About us

Meeting the challenge of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases

The Marie Bashir Institute is a virtual institute dedicated to tackling the health and socioeconomic consequences of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

The challenge

Globally, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases are major causes of morbidity, mortality, socioeconomic disruption and economic instability. Expert knowledge and input are essential for governments to effectively anticipate, control or reduce the impact of future epidemic infections.

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.