Overview

Accurate diagnostic techniques are a cornerstone of the control and management of both infectious and non-infectious diseases. Tests for most diseases that are prevalent in developed countries are well established in clinical laboratories.

This is not the case in disadvantaged populations (such as indigenous communities and those in developing countries), where access to laboratory infrastructure, sample transport, and communication are often lacking. This hampers efforts to control the impact and spread of disease, and is a major source of inequity in health outcomes.

Our laboratory has been active in the development of rapid, point-of-care (RPOC) tests for diagnosis of a number of infectious diseases, and more recently in tests for improved patient management in the case of HIV and AIDS, viral hepatitis and liver disease, and other conditions in Africa and other resource-poor settings.

We work closely with Industry partners to achieve commercially available and sustainable diagnostic solutions, including Omega Diagnostics, UK (CD4 tests); Burnet spinoff, Nanjing BioPoint Diagnostic Technology Co. Ltd., PR China (ALT1 test, plasma separator, and others); and Axxin Ltd, Melbourne (instruments and design capability).

We also work closely with international partners, and with other working groups across the Institute, to progress R&D on new diagnostics in malaria, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and other diseases.

Objectives

New projects are focused on infectious disease agents and disease biomarkers.

Major techniques employed in laboratory

• Standard serological testing methods (ELISA)
• Protein expression (transfection of mammalian cells)
• Protein characterisation and purification (western immunoblotting, chromatography)
• Iterative RPOC assay development and evaluation (screening of reagents, assembly of prototype devices with different parameters, testing of disease and control sera)
• Assembly of prototypes and validation testing in laboratory and field settings.

Highlights

• Development of VISITECT® CD4 POC test with Burnet’s Professor Suzanne Crowe AM and collaborators.

Projects

• A novel biomarker for gut leakage as a diagnostic tool for HIV disease progression
  Investigating a novel plasma biomarker's potential for identifying gut leakage.
• Accelerating ART initiation among Infants (AAMI Study)
  This project will trial the POC VISITECT® CD4 test and POC LYNX HIV p24 early infant diagnostic test.
• Access Point Of Care Initiative
  Increasing access to life-saving treatments for infectious diseases through point-of-care tests.
• ALT point-of-care diagnostic to detect liver disease
  Nanjing BioPoint is developing a new diagnostic for detecting liver disease.
• Development of a point-of-care test for neonatal sepsis
  Aimed at enabling healthcare workers to provide initial diagnosis in resource-constrained settings.
• Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency
  This project involves the Richards Group and Global Health Diagnostic Development.
• Improved point-of-care test to eliminate congenital syphilis
  Optimising and validating an innovative test to enable immediate treatment at the point of care.
• Methods for improved sensitivity of lateral flow tests
  Integrating innovative techniques in nanotechnology to the development of robust and sensitive rapid assays.
• Molecular diagnostics for malaria elimination
  This project involves the Richards Laboratory, Malaria and Tropical Diseases Group
• Novel reagents for the serological diagnosis of tuberculosis
  Using a drop of blood, an innovative diagnostic test may be able to detect if a patient has tuberculosis (TB).
• Plasma separator device for HIV viral load testing
  Aimed at improving access to HIV viral load assays in resource-limited settings.
• Strengthening the control of tuberculosis: China and Australia's partnership
  With funding support from the Australia-China Council, Burnet is collaborating with the Institute for Pathogen Biology in Beijing on developing novel assays for improved tuberculosis serology.
• VISITECT® CD4 point-of-care test
  An affordable HIV point-of-care test developed by Burnet but licensed to Omega Diagnostics.