experience, NAQIA was keen 
to continue the collaboration with ACDP, drawing on 
our staff’s world-class expertise and ACDP’s status 
as a World Organisation for Animal Health reference 
laboratory for African swine fever, to expand PNG’s 
overall diagnostic capacity and disease preparedness.

The project will link together our scientists, who have 
decades of experience in infectious animal diseases, 
with local laboratory staff in PNG. A full‑time project 
manager, Dr Annika Suttie, also based in PNG, will work 
with staff from NAQIA’s National Animal Health and Food 
Testing Laboratory.

Supporting NAQIA to develop this capacity will assist 
in control and preparedness for African swine fever 
along with other priority and emerging animal diseases 
identified by NAQIA, like highly pathogenic avian influenza, 
foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease.

For more information on our international program 
contact Dr Phoebe Readford: phoebe.readford@csiro.au



BICOLLAB is a collaboration between ACDP’s international team 
and Indonesia’s Disease Investigation Centre in Wates.

Partnering with Indonesia’s 
animal health laboratory 

Livestock farming throughout the Asia-Pacific 
region contributes significantly to the livelihoods 
of farmers through the provision of food and food 
products plus as a source of income and, in many 
locations, is of important cultural significance. 

Outbreaks of transboundary and emerging 
infectious diseases can result in serious hardship 
for many communities. Timely and reliable disease 
information is important for early warning and 
effective response to animal disease outbreaks.

This year saw our continued work on the BICOLLAB project 
in Indonesia. BICOLLAB is a bilateral collaboration with 
Indonesia’s Disease Investigation Centre in Wates and ACDP, 
to strengthen their avian influenza diagnostic capacity. 

There were 23 training activities over the past year 
focussed on up-skilling the local workforce, the majority 
of whom were female, in diagnostic virology, sequencing, 
bioinformatics, biosafety and poultry housing, 

In addition to the laboratory capacity building arrangement 
with Indonesia, BICOLLAB encompasses two other 
components: training in biorisk management practices 
in the Indo-Pacific; and support for the development of 
sustainable, regionally networked, risk-based targeted 
emerging infectious diseases surveillance systems 
in Indonesia and the Philippines. Indonesian and 
Filipino partners in the emerging infectious diseases 
surveillance component were supported to attend 
the 7th World One Health Congress in Singapore in 
November where the Indonesian partners presented 
some of their findings from project activities.

In the longer term, BICOLLAB will be continuing its 
engagement with the Disease Investigation Centre in 
Wates to strengthen their engagement and contribution to 
knowledge and understanding of strategic infectious animal 
diseases in livestock, especially avian influenza in poultry.

The project is supported by the Australian Government’s 
Indo‑Pacific Centre for Health Security, via the Department 
of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

CSIRO’s investment 
in proficiency testing 

Proficiency testing (PT) is a method of assessing 
a laboratory’s testing capabilities to monitor and 
improve testing performance. Around the world, PT 
is conducted independently using interlaboratory 
test comparisons, and can be complemented by 
“backstopping”, where scientists visit participating 
laboratories to provide comprehensive support on site. 

ACDP has been providing PT and backstopping services 
in South-East Asian veterinary diagnostic laboratories 
since 2007. 

Our PT allows for vigorous vetting of laboratories 
specialising in transboundary animal diseases including 
zoonotic diseases. It aims to improve diagnostic quality 
and epidemic preparedness, and reduce the risk of disease 
outbreaks. PT in our region also supports the pre-border 
protection of Australia’s primary producers and our 
economy against the import of infectious diseases, and 
cultivates strategic partnerships between laboratories.

What started as specific activities within a broader 
project to support and develop diagnostic capability 
for avian influenza evolved in 2009 to a strategic 
initiative to help strengthen Asia’s regional laboratory 
capabilities to maintain the region’s food security and 
economic viability, and safeguard human health.



ACDP is an ISO/IEC 17043-accredited 
proficiency testing provider.

An independent review by economic research agency 
the Centre of International Economics in August 2021 has 
valued CSIRO’s investment in PT and backstopping services 
in the Asia-Pacific region over the period 2007 to 2017 at 
$7.06 million (present value), with an estimated positive 
net benefit of $3.66 million and benefit cost ratio of 2.07. 

ACDP is an ISO/IEC 17043-accredited leading PT provider 
in the region. As laboratories in this region undertake 
PT programs for external quality assurance, the 
Centre of International Economics’ review considered 
PT programs as the implementation of standards to 
increase safety and/or manage risk. It then calculated 
the economic cost of a potential disease outbreak 
and attributed a percentage of avoided remediation 
costs from outbreaks to these standards. 

The predicted $7.06 million value was calculated from 
a conservative 10 per cent of the avoided outbreak 
remediation costs over the review period of 20 years.

It excludes the valuation of benefits that are 
difficult to attribute to the ACDP team, such as price 
premia for Australian animal food exports.

For more information on our PT program contact 
Dr James Watson: james.watson@csiro.au



An outbreak of lumpy skin disease in Australia would 
cause severe economic losses to Australia’s meat industry. 
Image: Paul Grey, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. 

Protecting Australia from 
emergency animal diseases 

A significant part of our role is to conduct research to help protect Australia 
against the most pressing emergency animal and human health disease threats. 

Lumpy skin disease 

Lumpy skin disease is a highly infectious viral disease of 
cattle and water buffalo, caused by a capripox virus. It is an 
arbovirus, spread by biting mosquitoes, ticks, midges and 
biting flies. It does not affect other livestock or humans. 

Spread of the disease in the Asia-Pacific in recent years 
brings increased risk of further outbreaks in the region 
and a potential incursion on our shores. 

Our scientists are working with government agencies and 
industry to prepare Australia, and the region, to be ready 
to respond to potential outbreaks of lumpy skin disease.

To best support our preparations, CSIRO has imported 
live samples of lumpy skin disease virus into Australia 
after an extensive risk assessment and Australian 
Government approval process. We have also formed 
a new research group to develop new diagnostic tests 
and conduct studies to increase our understanding 
of the strains of the virus circulating in our region. 

For more information contact Dr Kelly Stanger: 
kelly.stanger@csiro.au 



Our FMD scientists were part of a large collaboration working to prepare Australia against the disease.

African swine fever

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious and often fatal 
viral disease of domestic and wild pigs.

It’s not harmful to humans but the impacts of ASF include 
economic losses through lost trading markets, the costs 
associated with outbreak response and eradication 
measures, and impacts to the pork industries of affected 
countries and the livelihoods of farmers and small holders.

There is currently no effective vaccine against ASF; 
however, novel candidate vaccines are currently being 
trialled in Vietnam, offering a potentially valuable tool 
to control the virus.

Researchers at ACDP are working on several projects to 
ensure Australia is prepared with the necessary tools to 
respond quickly to an ASF outbreak if one should occur.

We are working with colleagues in Canada and America 
to evaluate and compare commercially available PCR test 
kits to identify which are the most accurate and reliable. 
The information gained from this project is expected to 
benefit ASF testing laboratories around the world.

In another project our scientists are comparing different 
types of sampling methods from pigs to test for infection. 
They are specifically looking to test the effect of high 
temperatures, as experienced in outback Australia, on dry 
swabs used to collect blood samples. This would be a 
practical way to potentially test feral pigs in outback 
Australia for possible infection with ASF virus.

As part of ACDP’s WOAH ASF Reference Laboratory role, our 
scientists have collaborated with colleagues in Timor-Leste, 
Papua New Guinea and Nepal, to conduct diagnostic testing 
and whole genome sequencing of strains of ASF virus from 
Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Understanding where a virus 
originated and the changes that may have occurred in its 
genome helps to inform the response strategy.

In addition, our scientists are working with colleagues in 
China to develop new diagnostic strategies that will help to 
mitigate and manage further ASF incursions or outbreaks 
in China. This work is focussed on designing novel pen-side 
(field) tests that have superior performance to existing tests.

ACDP continues to support state and territory veterinary 
services by providing laboratory diagnosis for ASF disease 
exclusion from domestic and wild pigs to support 
Australia’s freedom of disease status.

We have also supported pre-border surveillance for ASF by 
providing diagnostic testing advice and services to the 
Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

For more information on our World Organisation for 
Animal Health reference laboratory for African swine 
fever contact Dr David Williams: d.williams@csiro.au

Foot-and-mouth disease 

In May 2022, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease 
(FMD) was reported in cattle in Indonesia, increasing the 
risk of the disease’s spread to Australia. FMD is a highly 
contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals. It is the 
greatest disease threat to Australia’s livestock industries 
and the impacts of an outbreak would be devastating.

