Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) asked CSIRO, a federal government agency responsible for scientific research to study potential vaccines for the new coronavirus after a laboratory in Australia successfully grew 2019 n-CoV from a patient sample.
Scientists from The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) in Melbourne, Australia, have grown the Wuhan coronavirus in their laboratory.
They said the lab-grown virus could aid the development of a vaccine against the new strain of coronavirus, which already killed more than 200 people and infected at least 7,000.
CSIRO will research the only physical containment laboratory in Australia, the Australian Animal Health Laboratory. It is a high-containment facility in Victoria’s Geelong and one of just five in the world.
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CSIRO in Australia to test vaccines after lab grew 2019 new coronavirus
Once the CSIRO would know more about the virus, they could begin testing vaccines CEPI-led consortium has developed.
“As the national science agency, we can help bring together every branch of science and experts from across the system to tackle this major global health challenge,” said CSIRO chief executive Dr. Larry Marshall.
The CSIRO is collaborating both with the Peter Doherty Institute and the University of Queensland, where trials have begun to develop a vaccine.
CSIRO’s chief role is to improve the economic and social performance of the industry for the benefit of the community.
The World Health Organisation has declared the disease a public health emergency.