Training for Influenza Laboratories

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We provide support and training opportunities to laboratories in the Asia-Pacific region that contribute to the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). In order to meet national needs and to play a role in GISRS, our regional partners require appropriate resources and expertise for laboratory-based detection of influenza virus and submission of samples to a WHO Collaborating Centre. Strong diagnostic and processing capabilities help regional laboratories to fulfil their key role in in global influenza surveillance and improve pandemic preparedness.

Our Centre provides technical support and training to laboratory staff, as well as advice regarding equipment and methods for laboratory-based detection of influenza virus. Our partners include WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO), WHO South-East Asian Regional Office (SEARO), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention (REDI), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Our support and training activities generally take one of three forms:

Training on site at regional laboratories

A specialist staff member from the Centre visits the regional laboratory to help establish and/or provide training in specific techniques for detection of influenza virus.

Regional workshops

Held at the Centre in Melbourne or a regional venue. Laboratory scientists and managers from different countries convene for a multi-day workshop focusing on specific technical methods of influenza detection and analysis. Training is provided by specialists from the Centre and generally combines both background presentations and practical hands-on exercises. Workshop attendees have an opportunity to meet and exchange experiences with other influenza scientists from the region.

In-house training

Held at the Centre in Melbourne. Staff from regional laboratories spend several days with specialists at the Centre to gain detailed understanding of specific techniques to detect influenza virus. The Centre maintains an ongoing role in advising and supporting regional laboratories as they establish and strengthen their technical capabilities.

Please contact us if you would like to know more about training opportunities with the Centre in Melbourne.

Recent Training Activities

We welcomed Vina Lea Arguellesa, Jonjee Calaor-Morin and Catherine Calzado-Dacasin from the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM), Philippines from 4-11th October 2024. Training was conducted by Clyde Dapat, Xiaomin Dong, and Steven Edwards and covered topics such as NGS library preparation, ONT sequencing, quality assessment of sequence data, genome assembly of influenza and RSV, genome annotation and phylogenetic analyses.

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We welcomed Min He from Nanjing CDC, from 07th October–20th December 2024. Training was conducted by Yi-Mo Deng, Michelle Wille, Clyde Dapat, Xiaomin Dong, and Steven Edwards, and covered topics including NGS, phylogenetic analyses, bioinformatics, serological analysis of influenza viruses and detection of avian influenza viruses.

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