While it is vitally important for Australia to be prepared to 
respond to a FMD outbreak onshore, it is equally important we 
do all we can to prevent the disease from entering the country.

Our scientists play a critical role in Australia’s pre‑border 
biosecurity preparedness – preventing and reducing threats 
before they get to the border. We have been working with 
international partners to build laboratory and biosecurity 
capacity across Southeast Asia for decades, including Indonesia, 
Vietnam, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea.

In addition, we are members of the Vaccine Expert 
Advisory Group which assesses the global FMD situation 
to recommend the vaccine strains to be included in the 
Australian Vaccine Bank.



FMD Ready Project key outcomes

For many years, ACDP has been leading research 
to ensure Australia is well prepared should we face 
a FMD outbreak. We first led a research project 
called the FMD Risk Management Project. 

Following on from this, we have been leading the FMD 
Ready Project. In 2022, the final report of the FMD Ready 
Project was published, detailing the project’s key findings.

The FMD Ready Project focused on ensuring Australia 
is prepared in the event of an emergency animal disease 
outbreak, using FMD as a model. It also included 
helping develop processes and support tools to ensure 
a rapid return to trade following an outbreak.

This work, which built upon the substantial work 
of the previous FMD Risk Management Project, has 
improved Australia’s preparedness through:

• improving decision making on which antigens should be 
included when renewing Australia’s FMD vaccine bank
• improving the availability, accuracy, and efficiency 
of diagnostic tests for use in the detection of a FMD 
incursion to ensure accurate diagnosis and surveillance
• improving the participation of primary producers 
in biosecurity and surveillance networks. This in 
turn increased awareness of how to recognise 
and report emergency animal diseases, and 
helped to build trust in local networks between 
primary producers and government agencies
• increasing collaboration between government 
agencies and livestock industry networks to 
improve biosecurity and surveillance outcomes
• developing biosecurity communication tools 
by producers for producers
• updating and expanding the Australian Animal Disease 
spread model as a decision support tool and integrating 
it with improved economic modelling tools to inform 
disease control strategies, including vaccination and the 
use of trading zones to support earlier return to trade
• developing an application (SPREAD) to incorporate big 
data into the real-time modelling of disease spread 
during an emergency animal disease outbreak.


A significant achievement of this work was the truly 
transdisciplinary nature of the FMD Ready Project. 
Using this approach, we were able to demonstrate 
that collaboration between different research 
disciplines (e.g., modelling, economics, science) 
combined with direct interaction and collaboration 
with livestock industries, governments, Rural Research 
and Development Corporations and other agencies, 
can deliver solutions to highly complex problems.

The greatest benefit is that we have developed a suite 
of tools that will ensure Australia is better prepared 
for an emergency animal disease incursion. As a result, 
this will provide better protection to our livestock 
industries and lessen the potential for disease impact.

The full report is available on the Meat and Livestock 
Australia website. 

For more information contact Dr Wilna Vosloo: 
Wilna.vosloo@csiro.au 

This project was supported by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), 
through funding from the Australian Government Department of 
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of its Rural R&D for Profit 
program, and by producer levies from Australian FMD-susceptible livestock 
(cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) industries and Charles Sturt University, 
leveraging significant in-kind support from the research partners. 

The research partners for this project were CSIRO, Charles Sturt University 
through the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, the Bureau 
of Meteorology and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water 
and the Environment, supported by Animal Health Australia. 

Japanese encephalitis 

In late February and early March 2022, a widespread 
outbreak of Japanese encephalitis occurred in piggeries 
in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and 
South Australia. In parallel with these outbreaks, there 
were also multiple confirmed human cases of the virus.

Our scientists were instrumental in the laboratory 
diagnosis of the first case of the outbreak in 
Queensland in late February and additional detections 
in four more states, alerting authorities to an 
unprecedented multi-state outbreak in Australia. 

ACDP is a nationally recognised reference laboratory 
for arboviruses such as Japanese encephalitis virus, 
and its diagnostic and emergency response team 
conducted 1352 tests for the virus in pigs, horses 
and other animals within the first month alone.

The strain of the virus that caused the outbreak 
hadn’t been seen in Australia before, and many 
labs weren’t equipped to diagnose it. Our scientists 
quickly shared test protocols and reagents with 



Our scientists were instrumental in the laboratory diagnosis of 
the first case of the Japanese encephalitis outbreak in Queensland.

veterinary and public health laboratories, as well 
as the first genome sequence to enable diagnostic 
laboratories to check the accuracy of their PCR tests.

Our scientists contributed to government committees 
and advisory groups, providing expert scientific 
advice for public and animal health purposes to 
support the outbreak response and management. 

The national impact of this work was recognised 
widely at CSIRO, with the team awarded the 
Trusted Medal at the 2022 CSIRO Awards.

For more information about Japanese encephalitis 
diagnostics contact David Williams: d.williams@csiro.au 

Transmission of Japanese encephalitis virus

Japanese encephalitis virus is maintained in the 
environment in a transmission cycle between mosquitoes 
and animal hosts such as waterbirds and pigs. The main 
species of mosquito (known as a ‘vector’) thought to be 
involved in the transmission of the virus in Australia is Culex 
annulirostris, also known as the common banded mosquito. 
However, with the latest outbreak occurring in new 
regions in Australia, it is vital to confirm that mosquitoes 
from these areas can acquire and transmit the virus. 

Working in ACDP’s high containment insectary, 
our vector‑borne disease specialists conducted 
vecto‑competence studies, to determine whether a 
southern subspecies of Culex annulirostris can acquire 
and transmit this virus. The information from this study, 
which is ongoing, will help determine the risk of Japanese 
encephalitis virus establishing in south-eastern Australia. 

The same team is also collaborating with the University 
of California San Diego to develop and test the 
application of next-generation genome engineering 
techniques to generate mosquitoes that rapidly die 
when infected with specific viruses, preventing pathogen 
transmission. Although currently focused on dengue 
fever, this technology could be adapted for use in 
reducing Japanese encephalitis spread. Once developed, 
the field deployment of such mosquitoes has the 
potential to curb future disease outbreaks.

For more information on Japanese encephalitis 
vector research contact Dr Prasad Paradkar: 
prasad.paradkar@csiro.au



Australian waterbirds, like these Pacific Black Ducks, are not migratory. 
This has helped minimise bird flu introductions into Australia. Image: Geoff Whalan.

Avian influenza

In May, results from a large collaborative study were 
published in PLOS Pathogens, providing a clearer 
picture of bird flu dynamics in Australia’s wild birds.

Scientists from ACDP contributed to this work by 
sequencing the largest number of Australian wild bird avian 
influenza virus genomes since sampling began in 2006.

Until recently, studies of waterbirds in the northern 
hemisphere provided most of our understanding of the 
ecology and evolution of avian influenza viruses in the 
natural wild bird reservoir. But Australia’s wild waterfowl, 
like duck and geese, face different environmental 
conditions and do not show the same migratory 
behaviour as their northern hemisphere cousins.

As part of this study, ACDP researchers sequenced 
and assembled the genomes of more than 300 avian 
influenza viruses collected by the National Avian 
Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance program. These virus 
sequences, along with those generated by our partners, 
have been added to public sequence data platforms 
and made accessible to other researchers worldwide.

Results of the collaboration showed avian influenza viruses 
in Australia’s wild waterbird populations aren’t closely 
linked to strains circulating in the northern hemisphere. 
Australia is not on a migratory pathway for ducks and 
geese from the northern hemisphere that follow clear 
seasonal patterns of migration over long distances. 
Instead, Australian waterfowl are nomadic and mainly 
stay within the Australo-Papuan region, moving more 
unpredictably within the Australian continent according 
to drought, rain and other local ecological cycles.

The study also found low pathogenic avian influenza 
virus strains can be carried into Australia by small, 
migratory shorebirds. Australia mostly acts as a dead 
end for avian influenza virus diversity, where strains 
may persist for varying lengths of time in isolation 
within the Australian continent or eventually go extinct. 
It’s uncommon for bird flu viruses from Australia to 
be introduced by wild birds to other continents.

This study provided the first evidence-based picture of 
avian influenza dynamics in Australia. It revealed where 
the viruses fit in with those in other parts of the world.

