Centres of Research Excellence Fund

2006 Expressions of Interest

Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases

Director:   Prof. Kurt Krause
Host:         University of Otago

Partners:    The University of Auckland
                  University of Canterbury
                  The University of Waikato
                  AgResearch Limited
                  Institute of Environmental Science and Research
                  Industrial Research Limited

Abstract:

The health and productivity of our animal and human populations is under threat from a worldwide resurgence in new and emerging micro-organisms. Agents like bird flu pose a threat not only to humans but also to our native and domestic animal populations because they often originate in a particular bird or animal but are able to cross species barriers. At the University of Otago, we are creating a Centre for Infectious Disease that has as its mission the development of diagnostics, antimicrobials, and vaccines to target the threats from well-established infectious organisms but with the capacity to respond to threats from new organisms. As the protection of livestock is critical to the economic health of New Zealand, the centre will address problems in both human and animal health. Although based in Dunedin, it has over thirty internationally known scientists from four universities and includes collaborations with key Crown Research Institutes (ESR, IRL and AgResearch).

New Zealand has relied historically on therapies acquired offshore to manage its animal and human health, but advances in technology have made it feasible for scientists in this country to play a significantly greater role in protecting it human and animal capital from infectious disease. Our new centre has members with skills that range from synthetic organic chemistry to bacterial resistance and viral pathogenesis, through to clinical medicine, diagnostics and drug formulation. Such interdisciplinary skills are the international best practice for developing new therapies. The Centre will provide an integrated network of human and physical resources and a training ground for young researchers to bring bench research on new drugs, diagnostic tools and vaccines direct to the animal, and, for the protection of human health, to the bedside and the community.