Parasitology at Murdoch University

Welcome

The Parasitology Section within the School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences was established in 1976 and has since become one of the largest centres for parasitology in Australia, comprising over 30 staff, postdoctoral scientists and research students.  The section is responsible for providing undergraduate courses in parasitology for veterinary, biomedical and animal science students, and contributes to a number of other courses offered by the Faculty. In collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural research (ACIAR) and the Crawford Fund, the parasitology Section undertakes overseas training courses throughout the South East Asian region.

The section also provides a diagnostic service to the School ’s clinic, as well as to outside organisations such as Perth Zoo, Department of Agriculture and private diagnostic companies in Australia and overseas. Although this service is principally concerned with parasitic diseases of veterinary and public health significance, the Section has established particular expertise in parasites of wildlife.

 The Parasitology Section is also actively involved in numerous areas of research.  The application of molecular ‘tools’ underpins much of this research activity which is principally concerned with the taxonomy, molecular epidemiology and control of parasites of significance to animal and human health, especially zoonotic, livestock, fish and wildlife diseases.  Research is both basic and strategic in nature but a number of projects are funded by industry that are concerned with the development of diagnostics and therapeutics.  Financial and industry support is provided by the Australian Research Council, ACIAR, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline, Bayer Animal Health, Sydney Water, Epichem, Proteomics International, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative and other industry bodies.

 The Section hosts the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for the Molecular Epidemiology of Parasitic Infections and forms a major part of the Centre for Biomolecular Control of Disease (CBCD).  The section has ongoing projects with the CRC for Environmental Biotechnology and the Biosecurity CRC.  The section also has strong links with the State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (SABC) and the Australasian Centre for Companion Animal Research.  The section has also been active in the Australian Society for Parasitology for many years and currently provides two members of Council.  Members of the Section are also involved at an organisational level with the ARC/NHMRC ResearchNetwork for Parasitology.

The Parasitology Section at Murdoch University has strong collaborative research links with a number of research groups in Australia and internationally, with both joint research projects and training, including the Department of Agriculture and Food, Department of Fisheries, Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth Zoo, the Universities of Calgary and Saskatoon, Canada, Mahidol University, Bangkok, the Centres for Disease Control, Department of Agriculture and National Institute of Health in the US, Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Department of Parasitology, University of Ghent,  Swiss Tropical Institute in Basel, and the Kenyan Trypanosomiasis Research Institute.

Contact:

Professor Andrew Thompson
Tel: (08) 9360 2466
Fax: (08) 09310 4144
Email: A.Thompson@murdoch.edu.au