Scientists in Australia now have greater information 
available for avian influenza virus risk assessments, 
evaluation and improvement of diagnostic tests, and 
early warnings and responses to potential new virus 
introductions, such as the H5N1 highly pathogenic 
avian influenza virus that caused devastating outbreaks 
in poultry and wild bird populations across Europe, 
Asia, Africa, and North America in 2021–2022.

ACDP is a World Organisation for Animal Health Reference 
Laboratory for avian influenza, and a Food and Agricultural 
Organization of the United Nations Reference Centre for 
animal influenza and Newcastle disease. We play a key role 
in supporting avian influenza diagnostics, surveillance and 
control in Australia and country partners in the Asia-Pacific 
region. ACDP has helped countries including Nepal, the 
Philippines and Timor-Leste with highly pathogenic avian 
influenza outbreak investigations over the course of 2022.

The NAIWB project was led by a partnership between CSIRO’s ACDP, 
The University of Sydney, Deakin University, the World Health 
Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on 
Influenza, and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries 
and Forestry, in coordination with the National Avian Influenza 
Wild Bird Surveillance Program of Wildlife Health Australia.

For more information on our animal influenza 
diagnostics and research capabilities contact 
Dr Frank Wong, WOAH reference expert on 
avian influenza: frank.wong@csiro.au 



Avian influenza virus H7N9 particles under the electron microscope.

New understanding of avian influenza 
strain H7N9

The zoonotic H7N9 avian influenza virus first emerged 
in 2013 as a low pathogenic strain, meaning it did 
not cause severe disease in chickens. However, it has 
repeatedly caused human infection resulting in severe 
respiratory illness and a mortality of ~39% (killing more 
than 600 people) across five epidemic waves. This virus 
has circulated in poultry with little to no discernible 
clinical signs, making detection and control difficult. 

Contrary to published data, our researchers observed 
a subset of chickens infected with the H7N9 virus 
succumbed to the disease, showing clinical signs 
consistent with highly pathogenic avian influenza. 
We were able to demonstrate that a mutation in the 
nucleoprotein led to the change in disease severity.

Changes associated with the mutation of the 
nucleoprotein was a loss of some T cells, specifically 
those known to fight viral infection, and disruption 
to a group of proteins known to control many viral 
infections. These changes suggest the nucleoprotein 
mutation may play a role in altered T cell activation.

Alternatively, it is possible the mutation altered the 
ability for the virus to replicate, as the mutation occurred 
on a section of the nucleoprotein which has previously 
been shown to be important in RNA binding.

These results have broad ramifications for our 
understanding of how avian influenza virus causes 
disease in chickens and humans and provides 
an excellent model for investigating the role of 
antiviral genes in a natural host species.

This work was conducted at ACDP and is 
published in Frontiers in Immunology. 

For more information contact Dr Daniel Layton: 
daniel.layton@csiro.au or Dr David Williams: 
D.williams@csiro.au 



Immune Resilience FSP workshop participants met for the 
first time in November.

Our scientists are testing if Australian species of Culicoides can 
transmit African horse sickness. Credit: Wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Supporting preparedness

Infectious animal diseases 
and zoonoses program 

In 2022, a new infectious animal diseases and zoonoses 
program was established at ACDP to deliver the research 
capability to effectively prepare for, detect, diagnose and 
respond to emerging, exotic and zoonotic diseases. 

The long-term goal of this research program is to establish 
ACDP as a national hub for sovereign vaccine, antiviral and 
diagnostics innovation, to enable Australia to rapidly develop 
and deploy vaccines, diagnostic capability and antivirals.

Three areas of research capability have been identified 
to achieve this goal: investment in disease research, 
development of vaccine platform capability and knowledge, 
and delivering novel methods for vaccines and diagnostics.

Since establishing the program, new science teams 
have been appointed in mammalian, aquatic and 
avian research to complement existing capabilities. 
Three new post-doctoral researchers have been 
recruited to work on understanding:

• how infectious three viruses of concern are in 
amphibians and finfish: Bohle iridovirus, Mahafee road 
virus and epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus
• if Australian species of Culicoides can 
transmit African horse sickness
• pathogenesis and transmission of Japanese 
encephalitis genotype 4 in the vertebrate host.


Future developments in this program will see growth 
in areas such as ex-vivo models with a pivot to more 
sustainable and ethical research methods compatible 
with vaccine pipelines and the start of vaccine trials.

Immune Resilience Future 
Science Platform 

This year saw the establishment of the new 
Immune Resilience Future Science Platform.

CSIRO’s Future Science Platforms (FSPs) are multi-year, 
multi-disciplinary investments in science that has the 
potential to help reinvent and create new industries 
for Australia. 

Spanning three interconnected focus areas – vaccines, 
resilience technologies, and therapeutics and 
diagnostics – the Immune Resilience FSP aims to 
increase our preparedness by enabling more rapid 
and robust responses to emerging health threats.

The pandemic focussed our attention on the 
challenge of emerging infectious diseases for 
human health globally and the need to develop 
strategies to respond rapidly and effectively. 

The Immune Resilience FSP will focus on providing an 
even deeper understanding of our innate and adaptive 
immune systems, our strongest defence against disease.

Using new and emerging technologies, we’re aiming 
to develop new systems to stimulate, modulate 
and harness immune responses, and find new 
ways to identify, treat and prevent diseases.

In early November, the FSP participants met 
together for the first time at ACDP to discuss 
the confirmed research portfolio.

More information is available on the 
Immune Resilience FSP website.



Meet Dr Kristie Jenkins, 
Leader of the Immune Resilience 
Future Science Platform

Dr Kristie Jenkins says her love of 
science likely began with a Christmas 
gift she unwrapped as a six-year‑old: 
a microscope. In the years that 
followed, she says that love only 
grew and, when the time came, the 
decision to attend university to study 
a Bachelor of Science, focussing on 
Biotechnology, was an easy one for her. 

It was at university where Kristie developed a keen 
interest in immunology and continued this interest during 
her Honours and PhD based at ACDP looking at chicken 
cytokines. During her first post-doctoral fellowship position 
at Monash Institute for Medical Research she worked to 
characterise regulation of the innate immune response. 

It wasn’t until she was investigating ways to modulate the 
immune system during her second post-doctoral fellowship 
that she first discovered genome engineering. 

“Genome engineering gives us a great way to study and 
change things in a way we never could before, opening up 
new ways to solve our greatest challenges,” Kristie says. 

Following her second post-doctoral position she went 
onto her next role as a research scientist in a team that 
developed transgenic chickens resilient to avian influenza. 

Kristie led the Genome Engineering Team at 
ACDP between 2014–2022, during which she 
developed partnerships with global poultry genetics 
companies to develop disease resilient poultry. 

Now, her work in immunology continues in her new 
role as Leader of CSIRO’s Immune Resilience Future 
Science Platform. 

Kristie is looking forward to seeing the first results of the 
impressive suite of new projects now getting underway.



There have been no reports of Hendra virus or Nipah virus in 
pigs in Africa. Credit: Amy the Nurse, Flickr, CC BY NC ND 2.0.

Our science 

Hendra and Nipah virus 

Hendra virus and Nipah virus are pathogens of concern 
because they cause zoonotic disease. CSIRO has been 
involved in Hendra virus research since the virus’ 
emergence in Australia in 1994, and was also involved with 
the discovery of the closely related Nipah virus, which 
emerged in Malaysia in 1998. Our researchers have made 
a significant contribution to the current understanding of 
these viruses, and ACDP is the only World Organisation 
for Animal Health (WOAH) reference laboratory for them. 

Surveillance study collaborating with 
veterinarians in Nigeria 

As the WOAH reference laboratory, we were approached to 
collaborate with veterinarians from Nigeria to determine 
whether there was any evidence of prior infection 
in horses and pigs with Hendra or Nipah viruses. 

This was a large-scale sero-surveillance study targeting 
seven states in Nigeria, with 1044 animals sampled. 
Serum from horses and pigs was collected, frozen and 
sent to ACDP for antibody screening assays and gold 
standard tests. There was very low reactivity in the 
antibody screening assays and no positive test results 
in the gold standard tests, confirming there were no 
antibodies specific to either virus in the horse and 
pig sera collected from northern Nigeria in 2018. 

These results were expected, especially as there 
has been no report of Hendra virus or Nipah virus 
disease in either pigs or horses in Nigeria or in Africa. 
However, due to the presence of bats, which might 
be carrying undescribed viruses in parts of Africa, 
it is pertinent to monitor this situation, and we 
made recommendations for future surveillance. 



The brown pigment shows the Nipah viral protein in blood 
vessels in a kidney.

