Irukandji (Carukia Barnesi) Venom Contains a Potent Neuronal Sodium Channel Agonist

The Australian Venom Research Unit (AVRU) was established by Associate Professor Struan Sutherland on the 1st of July 1994 at the University of Melbourne, Department of Pharmacology. This followed an announcement by CSL Ltd (the former Commonwealth Serum Laboratories) that after a 65 year period, its interest in venom and antivenom research was to cease. Professor Sutherland was one of the key players in this research. The announcement was made immediately prior to the launch of CSL Ltd on the Australian Stock Exchange in May 1994. CSL assisted in the establishment of the Unit. To date the major ongoing funding for the AVRU has come from the Victorian State Government (1995-2002), followed by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing (2002/3-). This began in May 1995 with a State Government seeding grant of $100,000. The grant was primarily to ensure that the vital advisory function of the Unit to doctors was maintained.