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Our research

African swine fever

Our Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) was built to help protect Australia's livestock industries from disease threats such as African swine fever (ASF), and our scientists are well prepared to help and respond.

Strengthening PNG against animal diseases

We’ve partnered with Papua New Guinea to help strengthen the country’s ability to prevent and control serious animal diseases.

Avian influenza

Our scientists at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) help track the constant evolution of avian influenza strains including those that have the potential to change from low pathogenicity to high pathogenicity.

Partnership with Indonesia's animal health laboratory

Our Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) has a strong tradition of strengthening animal health laboratory capacity in detecting, preventing and controlling existing and emerging diseases throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is a potentially fatal disease that infects about 100,000 people worldwide every year. Caused by an arbovirus (an arthropod-borne virus), it is transmitted by mosquitoes.

Canine ehrlichiosis

In 2020, staff at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) confirmed that dogs from the Kimberley region of Western Australia were infected with the disease canine ehrlichiosis, previously not detected in Australia.

COVID-19 research

We're involved in a broad range of activities with government and industry in response to COVID-19.

Prepared for foot-and-mouth disease

While Australia has been free of foot-and-mouth disease since 1872, the disease is still considered the most serious biosecurity threat to our livestock industries today.

New Hendra virus

Scientists at our Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) have found a new genetic type of Hendra virus in flying foxes across a broad range of Australia.

Preclinical research

Our scientists are conducting research, development and preclinical evaluation of medical countermeasures for dangerous pathogens affecting humans and animals at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), including the ongoing coronavirus crisis (2019-nCoV).

Aquatic animal health

Our scientists at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) are working with veterinary laboratories and regulatory authorities in Australia and internationally to protect and enhance aquatic animal health.

White spot syndrome virus test validation

Scientists from our Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, working with Canada’s University of Prince Edward Island, have scientifically validated two real-time PCR diagnostic tests to detect white spot syndrome virus according to international standards.

ACDP's global role

Support for the region

As one of only six high-containment animal research centres in the world, CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness works with national and international human and animal health organisations as part of a global One Health network.

Our reference centres and designations

ACDP collaborates with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organizaton (FAO).

ACDP Services and Emergency Response

Animal disease outbreaks

Despite Australia's strict quarantine procedures, there is a risk that an exotic animal disease could be introduced. Our quality-assured diagnostic tests are critical to the success of surveillance programs and to the accurate diagnosis and control of outbreaks. We can respond rapidly to disease outbreaks of national impact.

Aquatic animal testing

The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) Fish Diseases Laboratory provides diagnostic services for exotic and emerging diseases, export certification testing and health surveillance. These are available for finfish, molluscs and crustaceans.

Innocuity testing

Our Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) is NATA accredited to provide a wide range of testing to determine innocuity of materials, exclude adventitious agents and for other specialised purposes.

Provision of reagents

Our range of reagents for purchase are suitable for veterinary diagnostic assays including serology, molecular biology and bacteriology.

Animal import and export testing

We offer a testing service for animal owners to certify their animals meet international quarantine standards for import or export.

Accessing our facilities

Explore here how the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) world-class facilities may be available to facilitate your research.

Integrated management system policy

Quality management at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness is fundamental to delivering trusted science that protects a healthy, productive, and prosperous future for Australia’s animals, people and environment.

Our national biocontainment facility

ACDP was formerly known as the australian animal health laboratory

About the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness 

Our Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) facility is a vital part of Australia’s biosecurity infrastructure. We work closely with veterinary and human health agencies globally, as about 70 per cent of emerging infectious diseases in people originate in animals.

Working and studying with us

Accessing our facilities

Explore here how the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) world-class facilities may be available to facilitate your research.

Student opportunities with ACDP

We offer opportunities for postgraduate, undergraduate and high school students to work with us at ACDP, our national bio-containment facility.

Contact us

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