Ebola Reston virus, pictured here, is in the family Filoviridae. 
This is a colorised negative contrast image of Ebola Reston virus 
taken on the electron microscope at ACDP.

Differences between different genotypes 
of Hendra virus and Nipah virus 

In 1994, the first Hendra virus was identified by our 
researchers and in 2021, a second Hendra virus genotype 
was isolated by CSIRO. Meanwhile, there are currently two 
known Nipah virus genotypes, named after where they 
were originally found: Nipah virus-Malaysia and Nipah 
virus-Bangladesh (the more pathogenic genotype). 

Identifying and characterising differences 
between Hendra virus genotypes and Nipah virus 
genotypes is now the focus of a PhD project. 

For more information about Nipah and Hendra virus 
contact Dr Kim Halpin: kim.halpin@csiro.au 

Bats and filoviruses 

Filoviruses refer to a family of viruses called Filoviridae 
which can cause severe or fatal disease in people and 
non‑human primates, and includes the ebola virus. 
Filovirus infections have never been detected in humans 
or animals in Australia previously, but researchers at ACDP 
have now discovered filovirus antibodies in Australian bats 
in a study of more than a decade’s worth of samples. 

The details of this study were published in the Journal 
of General Virology in 2022 with Murdoch University. 

The study tested 190 samples from microbats and 
megabats across Australia between 2005 to 2017, 
and found 46 samples reacted to filoviruses, with nine 
reacting more specifically to the ebola and reston viruses.

While it is believed the bats were most likely exposed to 
a currently unknown filovirus, more extensive research 
is needed to better understand the presence of the 
antibodies. Filovirus antibodies have been found in bats 
in countries overseas without filovirus spread in the 
human population.

This study reinforced the importance of national 
collaborations for preventative wildlife health and 
public health activities.

For more information about this research contact 
Dr Prasad Paradkar: prasad.paradkar@csiro.au 

Screening for anti-viral 
treatments for COVID-19 

Scientists at ACDP have screened a range of drugs 
approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration/US 
Food and Drug Administration to assess their potential 
to be re-purposed as treatments for COVID-19.

This project, funded by the Australian Government’s 
Medical Research Future Fund, first used an 
algorithm to sort and select the approved drugs 
that matched criteria for being most promising 
against a respiratory infection such as COVID-19.

The resulting shortlist was then assessed for antiviral 
capabilities in human lung and heart 3D tissue models. 

The large quantity of data collected using an ‘omics’ 
approach was analysed to generate biological insights. 
This analysis generated patterns from within host tissue 
responses indicating effective and ineffective treatments.

Although none of the drugs tested showed 
sufficient antiviral efficacy for future use against 
COVID-19, this work established the usefulness 
of this rapid screening technology.

For more information about the rapid screening platform 
contact Dr Alex McAuley: alex.mcauley@csiro.au 



The research focused on two different types of live virus, including Newcastle disease virus pictured here.

Using metal organic frameworks to encapsulate vaccines 

Vaccination is undoubtedly one of the most effective 
medical interventions, saving millions of lives each 
year. However, delivering vaccines is challenging 
in some countries that lack the cold storage supply 
chains required to keep the vaccine viable. The World 
Health Organization estimates that at least 50 per 
cent of vaccines are wasted globally each year, mainly 
due to a lack of facilities and temperature control. 

Live virus vaccines are extremely effective, 
but their complex composition makes them 
susceptible to high temperatures, and a universal 
stabilisation technique has not been found.

Recently published in Acta Biomaterialia, CSIRO 
researchers encapsulated live virus vaccines with a 
dissolvable crystalline material called metal organic 
frameworks, which protected the integrity of the 
vaccines for up to 12 weeks and at temperatures as 
high as 37 degrees Celsius. Without refrigeration the 
vaccines would otherwise last only a few days. 

When metal organic frameworks were formed around 
the vaccines they helped protect the vaccine molecules 
from heat stress. A solution was then used that dissolved 
the metal organic framework for administration of 
the vaccine. This world-first approach of stabilising a 
vaccine with metal organic frameworks is simple, rapid, 
and scalable because it takes one step. The research 
focused on two different types of live viruses as proofs 
of concept, a Newcastle Disease vaccine designed 
to protect poultry and a strain of Influenza A.

The breakthrough science would now focus on proving the 
approach for other animal and human vaccines, including 
mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The team continue to progress 
this research and are looking to partner with animal and 
human health companies to commercialise their work. 
Their study forms part of CSIRO’s biomedical research, 
which is aiming to generate new opportunities for Australian 
businesses and increase national sovereign capability. 

For more information on thermostable vaccines 
contact Dr Daniel Layton: daniel.layton@csiro.au 



Tilapia biocontrol 

Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) 
is listed as one of the world’s top 100 worst invasive 
alien species, and has severe impacts on freshwater 
ecosystems primarily through displacement 
of native species and habitat alteration. 

In Australia, both O. mossambicus and the 
lesser‑known black spotted tilapia (Tilapia mariae) 
have established significant populations within 
Queensland waters, and recent incursions into 
northern New South Wales are of great concern. 

Scientists at ACDP are leading a tilapia biocontrol 
research project, in collaboration with University of 
the Sunshine Coast, James Cook University, Elizabeth 
Macarthur Agricultural Institute, and ACRE Economics. 
The project is funded by the Australian Government 
via the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions. 

Where feasible, biological control can be a cost-effective, 
safe and practical solution to managing invasive species. 

Based on the development of previous viral biocontrol 
strategies for rabbits and carp, the team used a robust 
assessment framework to identify potential biocontrol 
agent candidates. They found tilapia lake virus 
(Tilapinevirus tilapiae) and possibly tilapia parvovirus 
may offer the potential for biocontrol for invasive tilapia 
in Australia. 

This work was published in Biological Control in August, 
and the team presented their findings at two symposia 
later in the year. 

For more information contact Dr Agus Sunarto: 
agus.sunarto@csiro.au 

Mozambique tilapia has established itself in Queensland waters. 
Credit: By Greg Hume - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0.



Researchers are investigating microbiome-based biomarkers 
for the improved detection of Johne’s disease, an incurable 
infectious disease of livestock.

Researchers at ACDP have developed a gene-marker system 
to identify eggs containing male embryos before they are 
incubated and hatched.

Sex sorting for the 
egg‑layer industry 

Each year in Australia, around 23 million day-old male 
chicks are humanely culled in the egg laying industry. 
As these male chicks are of the layer, rather than broiler, 
breed of chicken, they do not produce meat sustainably 
and cannot be grown for this purpose. This culling results 
in waste as well as representing a serious ethical issue.

The Genome Engineering Team at ACDP has formed 
a research partnership with Hendrix Genetics 
to assess the viability of a solution that would 
enable the egg laying industry to avoid culling 
male chicks altogether, and in doing so improve 
its ethics, carbon footprint, and sustainability.

This solution was developed by our researchers; it is a 
gene-marker system that can identify eggs containing male 
embryos before they are incubated and hatched, allowing 
for their removal and, potentially, use in other ways such 
as for vaccine production. Not only does this solution 
eliminate stress to both hatched and unhatched male 
chicks, but also it means producers won’t have to incubate 
and hatch double the number of eggs necessary, thus 
improving their workflow, sustainability, and profitability. 

The partnership between CSIRO and Hendrix 
Genetics allows for further research into integrating 
this technology with current industry practice.

In 2022, we have also welcomed Dr Olivier Serralbo 
from Monash University into the team at ACDP, 
to expand this research capability and enable new 
gene technology solutions for the poultry industry.

For more information on sex-sorting technology 
contact Dr Mark Tizard: mark.tizard@csiro.au or 
Dr Oliver Serralbo: olivier.serralbo@csiro.au

Johne’s disease 

Johne’s disease is a chronic, incurable infectious 
disease in ruminant livestock which leads to wasting 
and eventual death in affected animals. The highly 
contagious disease is a significant biosecurity risk 
and welfare concern in Australia and internationally. 

To control the spread of Johne’s disease in livestock, 
early detection and quarantine is vital. However, as 
for many infectious diseases, the current diagnostic 
tests for Johne’s disease are lacking, with poor 
sensitivity and long turn-around times. 

In collaboration with the National Reference Laboratory 
for Johne’s Disease, researchers at ACDP have begun 
a project investigating microbiome-based biomarkers 
for the improved detection of Johne’s disease. 
Intestinal inflammation resulting from infection leads 
to changes to the composition and function of the gut 
microbiome. These changes have the potential to be 
used to distinguish healthy and infected animals faster 
and more accurately than current diagnostics tools. 

