



Burnet Diagnostics Initiative (BDI)
The Burnet Diagnostics Initiative is an ISO9001 certified laboratory facility that creates and uses innovative technology to develop diagnostic assays that address unmet health needs.
Group Heads
About
Our working group has experts in biomarker discovery, protein engineering, expression and purification, assay design and development, analytical and clinical verification and validation studies. This expertise supports diagnostic product development and enhances translation of diagnostics into practical health solutions.
Our team of experts are innovators in the design and development of customised assays for the diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
We supply services to external parties to translate their discoveries into new diagnostic tools, in addition to other scientific services in our ISO9001 laboratory facilities.
We work alongside academic and industry partners to meet their requirements and deliver practical health solutions.
Our portfolio of projects includes:
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the Burnet Active Syphilis test (licensed to Atomo Diagnostics)
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the BurneXt ALT Liver Health Test
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IgA diagnostic and therapeutics, and
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a pipeline of innovative new point of care diagnostics.
More information
Find out more about how BDI translates research into practice.
Current projects
View 2 moreEfficacy assessment of a new point-of-care test for confirmation of active syphilis in men who have sex with men
We're developing a novel rapid point of care test based on lateral flow technology for diagnosis of active syphilis in a single visit.
Liver health screening test
A rapid point-of-care (POC) test for liver disease biomarkers could improve the management of acute and chronic liver disease and reduce the progression to liver cancer in Australia and globally.
Diagnosis of active syphilis
We're developing point-of-care diagnostics for active syphilis, aiming to transform syphilis management globally and contribute to World Health Organization goals.
News and features
View 2 more
Burnet partners with Atomo to develop Australia’s first syphilis self-test

2023 in Review July - December

Certification paves the way for improved translational research
The Burnet Diagnostics Initiative has reached a major milestone, having recently been awarded ISO 9001 certification.
Featured publications
Induction of Fc-dependent functional antibodies against different variants of SARS-CoV-2 varies by vaccine type and prior infection
Communications Medicine
Alexander W. Harris et al
Antibody mechanisms of protection against malaria in RTS,S-vaccinated children: a post-hoc serological analysis of phase 2 trial
The Lancet Microbe
Liriye Kurtovic et al
Dimeric immunoglobulin A as a novel diagnostic marker of measles infection
Microbiology Spectrum
Khayriyyah Mohd Hanafiah et al
Serological assays to measure dimeric IgA antibodies in SARS‐CoV‐2 infections
Immunology and Cell Biology
Zihui Wei et al
Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Diagnosis of Active Syphilis Infection: Needs, Challenges and the Way Forward
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Minh Duc Pham et al
A point-of-care lateral flow assay for neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2
EBioMedicine
Thomas S. Fulford et al
Validation of a novel point‐of‐care test for alanine aminotransferase measurement: A pilot cohort study
Liver International
Jessica Howell et al
BDI quality policy
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View Burnet Diagnostics Initiative's quality policy
BDI POL 001 Quality Policy [PDF 188.8 kB]
Group contacts

Professor Heidi Drummer
Scientific Director for Research Translation; Scientific Director, Burnet Diagnostics Initiative; Principal Investigator, Burnet Vaccine Initiative; Co-Head, Viral Entry and Vaccines Group

Jennifer Barnes
Director, Commercialisation and Research Translation; Director, Burnet Diagnostics Initiative
Group members

Professor Heidi Drummer
Scientific Director for Research Translation; Scientific Director, Burnet Diagnostics Initiative; Principal Investigator, Burnet Vaccine Initiative; Co-Head, Viral Entry and Vaccines Group

Jennifer Barnes
Director, Commercialisation and Research Translation; Director, Burnet Diagnostics Initiative

Dr Helen Wei
Senior Research Officer

Diana Piccoli
Quality Manager

Dr Elsie Williams
Senior Research Scientist

Dr Lilian Hor
Senior Research Scientist

Dr Annemarie Laumaea
Senior Research Scientist

Sarah Hess
Laboratory Operations Manager

Shuning Zheng
Senior Research Assistant

Jei Min Quah
Research Assistant

Patrick Bajan
Research Assistant

Angus Watson
Research assistant
