Australian Venom Research Unit — The University of Melbourne

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.

AVRU GENERAL OBJECTIVE The Australian Venom Research Unit aims to provide world class expertise on Australia's venomous creatures, their toxins and the care of the envenomed patient.

ADVISORY AND PUBLIC HEALTH OBJECTIVES

• To provide the best available advice to medical practitioners and Poisons Information Centres on the management of bites and stings by venomous Australian terrestrial and marine creatures
• To increase public awareness of the dangers of venomous creatures, and the first aid measures which may have to be used
• To collect data from Australia and the Indo-Pacific region on diseases caused by envenomations and to be a Resource Centre for such information
• To contribute to the training of medical and paramedical staff

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• To undertake basic research into venoms of importance in Australia and the region
• To establish and maintain a National Reference Collection of venoms and venom components
• To collaborate with scientists working in these areas
• To develop and improve antivenoms in association with a production company or companies
• To seek venoms with novel activities which may have potential as either new therapeutic agents or investigational tools

AVRU ACTIVITIES

• Medical Advisory Service
• Public Health Research Program

SOME OTHER AVRU ACTIVITIES

• Education for a wide variety of audiences, including medical, veterinary annd science students and postgraduates, special interest groups and the general public
• Dissemination of information on envenomation, first aid, venomous creatures etc. via the media
• Distribution of first aid leaflets and other information related to venomous creatures and envenomation to medical and paramedical areas, the public and special interest groups (e.g. bush walkers, national parks, schools etc.)
• Provision of medicolegal and forensic opinions and advice on cases related to envenomation
• Assistance with information and contacts on venomous creatures, envenomation and related issues for journalists, authors, film and documentary makers etc.
• Review and refereeing of papers, manuscripts, grant proposals etc.