We are analysing hundreds to thousands of bacteria 
in the gut microbiome to identify candidate markers 
to accurately predict disease. This novel approach will 
give farmers actionable information that they can use 
to minimise the spread of this devastating disease, 
improving the health and welfare of their livestock.

For more information on Johne’s disease research 
contact Dr Annaleise Wilson: annaleise.wilson@csiro.au 
or Dr Cameron Stewart: cameron.stewart@csiro.au



Research has detected potential sources of Mycobacterium 
ulcerans, including the role possums play in circulating the 
bacteria in the environment.

Delivering bioassays for 
diagnosis, surveillance and 
response to disease outbreaks 

Australia’s response to emerging and existing biological 
threats to animal health requires development of 
new assays and reagents suitable for detection and 
identification of disease agents. Diagnosis of disease 
informs appropriate actions to help mitigate the 
threat to our animals, industries and people. 

The Bioassay Research and Development team at 
ACDP develop and manufacture novel diagnostic tests 
and bioreagents suitable for detection of veterinary 
and zoonotic diseases. In 2022, a lowered priority for 
SARS‑CoV-2 bioassays allowed the team to refocus 
attention to developing tests for diseases of livestock 
and zoonoses, including foot-and-mouth disease virus, 
Hendra and Nipah viruses, and capripox viruses that cause 
sheep pox, goat pox and lumpy skin disease in cattle. 

The assays and reagents developed support 
ACDP’s diagnostic services program and external 
customers at home and abroad. This important role 
forms an integral part of ACDP’s and Australia’s 
efforts to ensure our nation’s biosecurity. 

For more information contact Dr Grant Peck: 
grant.peck@csiro.au 

Buruli ulcer 

Mycobacterium ulcerans, the agent of Buruli ulcer, causes 
severe destructive lesions of skin and soft-tissue in humans, 
which often result in long-term disability. In Victoria the 
community is facing a worsening epidemic; cases are 
rapidly increasing in number, becoming more severe 
in nature, and occurring in new geographical areas. 

Despite this, it is still not clear how people 
are contracting this disease, preventing the 
implementation of control measures, and inhibiting 
the effectiveness of public health policy. 

With National Health and Medical Research Council 
funding and working with numerous Victorian partners, 
including the University of Melbourne and Barwon Health, 
ACDP researchers conducted a large-scale case-control 
study of Buruli ulcer throughout the Victorian endemic area. 

Using a questionnaire approach alongside environmental 
sampling of case and control properties, this research 
both detected potential sources of Mycobacterium ulcerans 
and identified several risk and protective factors for this 
disease, including strong support for the role possums 
play in the environmental circulation of this bacteria. 
Through publication of the results and provision of this 
information to the Victorian Department of Health, this 
research has contributed to improved public education 
and awareness of Buruli ulcer. These findings will also aid 
in the development of disease-appropriate intervention 
strategies to help in the prevention of Buruli ulcer.

For more information contact Dr Kim Blasdell: 
kim.blasdell@csiro.au 



The Operations and Maintenance 
teams monitor and look after 
the services required to keep 
the facility operating safely.


Maintaining our infrastructure 

ACDP was constructed in 1985 and has been operating 
ever since. During this time, there have been upgrades 
to operational systems and some laboratories, but 
the facility now needs a refresh to future-proof 
its extensive high-containment laboratories. 

The ACDP Part-Life Refit project aims to extend and 
refresh the existing facility and infrastructure services 
to ensure CSIRO can continue to prevent and respond 
to exotic and emerging animal and zoonotic diseases 
in Australia for the next 30+ years. The planned 
works will also ensure CSIRO continues to meet its 
regulatory compliance requirements of the facility. 

The works will involve updating some areas of the existing 
facility in Geelong to match future research demands. 
Stages include the construction of a new wing extension, 
refurbishment of several of the facility’s laboratory suites, 
and replacing end-of-life services and infrastructure. 

Due to its national importance as a provider of critical 
disease testing and animal and zoonotic disease research, 
ACDP will continue operating throughout the project. 
This will be achieved by carrying out the work in 
phases, to ensure full capability is maintained. 

CSIRO is currently undertaking design development 
and is expected to submit project information 
to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on 
Public Works for consideration in early 2023. 

If approved by the committee, construction works are 
expected to commence in October 2023. At this stage 
it is anticipated that these works will continue through 
to July 2027.



Meet Stuart Lucas, 
helping to keep 
ACDP running

Stuart Lucas is the Acting State Manager looking after the 
operation and maintenance of ACDP. As Australia’s largest 
biocontainment laboratory, there is some very elegant 
engineering in the building, and it requires a specialised 
team to keep the facility operating smoothly. We chatted 
to Stuart to find out what it’s like to manage a complex 
building like ACDP.

What is involved in being State Manager of ACDP?

Stuart hasn’t long been in his new role as Acting State 
Manager for ACDP but is quickly getting up to speed. 
He manages the team of people who keep the facility 
running smoothly, allowing our scientists to conduct their 
important research safely.

As the Acting Manager, Stuart has day-to-day interactions 
with the team to monitor progress and discuss forward 
plans. A major project currently underway is the ACDP 
Part-Life Refit project. The project is now in the design 
development phase, which requires input from Stuart’s 
team to assist with the technical considerations required 
for such a complex build.

What is unique about managing a facility like ACDP?

This facility is one of only a few in the world, able to safely 
store and conduct research on some of the world’s most 
dangerous pathogens. Stuart’s team helps make sure that 
services are maintained around the clock to guarantee the 
biocontainment is secure, and all regulatory requirements 
are always met. For this level of biocontainment, the facility 
is equipped with substantial engineering infrastructure 
– including pressurised air filtering systems, collection 
and treatment of all solid and liquid waste plus every 
containment system is either duplicated or triplicated 
ensuring containment is never at risk from one computer 
or power failure – all of which requires significant specialist 
skills to operate and maintain.

What mix of skills do the team need to run the facility?

Stuart’s team consists of engineers, technical trades and 
those involved in documentation and compliance, including:

• the Operations team, who monitor the services in the 
facility and ensure they are operating correctly and 
within specifications
• the Maintenance team who look after the services, 
plan for updates, prevent issues and respond rapidly 
to repair any equipment downtime
• the Documentation and Compliance team
• the General Services team who run the stores and 
manage cleaning and waste and contractors onsite
• a small team of engineers, who provide specialist 
technical knowledge across the facility and run minor 
works projects as required.




ACDP hosted a conference hub as part of the Cutting Edge Symposium.

Engagement and outreach 

Australian Society of 
Immunology Conference

This year was the 50th Annual Scientific Meeting of the 
Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology 
held on 29 November to 2 December 2022 at the 
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The conference presented an excellent 
opportunity for CSIRO to network and hear 
about the latest immunology research. 

Several CSIRO scientists and post-docs attended. 
The Student Networking Forum attracted 
around 200 participants and the booth was well 
attended during conference breakouts. 

Topics included COVID-19, innate immunity, 
tumour immunology, systems immunology, 
autoimmunity and many more.

Cutting Edge Symposium

In late September, CSIRO held a Joint Cutting-Edge Virtual 
Symposium on Coronaviruses with ‘Disease X’ Potential 
together with the UK International Coronavirus Network, 
the US Department of Health and Human Services and 
the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part 
of the Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network 
international conference. 

Disease X refers to a hypothetical unknown virus 
that could be of serious threat to human health, 
with an increasing likelihood of zoonotic origin. 

The event brought together early/mid-career researchers 
and international experts from a diverse range of 
disciplines who have been working on COVID-19 and 
SARS-like coronaviruses to develop strategies to facilitate 
the rapid responses to novel infectious agents. 

This symposium was a part of our existing collaboration 
with the FDA through the Medical Countermeasures 
Initiative led by CSIRO. A conference hub at ACDP 
had more than 75 in-person attendees and over 
1100 online through the Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic 
Laboratory Network international conference, 
with other hubs in the UK and Canada. 

A Women in STEMM networking event was also 
held at ACDP in conjunction with the symposium. 
The proceedings of the symposium will be distributed 
and made available in a special forthcoming 
edition of the Journal of General Virology.

ACDP seminar series

The ACDP seminar series was held online in 
2022. It provides a platform for our researchers, 
students and visiting scientists to present 
their work to a broader audience onsite and to 
others in the Geelong research network.



Dr Mark Schipp, Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer, 
attended the WOAH meetings at ACDP.

