Burnet Institute has a number of collaborations addressing rising multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and novel diseases like COVID-19, avian influenza and pandemic influenza H1N1 (swine flu) and SARS.

Our programs have established a thematic initiative related to these emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (ERIDs), allowing us to apply our unique blend of biomedical research and public health expertise to address these diseases.

We are a member of the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak and Response Network (GOARN).

Research and Public Health Focus

• Mapping immune response to pandemic influenza in Australia
• Improving avian influenza capacity of the National Institute of Health and Research Development in Indonesia
• Monitoring drug-resistant tuberculosis in PNG and neighbouring countries
• Vaccine development against influenza
• Identifying novel drug targets and developing antivirals for treatment of respiratory viral pathogens
• Developing rapid point-of-care tests for the detection of respiratory viruses
• Molecular epidemiology of ERIDs in Asia and the Pacific regions
• Studying the determinants of and modelling influenza transmission in households and schools
• Investigating the transmission of drug-resistant tuberculosis in South Africa
• Teaching in qualitative and quantitative methods to research ERIDs
• Providing epidemiological expertise to assist with managing outbreaks of ERIDs.