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Strategic Partnership for prevention, surveillance and response to Infectious Diseases across the Indo-Pacific region
The Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Centre for Health Security has established the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative, to support development of resilient and equitable health systems in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, supporting partner countries to reduce disease risks, burdens and respond effectively to health emergencies.
The Doherty Institute has been awarded a Strategic Partnership under this initiative, the Doherty Institute Strategic Partnership for prevention, surveillance and response to Infectious Diseases across the Indo-Pacific region (Strategic Partnership). The Strategic Partnership will support workforce development, policy development, systems strengthening and partnerships, targeting five priority work areas to improve laboratory diagnosis and surveillance, pathogen genomic surveillance, antimicrobial resistance prevention and response, and use of data for decision making. The priorty areas are called COMBAT-AMR, SPARKLE, eLABorate, BRDIGe, and HiT3. COMBAT-AMR will use a One Health approach to address the challenges of AMR through infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship, and laboratory diagnosis and surveillance. SPARKLE will use a participatory approach to build capacity in data analysis and interpretation to inform policy and practice for infectious disease and control. The eLABorate initiative will strengthen laboratory capacity and systems for infectious disease diagnoses, with a focus on molecular and serological testing capabilities. BRIDGe will support equitable access to, and implementation of pathogen genomics. HiT3 will provide technical support to incorporate Hepatitis B prevention into programs for the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and Hep B. VIDRL is leading the eLABorate priority area of work, focusing on Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Kiribati. This multi year program, funded by DFAT will conclude in 2027.
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Support to Pacific Island Countries for Continued Safe & Accurate PCR testing, and support for advancing Integrated Respiratory Pathogen Testing
Together with the World Health Organization Division of Pacific Support (DPS) Fiji Office, Victorian Infectious Dieases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) and the World Health Organization Collaborting Centre for Reference and Research in Influenza (WHOCCRRI) has been working on supporting Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu to ensure that there is continued safe, accurate PCR testing, and provide support for advancing integrated respiratory pathogen testing. Key objectives of the project includes the establishment and implementation an equipment maintenance plan across six Pacific Island Countries to ensure accuracy and maintenance of the pipettes used for molecular tests, including supply of adequate pipettes to ensure continuity of testing services. Also included is the facilitation of in-country re-certification of Class II Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC II) and maintenance of PCR cabinets to further ensure accurate and relaible testing processes are in place for each of the member states.
The project also aims to provide technical input and material support for the implementation of manual multiplex PCR tests (simultaneous detection of influenza A and B, as well as SARS-CoV-2, in respiratory samples), including conducting in-country trainings to the molecular laboratories in the above countries. Key country partners include the Tungaru Central Hospital Laboratory Services in Kiribati, Vaiola Hospital Central Laboratory Services in Tonga, FCDC National Public Health Laboratories in Nadi and Suva, Fiji, Rarotonga Hospital Laboratory Services, Cook Islands and National Referral Hospital Laboratory Services, Solomon Islands. This multi year project is funded by WHO and will conclude in 2027.
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Strengthening Laboratory and Diagnostic Capacity in the Indo-Pacific (IndoPacLab)
The aim of the IndoPacLab Program is to strengthen laboratory functions for accurate, timely and scalable testing of COVID-19, HIV, TB and malaria. The program works across three countries (PNG, Cambodia and Lao PDR), chosen because of the consortium members’ strong existing partnerships, in-country presence, relationships with national governments and laboratories and alignment with current activities with bilateral donor and Global Fund investments. The IndoPacLab Program is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) and implemented by the IndoPacLab Consortium.
The IndoPacLab consortium represents world-class expertise with recognised leadership in laboratory and diagnostic methodology and proven track records in delivering sustainable laboratory capacity building programs in low- and middle-income settings. The consortium comprises of three Australian institutes (Kirby Institute, Doherty Institute and Burnet Institute) and two international agencies, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). Navin has been the Doherty Institute Consortuim Representative, and the member of the PNG Tehcnical Working Group. The project concluded in September 2024.
Navin Karan
+614 3352 5273 | navin.karan@mh.org.au
- Position:
- Training and Capacity Manager - VIDRL
- Theme(s):
- Immunology, Viral Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Bacterial and Parasitic Infections
- Discipline(s):
- Education & Professional Development, Computational Science and Genomics, Global Health, Public Health, Clinical and health systems research
- Unit(s):
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL)
Navin Karan is a Senior Medical Scientist, and Training and Capacity Manager for the Victorian Infectious Diseases Laboratory (VIDRL). He is currently a co-lead of the Public Health Cross Cutting Discipline at the Doherty Institute and an Honorary Fellow at the Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne (UoM). Navin is also the member of the Centre for Pathogen Genomics Training working group, and VIDRL’s Global Health advisory group. He has extensive experience working with developing nations, strengthening laboratory systems to improve diagnostic and public health services through provision of technical training and advise to regional agencies, partner organisations and country Ministries of Health. His area of work has included consultancies in medical laboratory education, capacity building and training, laboratory quality management and accreditation, external quality assurance programmes, emerging infectious diseases, clinical microbiology and antimicrobial resistance, TB/HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, transfusion transmitted infections, molecular infectious diseases testing and turn-key container laboratories in the context of global and regional health. Navin is an expert advisor on laboratory systems and capacity building for the Asia-Pacific region.