The Australian Venom Innovation and Discovery (AVID) Initiative brings together leading research, industry and government groups to deepen understanding of venom systems and their role in nature.
The knowledge generated will strengthen conservation and biodiversity management, while driving new opportunities in medicine, agriculture and defence – from developing safer antivenoms and agricultural biocontrol tools to inspiring the next generation of peptide-based therapies and insecticides.
“This cross-disciplinary project is a wonderful opportunity for Australian scientists to advance fundamental knowledge about our venomous species,” says Professor Nathan Hart, Deputy Dean, Research and Innovation, at Macquarie University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering.
“We are also creating a foundation for breakthrough applications in healthcare and agriculture that reflect Macquarie’s focus on sustainability and bioinnovation.”
The AVID Initiative will study thousands of venomous species, such as the reef-dwelling fireworm, pictured here.
Australia has one of the world's richest diversities of venomous species, yet most remain poorly understood despite their ecological importance and potential for innovation.
Venoms have evolved independently more than 100 times across the animal kingdom and contain unique biomolecules that could inspire new therapies, agricultural solutions and conservation tools.
AVID will focus on three key goals: understanding how venom systems work and evolve; mapping venom chemistry to reveal ecological functions and identify bioactive compounds; and making data openly accessible to accelerate research translation into practical applications.
AVID is coordinated by Bioplatforms Australia and developed with advice from experts across Australia, including Dr Sally Potter from Macquarie University, who serves on the AVID Advisory Committee, contributing her expertise in evolutionary genomics to guide the initiative’s development.
Experts from The University of Queensland, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James Cook University, Proteomics International (WA), Defence Science and Technology Group, and the Australian National Insect Collection at CSIRO are also part of the initiative.
Professor Glenn King from The University of Queensland, scientific lead for AVID, says: “Venoms are one of the richest untapped sources of biomolecules on the planet.
“By studying Australia's unique venomous species, we not only learn more about their biology, but also open the door to new drugs, sustainable agriculture solutions and better ways to protect our environment.”
An open call for research partnerships will be launched in the coming weeks.
Read more here.