About 40 external participants attended the WOAH Reference Laboratory network meeting for avian influenza and Newcastle disease.

International visitors 

In 2022, ACDP and the Australian Government 
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 
co-hosted two international meetings of the 
World Organisation for Animal Health Asia Pacific 
Reference Laboratory networks for avian influenza 
and Newcastle disease, and African swine fever.

This was the first face-to-face meeting of these group 
members for three years, and the first time the 
meetings have been held at ACDP or in Australia. 

For both meetings, about 40 external participants 
attended, including experts from across the Asia-Pacific 
region and additionally from Europe and USA. Staff from 
the World Organisation of Animal Health and the UN Food 
and Agriculture Organisation, and the Australian Chief 
Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp, were also present.

It presented a fantastic opportunity to engage directly 
with international experts and discuss the key issues 
in managing these diseases in the Asia Pacific.



Developing our people, 
culture and workforce 

At CSIRO our values underpin not just 
the work we do, but how we do it, 
and how we interact with our colleagues 
and the diverse range of partners we 
collaborate with every day.

Living these values is central to the work and success 
of ACDP, and the important outcomes we deliver for 
the nation. 

There are four CSIRO values: People First, Trusted, 
Further Together and Making it Real.

Our people are highly trained scientific, technical, 
and professional officers committed to high standards 
of work, and to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of 
themselves and each other. 

This year has been all about re-connecting again after 
the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and many 
initiatives for supporting our people have been started 
or re-invigorated. The ACDP First Nations Engagement 
Committee established a dialogue with the Wadawurrung 
Traditional Owners, which led to opportunities for 
interaction and presented site-based people with a glimpse 
into the pre-European settlement culture of the site.

As a national facility, ACDP has a significant responsibility 
to help Australia, its people and its industries. We consider 
ACDP’s purpose a privilege and work hard to deliver 
on the trust placed in our staff and in our science. 
Our workplace is also built on the trust between each 
other as colleagues, and between ACDP and our partners.

We collaborate widely because we can achieve more 
together and at ACDP, we work together across teams 
and across disciplines in a One Health approach, 
which recognises the health of people, animals and 
the environment are all connected.

This year we have again delivered real impact, not 
only in our research results, but in living our values 
and developing our people. Living true to CSIRO’s 
values helps us to perform our critical function 
within Australia’s biosecurity network, delivering and 
developing our core diagnostic skills and undertaking 
research into diseases that pose a real threat to our 
livestock industry, our wildlife and our people.

First Nations engagement 

In 2021, ACDP established a First Nations Engagement 
Working Group to oversee the development of an 
action plan for ACDP in meeting its commitments 
under the CSIRO Reconciliation Action Plan.

This year, ACDP achieved a significant milestone with 
the establishment of dialogue with the Wadawurrung 
Traditional Owners for the Geelong ACDP site. 

ACDP is about to embark on a major capital works 
project which will see the refit and extension of the 
secure laboratories. ACDP and the design team see 
an opportunity for the physical design of the space to 
reference Traditional Owner history, culture and values. 

To facilitate this opportunity, ACDP hosted a “Walk on 
Country” in May 2022 – an informal meeting between 
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and the designers 
and architects for the ACDP Part-Life Refit. The walk 
was to help architects better understand the Indigenous 
cultural history, stories or outlook that might influence 
layout or be incorporated into design. As ACDP is a 
quarantine site and not open to public access, the 
walk also provided the first look at the ACDP site by 
the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners in decades.

Also in May, ACDP was 
fortunate to have a Welcome to 
Country by the Wadawurrung 
Traditional Owners to 
celebrate Reconciliation 
Week. The event featured 
a smoking ceremony and 
official unveiling of an artwork 
by local Aboriginal artist BJ 
O’Toole. Around 100 onsite 
staff and representatives from 
the Victorian Indigenous Engagement Committee 
attended the smoking ceremony, hosted by Wadawurrung 
woman Corrina Eccles and her son BJ O’Toole. 

Following the ceremony, BJ O’Toole gave a short talk 
on a painting that ACDP purchased in 2021. There was 
a light afternoon tea after the talk. Due to COVID-19, 
this was the first opportunity ACDP had to unveil the 
painting which is displayed in the reception area. 

We are thrilled to have finally had the opportunity to 
have BJ and Corrina onsite and BJ’s explanation of the 
painting, recorded beside it with his permission.



Matt Bruce reflects on the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners visit on-site 

In May, a traditional smoking ceremony was held onsite 
followed by the official unveiling of BJ O’Toole’s artwork. 
These events were organised through the efforts of 
the ACDP First Nations Engagement Working Group. 
Matt Bruce received ACDP’s Corporate Citizenship Award 
in December 2022 in recognition of his role in helping 
to organise these events, his efforts to raise awareness 
about CSIRO’s RAP and for encouraging our people 
to consider the role they can play in reconciliation.

“I always felt like this site was so curated, turned over 
and developed that any Indigenous culture had been 
scrubbed from it. Seeing how Corrina (in particular) 
related to what she could hear, see and smell from 
this site, made me realise that Wadawurrung Culture 
exists here, way deeper than anyone can dig. 

“It includes the sky in every direction and as far as the 
stars. It includes the view from every corner and bump 
and hill and tower. A culture that believes the spirit of past 
ancestors is returned to, and lives on in the environment, 
in the dirt, rocks, trees and animals. A culture that is 
acutely aware that we stand on the lives and choices of 
our ancestors and the ancestors of this land. An ancient 
and wise culture that surrounds and permeates us on 
Wadawurrung Country. It has always and will always be 
here, if we are aware of it or not.’ – Matt Bruce, part of 
ACDP’s First Nations Engagement Working Group.

Wadawurrung Country, 2021, Acrylic on canvas

“The first layer represents the ochre which is our earth, 
it is commonly found exposed along our coastline in the 
cliffs. Ochre was used in ceremonies and as a traditional 
paint. The next layer represents the coastline with the 
traditional Wadawurrung markings sharing the story of the 
old people who lived, camped, collected food and resources 
along this coastline for thousands of years. Next is the 
saltwater which Wadawurrung Country is known for. It 
is saltwater country. It is followed by the volcanic plains 
that run through Wadawurrung Country, telling of times 
long ago. We then have our freshwater, which were our 
travelling routes across country. Then the mountains 
our ‘Wurdi youang’ meaning big hill. You can see our 
mountains all over Country. Waa the crow is our protector 
on Wadawurrung Country which is why I have incorporated 
Waa onto this painting. He will always look over you and 
protect you while you are on Wadawurrung Country.”

(Billy-Jay O’Toole, 31/5/2021)

BJ is a proud Wadawurrung man living on Wadawurrung 
Country at Mount Duneed. He is a recognised Traditional 
Owner and Cultural Heritage Representative for 
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

BJ O’Toole’s artwork 
and the explanation 
of the painting.



Mark Woodcock and Lynda Wright from ACDP at Mardi Gras.

Representing CSIRO at Mardi Gras 

Diversity is important, to foster innovation, creativity and productivity. But diversity 
is only one part. We need an inclusive culture for all our people to thrive.

Participating in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 
parade is one way CSIRO demonstrates how much 
we value and celebrate the LGBTQI+ community. 

In 2022, 40 of our people powered their way 
around the Sydney Cricket Ground representing 
CSIRO and the Pride@CSIRO network.

Mark Woodcock from ACDP was there and brings 
us his reflections on what it meant for him to 
be representing CSIRO at Mardi Gras.

What did it feel like to be marching 
at Mardi Gras?

“Marching at Mardi Gras, it felt like I was where I was 
supposed to be, and that I was loved for being my true 
self and for expressing myself honestly – all throughout 
the weekend’s arrangements, celebrations and dancing. 
Clear in my memory is the buzzing, whooping and vibrant 
colours of an entire stadium chanting ‘we love science’, 
plus the strong sense of being valued and seen that this 
experience gave me. The entire weekend was an incredible 
rush of excitement, belonging and community.”

Are you able to bring your true self 
to work each day?

“For me, Mardi Gras is about inclusion, belonging and 
the power to be proud and honest about who you are. 
I work hard to be my true self whenever I’m out in the 
world, including at work – even if that’s sometimes easier 
said than done. Learning to not hide and to express all 
pieces of myself – whether that’s being ADHD, non‑binary, 
a dyslexic thinker, disabled, queer or another of my 
qualities that aren’t so neatly labelled – takes time and 
isn’t without setbacks. Yet when I can bring my whole 
self to work, I feel excited to collaborate with others, I’m 
productive and joyful, and often I surprise myself with the 
creative solutions my wonderful brain comes up with.”

