World’s most bio-secure lab now open

The Minister for Innovation and Industry, Senator Kim Carr, has opened the world’s most advanced bio-secure laboratory at CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong.

Senator Carr said the AAHL Collaborative Biosecurity Research Facility (ACBRF) allows researchers from across Australia and overseas to work together on projects of national importance, using the highest levels of biological containment.

“Facilities like the ACBRF increase our ability to deal quickly and effectively with emerging diseases which could harm people, animals and crops both in Australia and overseas, Senator Carr said.

“These threats have economic, environmental and social consequences on agricultural productivity, food security, animal and human health and biodiversity.”

The Centre was built with the aid of $8.5 million in Federal funding, through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy. NCRIS has provided over $500 million to equip Australia's researchers with the world's best infrastructure to do their important research.

The ACBRF is located within AAHL’s high containment facility and incorporates a linked Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility. This facility enables fundamental research with infectious disease agents that require the highest levels of biocontainment.

AAHL has developed a significant international reputation as one of the world’s finest animal bioscience research laboratories and is the most sophisticated laboratory in the world for the safe handling and containment of infectious micro-organisms.