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Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP)

2. Responsible public or private organization or company
ACDP is managed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) (Commonwealth Government). The name of the facility was changed from the Australian Animal Health Laboratory to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness to better reflect the nature of the work conducted in the facility, inclusive of both animal and zoonotic diseases.
3. Location and postal address
Location: 5 Portarlington Road East Geelong VIC 3219 AUSTRALIA Postal address: PMB Bag 24 Geelong VIC 3220 AUSTRALIA
4. Source(s) of financing of the reported activity, including indication if the activity is wholly or partly financed by the Ministry of Defence

ACDP is funded by the Australian Government, via CSIRO and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE). It is also funded by other government agencies, industry organisations and commercial companies for specific research and development programs and projects. Funding to support ACDP’s work on the environmental stability of SARS-CoV-2 was provided in 2020 by Department of Defence.

5. Number of maximum containment units5 within the research centre and/or laboratory, with an indication of their respective size (SqM):
No containment units defined
6. Scope and general description of activities, including type(s) of micro-organisms and/or toxins as appropriate

ACDP plays a vital role in maintaining and improving Australia's capability for timely diagnosis of new and emerging (terrestrial and aquatic) animal diseases, including exotic (foreign) and zoonotic diseases. This is achieved through a dedicated team providing routine and emergency diagnostic services and ongoing research programs to develop or improve diagnostic tests, which are critical to the success of any eradication and/or control campaign in the event of a disease outbreak.

ACDP also undertakes research on new and emerging diseases to better understand the disease process and drivers for their emergence and to develop new diagnostic tests and intervention methods, including vaccines and treatments, for animal diseases of national importance. ACDP is equipped with maximum biocontainment facilities that allow it to securely and safely undertake the above-mentioned diagnostic and research activities for animal diseases of national and international significance.

The laboratory is a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reference laboratory for avian influenza, Newcastle disease, bluetongue, Hendra and Nipah virus infection, African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Abalone Herpes-like virus infection, ranavirus infection, Yellowhead virus (genotype 1) and epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus infection. ACDP is also:

  • an OIE Collaborating Centre for New and Emerging Diseases, for Laboratory Capacity Building and for Diagnostic Test Validation Science in the Asia-Pacific Region
  • a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Collaborating Centre for Animal Influenza, Newcastle Disease and Laboratory Biological Risk Management
  • a member of World Health Organization (WHO) Network of Laboratories for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
  • and a national reference laboratory for rabies and Brucella spp.

(4) For facilities with maximum containment units participating in the national biological defence research and development programme, please fill in name of facility and mark "Declared in accordance with Form A, part 2 (iii)".

(5) In accordance with the latest edition of the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual, or equivalent.