What does it mean for you that CSIRO is 
working to create a safe, supportive and 
diverse working environment?

“It means heaps to me that CSIRO is working to create a 
safe, supportive, and diverse working environment. To 
me it says that CSIRO understands the value in providing 
places where people can clearly see they belong, no matter 
their background, and where they’re empowered to speak 
up and share their ideas. It means that CSIRO wants its 
people to succeed in all areas of their lives and is willing 
to give them the means to do so. While there may be a 
way to go, from tolerance and acceptance to appreciation 
and admiration of our differences, I’m excited to see 
what we can learn from each other, and the progress we 
can make, in an environment that shows folk that they 
matter because of their diversity and not despite it.”



Meet Sinéad Williams, 
a champion of diversity 
and inclusion 

Sinéad Williams is a research scientist at ACDP and 
team leader of the Zoonotic Platforms research team. 

She and the team have been developing ex-vivo lung 
models through cell culture to aid research into both 
viral and bacterial respiratory infections in the normal 
and diseased lung. These models have been used to test 
therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 and are currently being 
used as a platform to test nebulized antivirals to influenza.

Sinéad was among many CSIRO scientists who 
contributed to our understanding of COVID-19. But the 
pandemic also presented another unique challenge for 
her science career: she was born profoundly deaf, and, 
in 2020, she lost what little hearing she had. With the 
introduction of mask mandates and virtual meetings 
as the new norm through COVID-19, Sinéad found 
she could no longer rely on facial expressions and 
lipreading to help her communicate as she used to.

Sinéad’s hearing loss was what initially led her to a 
career in science. Her interest in microbiology emerged 
with her discovery that Rubella virus, which her 
mother had contracted while pregnant, had caused 
her hearing loss. After schooling, Sinéad went into 
laboratory research and found the conditions of this 
work suited her well; it required face-to-face interaction 
with just a small group of colleagues at one time.

When COVID-19 upended these conditions and at the 
same time Sinéad lost her hearing completely, she became 
anxious about her ability to work. But CSIRO’s Health, Safety 
and Environment team found a way to help, arranging clear 
face shields for her team so they could all still communicate.

That same year, Sinéad underwent surgery for a cochlear 
implant and the sound processor helped her to hear again. 
A second cochlear sound processor was donated by the 
company Cochlear who manufactures them, to be kept 
in the secure laboratory, because the microbiological 
security procedures required to exit the lab mean the 
device can’t leave the lab without being destroyed. 

Sinéad is a member of the CSIRO Disability Working 
Group, actively supporting CSIRO’s diversity and inclusion 
efforts, even appearing as a guest speaker at an all-
staff event. She believes frank discussions about our 
needs are key to ensuring our workplaces are inclusive. 
She encourages leaders to have these discussions with their 
team members, to ask how they can best be of support, 
and to not assume anything about anyone’s abilities.



CSIRO Early Research 
Career Postdoctoral and 
Engineering Fellowship 

CSIRO Early Research Career Postdoctoral and 
Engineering Fellows work alongside leading researchers 
on projects of national and global significance. They 
undertake independent research and are mentored by 
senior scientists, while being given access to generous 
personal development and learning opportunities. 

We aim to enhance the research capability of ACDP through 
the employment of PhD graduates as CSIRO Early Research 
Career Fellows. Our goal is to offer a range of opportunities 
to develop successful candidates as future science leaders. 

ACDP hosted seven Early Research Career Fellows in 2022.

ACDP Academic Board 

ACDP’s Academic Board was established in 2021 to support 
students undertaking formal scientific research in pursuit 
of postgraduate qualifications, and their supervisory staff. 

The overall objective of the Board is to ensure ACDP 
maintains the highest standards in research training, 
scholarship opportunities and collegiate culture. This 
is achieved by ensuring student projects are of high 
scientific quality, have appropriate financial support, 
and that students receive high-quality supervision. 

The aim is to ensure a positive and rewarding research 
experience for the student, and the delivery of high-
quality and rigorous scientific outcomes from student 
projects that advance knowledge in the field. 

The STEMM engagement program, established in 2022, 
hosted five high school visits and two high school 
work experience students. ACDP hosted numerous 
student placements in 2022, including six veterinary 
student placements, and five undergraduate and 
postgraduate student placements. ACDP hosted 13 
honours, masters, and PhD students in 2022.

ACDP Social Club 

The ACDP Social Club aims to make the workplace an 
enjoyable and inclusive place for all. Our hard-working 
committee of 21 staff regularly organises events for 
people to socialise and make connections with their 
colleagues, arranges services such as the tea and coffee 
supply, and holds functions to mark special dates. 

In 2022, the Social Club offered important support to 
our staff to welcome everyone back to site following the 
COVID-19 pandemic. Events were held online and in person, 
both indoors and outdoors, to allow people to participate 
as they felt comfortable. Activities included discounted 
ticket sales to local events, weekends at the snow, day 
trips in the local area, fundraising raffles and morning 
teas, happy hours, lunches and Christmas breakups. 

Social connection is more important than ever 
as we emerge from the last couple of years and 
reconnect with colleagues and new staff.

Embrace 

The “Embrace” group at ACDP, a leadership initiative 
for women, aims to encourage and raise awareness of 
key roles women can play in science and leadership 
positions. They want to provide inspiration and 
encouragement to women at ACDP, to not only 
continue in science but to influence the direction of 
science by pursuing management positions and seeing 
them as worthwhile and a positive challenge.

This year the group was able to celebrate together at ACDP 
with only minor restrictions. The theme was #BreakTheBias 
and Vicky Boyd started the presentation by reflecting on 
the establishment of International Women’s Day and paying 
homage to the brave women and men that founded the day.

The guest speaker was Dr Danielle Anderson, who 
completed her PhD research at ACDP then worked in 
labs around the world. Danielle is now back in Australia 
working as a research scientist at the Victorian Infectious 
Diseases Reference Laboratory at the Peter Doherty 
Institute, and she shared her experiences with the group.



Meet Melanie Tripp, PhD student, 
studying differences between 
Hendra and Nipah virus genotypes 

A PhD student studying through 
Monash University, Melanie is based 
at ACDP and is about to start 
her second year of study. 

Since starting at ACDP, Melanie has embraced many 
opportunities. She is the student representative on site and 
co-facilitator of the ACDP Scientific Journal Club, which 
she says contribute to a supportive student community, 
enhance learning and help create a friendly working 
environment. Melanie was also awarded best student 
seminar in the 2022 ACDP student seminar series awards. 

We asked Melanie what got her started in a career in 
science and what she is working on for her PhD.

How Melanie ended up in science

Melanie says she has always been interested in science 
and understanding how things work. Once enrolled 
in her science degree, Melanie found she really 
enjoyed studying molecular biology and microbiology. 
She enrolled in an honours year in 2021, looking at 
inflammasome inhibitors to treat viral respiratory 
infections at the Hudson Institute which sparked her 
interest in virology. Melanie is excited to be able to 
undertake research that no one else has done before and 
contribute new knowledge to the scientific community.

What Melanie’s working on now

In 2022, Melanie moved to Geelong to start her PhD at ACDP. 
She is researching the genotypes of Hendra and Nipah virus 
to determine if there are any functional differences 
between them.

Melanie finds her PhD project very interesting and hopes her 
research will assist with understanding the risk of outbreaks 
associated with different Hendra/Nipah genotypes, helping 
us to be more prepared for future outbreaks. She enjoys 
the fact there are many possibilities and pathways for the 
research to take which has allowed her to learn about many 
different areas and develop lots of new skills including 
in molecular biology, virology and histopathology.



Meet Marina Alexander, 
mid‑career researcher, 
working with large biological datasets 

Based at ACDP, Marina Alexander is a bioinformatician 
– a scientist who de-codes large and complex biological 
datasets – but she wasn’t always. We asked Marina about 
her pathway to science and what she is currently working on. 

How Marina became a scientist 

At school, Marina discovered she loved solving puzzles. 
And she found that biology was a very fascinating puzzle. 
She enjoys understanding the mechanics of living things, 
and appreciates that they provide us with food, health and 
wellbeing. It was no surprise that biology and chemistry 
were her two favourite subjects in high school. 

From school Marina went on to complete a Bachelor of 
Commerce/Science at Melbourne University majoring in 
microbiology followed by her honours year as a virologist 
studying the disease, HIV. After graduating from Melbourne 
University, Marina enrolled in a PhD program at the Peter 
Doherty Institute and continued to research HIV. 

