New ESR labs opening in 2008
New laboratories for the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR) at the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease – Wallaceville (NCBID-Wallaceville) open in early 2008.
The facilities include new physical containment 2-level (PC2) laboratories and office accommodation for scientists and researchers.
ESR's existing arboviral, enteric reference, leptospira and virus identification reference laboratories will move from their current Kenepuru site in February 2008.
ESR's programme leader for NCBID, Dr Virginia Hope, says these laboratories were chosen to move to the site because of their close links to animal health, with origins as zoonotic diseases. Laboratory staff will also benefit from access to MAF's PC3+ level laboratory on site, the only PC3+ laboratory in New Zealand.
Laboratory scientists, epidemiologists, disease modellers and health information analysts will be among the ESR staff moving to the Wallaceville campus.
"The national centre was established in 2006 with MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, ESR, AgResearch and AsureQuality to coordinate animal and human health operations and response capabilities and develop surge capacity for disease outbreaks, biosecurity investigations and chemical and biological threats," Virginia says. "It has also been set up to ensure we are able to identify, respond to and recover from serious incidents that threaten New Zealand's health, economy and security.
"It provides an excellent opportunity for laboratory science and epidemiology to be coordinated across both human and animal health. It also provides great operational and research synergies.
"As part of our commitment to the NCBID partnership, ESR is significantly increasing capability in operational response, laboratory diagnostics, and epidemiological investigation and analysis of biosecurity and infectious disease threats to human health with the support of the Ministry of Health. A review of processes for identifying and responding to aberrant infectious disease events is already under way," Virginia adds.
Collaborative research on zoonotic disease is another priority. Currently, research is being undertaken on avian influenza, vector-borne disease, Salmonella virulence and rickettsial disease.
"ESR is using the Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network (KAREN) to develop a microbiology laboratory network in New Zealand and host a database for PulseNet Asia-Pacific. This will enable international comparisons of genotypic information on selected enteric organisms to be undertaken.
"Within the public health system, the development and maintenance of skills in the investigation of aberrant infectious disease events is essential to the identification, control and prevention of outbreaks and epidemics.
"We are reviewing our current public health training programmes to ensure they meet the competency requirements of practitioners."
For further information on NCBID-Wallaceville:
For information on ESR's role in the Centre, contact:
- Dr Virginia Hope, ESR Programme Leader, Virginia.Hope@esr.cri.nz
Return to:
Page last updated: 30 April 2008