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About us
Meeting the challenge of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases
We are the home of infectious diseases research, education and advocacy at the University of Sydney and play a leading role regionally and globally.
Formerly known as the Marie Bashir Institute, we elaunched as the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute - a Flagship research centre of the Faculty of Medicine and Health, with support from the University's Research portfolio
The challenge
Globally, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases are major causes of morbidity, mortality and socioeconomic disruption. Expert knowledge is essential for governments to anticipate, control and reduce the impact of future pandemics.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was announced a designated global health emergency by the United Nations. To tackle infectious diseases, we must also respond to AMR infections, which threaten to overtake deaths by cardiovascular disease and cancer combined without action.
Our vision
We are committed to research and knowledge exchange that will improve understanding of the complex interactions that fuel the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. We aspire to mitigate the resulting health and socioeconomic impacts of these infections, by generating novel insight and practical solutions. We support research across the translational and disciplinary spectrum.
Controlling infectious diseases is one of the major health challenges of the 21st century. It affects us all, since infectious diseases do not respect international borders. It also requires holistic solutions given the interconnectedness of things and the threat posed by biodiversity loss and ecosystem dysfunction.
Professor The Hon. Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO
Our aims
We encourage a comprehensive approach to infection, immunity and biosecurity - linking pathogens, hosts (humans and animals), engineered systems and the natural environment in a one planet, one health framework.
We strive to carry out our vision by:
- becoming a leader in cross-disciplinary research into emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases
- increasing capacity within Australia and Asia-Pacific nations to detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks in humans and animals
- informing and assisting in the development of policies and strategies to prevent, contain and control emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
Our patron
Professor The Hon. Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO is the former Governor of New South Wales (2001-2014) and former Chancellor of the University of Sydney (2007-2012).
We honour her as our Patron for her passion to help the most marginalised and disadvantaged people in our society.
