Struan Keith Sutherland was head of the Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne 1994-1999. Before that he had spent 28 years conducting venom research at CSL and advising on patient management. He and his colleagues developed the lifesaving funnel-web spider antivenom, the pressure-immobilisation first-aid technique for snake bite and the first commercially viable snake venom detection kit. Sutherland was a prolific author, publishing over 300 scientific articles. His books included the standard medical textbook on envenomation, Australian Animal Toxins, the best selling Venomous Creatures of Australia and the autobiography, A Venomous Life.

Ken Winkel, formerly of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, was appointed as AVRU's Deputy Director in July 1996. He was appointed Director of the Unit on Struan Sutherland's retirement in 1999.

The Australian Venom Research Unit (AVRU) aims to provide world class expertise on Australia's venomous creatures, their toxins and the care of the envenomed patient. It was established by Struan Sutherland on 1 July 1994 in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne. CSL Ltd assisted in the establishment of the Unit, with ongoing funding coming from the State and Federal Governments.

The Commission and its predecessor, the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, researched, developed and manufactured therapeutic products of biological origin including snake antivenenes. CSL was incorporated in 1990 and announced that its interest in venom and antivenom research was to cease prior to its launch on the Australian Stock Exchange in May 1994.