Her first post doctorate position was at the Weill Cornell 
Medical College in New York where she assisted the HIV 
vaccine development mission. 

After taking a career break and returning to Australia, 
Marina started work as a molecular biologist at the 
Australian National Wildlife Collection at CSIRO in Canberra. 
Here she worked on genomics, the study of genes and how 
they interact, developing a method for reading the genetic 
sequence of museum specimens preserved in formalin. 

What Marina is researching now

After moving to Melbourne, Marina started a second 
post-doctoral position at ACDP, again working 
with viruses, but this time focussed on Hendra and 
Nipah viruses. It was during this time that Marina 
moved into bioinformatics, discovering the joy of 
solving biological and computing problems. 

She has now been appointed as a research scientist 
with ACDP working on lumpy skin disease (LSD) 
virus. Using her bioinformatics skills, she and the 
team will look for a biomarker in the LSD virus 
genome that can be used as an accurate and sensitive 
diagnostic tool for identifying infection with LSD. 

Marina is also leading a project in collaboration with the 
Australian National Wildlife Collection, to read the genetic 
sequences of viruses found in bats and rodents preserved in 
formalin. These specimens have been collected from 10 to 
60 years ago from many regions in Australia. By analysing 
viruses from this group of specimens, we may be able to 
track the evolution of the viruses that these species carry 
and possibly define the host range, the term used for 
the diversity of species the viruses can naturally infect. 



Receiving a sample containing Japanese encephalitis 
for diagnostic and confirmatory testing at ACDP.

CSIRO’s Trusted Medal Award 

We are pleased to report that the Japanese 
Encephalitis Virus (JEV) Outbreak Response Team 
won CSIRO’s 2022 Trusted Medal Award.

The Trusted Medal Award recognises and promotes 
significant contributions to enhancing CSIRO’s research 
and reputation as a trusted advisor, by engaging with 
and providing benefit to the Australian community.

In 2022, Australia had an unprecedented outbreak of 
the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus. ACDP 
scientists were instrumental in the lab detection of 
the first cases, alerting authorities to the existence of 
the virus in Australia, and the start of the outbreak. 
Our diagnostic and emergency response teams 
conducted 1352 diagnostic and confirmatory tests 
on animal samples in the first month alone.

This strain of the virus hadn’t been seen in Australia before, 
and many labs weren’t equipped to diagnose it. Our 
scientists quickly developed and shared test protocols and 
reagents with veterinary and public health laboratories.

In addition, CSIRO scientists provided advice on 
disease transmission, vector monitoring and risk 
assessment in a One Health approach, supporting 
authorities to understand and manage the outbreak. 

CSIRO’s communication team worked in tandem 
with researchers, creating comms to enable accurate 
media reporting, and supporting researchers to 
provide expert viewpoints to the public.

Our cross-organisational efforts in the outbreak have 
been acknowledged by government and industry.



Future focus

As the world learns to live with COVID-19, there is a strong recognition of the importance 
of scientific research for prevention, preparedness, surveillance, and response against new 
and emerging infectious diseases. We will continue to strengthen our One Health approach, 
with the need to investigate more of the pathogens that exist in wildlife. As well as bolstering 
our animal and zoonotic disease research portfolios, we are focused on enhanced methods of 
surveillance, predictive modelling and the development of new vaccines. Along with this, we 
are committed to mitigating the impacts of disease, as we expand our work in the Asia-Pacific 
to assist them with their preparedness and response, leading to greater security in the region.

One Health 

Animal and 
zoonotic disease 
preparedness 
and response 

Strengthening biosecurity in our region

Building capability 
for national and 
regional biosecurity 
and resilience

Protecting our way of life

Improved health 
and wellbeing of 
all Australians



Publication list

1. Adamson LSR, Tasneem N, Andreas MP, Close W, 
Jenner EN, Szyszka TN, Young R, Cheah LC, Norman 
A, MacDermott-Opeskin HI, O’Mara ML, Sainsbury 
F, Giessen TW, Lau YH. (2022) Pore structure 
controls stability and molecular flux in engineered 
protein cages. Sci Adv. 2022 Feb 4;8(5). https://
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2. Adamu AM, McNabb L, Adikwu AA, Jibril YJ, Idoko SI, 
Turaki AU, Abalaka SE, Edeh RE, Egwu GO, Adah MI, 
Halpin K. (2022) Henipavirus sero-surveillance in horses 
and pigs from Northern Nigeria. Frontiers in Virology, 
2, 929715. https://doi.org/10.3389/fviro.2022.929715
3. Annand EJ, Horsburgh BA, Xu K, Reid PA, Poole B, de 
Kantzow MC, Brown N, Tweedie A, Michie M, Grewar 
JD, Jackson AE, Singanallur NB, Plain KM, Kim K, 
Tachedjian M, van der Heide B, Crameri S, Williams 
DT, Secombe C, Laing ED, Sterling S, Yan L, Jackson 
L, Jones C, Plowright RK, Peel AJ, Breed AC, Diallo I, 
Dhand NK, Britton PN, Broder CC, Smith I, Eden JS. 
(2022) Novel Hendra Virus Variant Detected by Sentinel 
Surveillance of Horses in Australia. Emerg Infect Dis. 
28(3):693-704. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2803.211245
4. Ardipradja KS, Wichmann CW, Hickson K, Rigopoulos 
A, Alt KM, Pearce HA, Wang X, O’Keefe G, Scott AM, 
Peter K, Hagemeyer CE, Ackermann U, (2022) 18F 
Site-Specific Labelling of a Single-Chain Antibody 
against Activated Platelets for the Detection of Acute 
Thrombosis in Positron Emission Tomography. Int J Mol 
Sci (13):6886. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23136886 
5. Arias MB, Hartle-Mougiou K, Taboada S, Vogler AP, 
Riesgo A, Elfekih S. (2022) Unveiling biogeographical 
patterns in the worldwide distributed Ceratitis 
capitata (medfly) using population genomics 
and microbiome composition. Mol Ecol. 2022 
Sep;31(18):4866-4883. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16616
6. Au GG, Marsh GA, McAuley AJ, Lowther S, Trinidad 
L, Edwards S, Todd S, Barr J, Bruce MP, Poole TB, 
Brown S, Layton R, Riddell S, Rowe B, Soldani E, Suen 
WW, Bergfeld J, Bingham J, Payne J, Durr PA, Drew 
TW, Vasan SS (2022) Characterisation and natural 
progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection in ferrets. Sci Rep 
12, 5680. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08431-6 
7. Balkema-Buschmann A, Fischer K, McNabb L, Diederich 
S, Singanallur NB, Ziegler U, Keil GM, Kirkland PD, 
Penning M, Sadeghi B, Marsh G, Barr J, Colling A 
(2022) Serological Hendra Virus Diagnostics Using an 
Indirect ELISA-Based DIVA Approach with Recombinant 
Hendra G and N Proteins. Microorganisms 10(6):1095. 
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10061095 
8. Barbosa AD, Long M, Lee W, Austen JM, Cunneen 
M, Ratchford A, Burns B, Kumarasinghe P, Ben-
Othman R, Kollmann TR, Stewart CR, Beaman M, 
Parry R, Hall R, Tabor A, O’Donovan J, Faddy HM, 
Collins M, Cheng AC, Stenos J, Graves S, Oskam CL, 
Ryan UM, Irwin PJ (2022) The Troublesome Ticks 
Research Protocol: Developing a Comprehensive, 
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11(11):1290. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11111290 
9. Barr J, Boyd V, Todd S, Smith I, Prada D, O’Dea 
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(2022) Detection of filovirus-reactive antibodies 
in Australian bat species. J Gen Virol. Aug;103(8). 
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Parajuli P, Kashyap D, Reddy AG, Chaubey G, Das 
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Marker counter-selection via CRISPR/Cas9 co-targeting 
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lines and germ cells. Anim Biotechnol, 33(6):1235-1245. 
https://doi.org/10.1080/10495398.2021.1885428




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21. Edgar RCS, Siddiqui G, Hjerrild K, Malcolm TR, Vinh 
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22. Elfekih S, Metcalfe S, Walsh TK, Cox TE, Strive T. (2022) 
Genomic insights into a population of introduced 
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69(2):895-902. doi: 10.1111/tbed.14030. Epub 2021 Mar 
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25. Fourie I, Snyman J, Williams J, Ismail A, Jansen van 
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