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COVID-19 research at ACDP

We are involved in key research in the rapid global response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The work builds on our strong history protecting people in Australia and around the world from the threat of infectious diseases.

Learn more about our response to COVID-19 

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.

Foot and mouth disease

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly infectious viral disease affecting cloven hoofed animals. While FMD is not transmissible to people, the disease has major economic consequences. We're working with industry and government to ensure Australia is prepared should FMD reach our shores.

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.

New and emerging diseases

ACDP and NIAH entered into a partnership under a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Laboratory Twinning Project to increase the capacity for NIAH to diagnose and respond to new and emerging diseases in the Asia-pacific region.

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 a number of veterinary laboratories in Vietnam to protect and enhance aquatic animal health in the country.

White spot disease

Our Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) provides front line diagnostic testing to keep Australia free of exotic diseases.

ACDP's global role

The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) provides the Australian government and industry groups with advice on exotic and emerging disease issues and advice in the general areas of biosecurity and counter-bioterrorism.

Learn more about our international work

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.

Quarantine 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.

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.

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