Katie Allen (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to highlight the work being achieved by our medical research community in responding to the global coronavirus epidemic. The Morrison government has been preparing for the current public health emergency epidemic by investing in centres for research excellence, like APPRISE, to improve Australia's response to infectious disease emergencies. APPRISE is the Australian Partnership for Preparedness Research on Infectious Disease Emergencies and is led by Professor Sharon Lewin, Director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. Professor Lewin is a constituent in my electorate of Higgins.

Because of the government's investment in medical research the Doherty institute was prepared to respond to this global health crisis with cutting-edge research. It is why they were the first in the world to grow the coronavirus. This is one of the first steps to vaccine development, and the Doherty has already shared its technology around the world. Already APPRISE has begun working with international collaborators to begin a preclinical vaccine, support capacity gaps for the national incident room set up by the Morrison government and activate an extensive specimen collection for returned travellers to monitor the virus's behaviour. I congratulate the exceptional work of everyone in Professor Lewin's team and thank them and another medical researchers around Australia for their endeavours. With the speed of air travel, this coronavirus global epidemic represents a new normal for the world. The Australian scientists have a vital role to play in global health diplomacy for the benefit of us all.