ecodna

ecoDNA team attend launch of the ARC Plant Biosecurity Training Centre

Tue, 27 May 2025 03:26:21 GMT

Members of the ecoDNA team attended the launch of the ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity on the International Day of Plant Health, 12 May 2025.

With ecoDNA's Dianne Gleeson as the Deputy Director for Research, the Training Centre will train the next generation of scientists to tackle some of Australia and the world’s biggest biosecurity challenges. This is a five-year, 10-million-dollar investment into postgraduate research training funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC), three universities and 27 partner organisations. Follow the Centre on LinkedIn

Partnership with Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to continue

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 05:27:55 GMT

January 29, 2025 – Today, the University of Canberra and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry signed a three-year extension of their joint Partnering Arrangement Agreement, which initially began in January 2022 with the Department’s predecessor, the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment. This extension builds on the substantial achievements already made and advances our shared goals, extending our collaboration through to 2029.

To date, our partnership has led to the establishment of the National eDNA Reference Centre (NRC), which has made significant progress in applying eDNA technologies for biosecurity. Notably, it is the first facility in the Southern Hemisphere to gain NATA accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025. Looking ahead, we aim to drive further innovation at the NRC, and we believe that continuing this partnership will provide significant benefits in safeguarding Australia’s natural environment, agricultural industries, and public health.

EcoDNA geneticists develop eDNA test to make Croc Country safer

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 03:39:08 GMT

Researchers from the EcDNA team have developed a genetic test to detect saltwater crocodiles in waterways using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. Currently undergoing field trials, the test could be used to monitor saltwater crocodile populations in the future and even help prevent crocodile encounters.

For more on this story, please follow this link: https://www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/media/newsroom/2024/july/uc-ecology-geneticists-develop-edna-test-to-make-croc-country-safer

NRC involved in new varroa mite pilot programs

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 23:45:44 GMT

Beekeepers across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory will help in the fight against the spread of the most serious pest of honeybees in the world through a low-cost Internet of Things solution.

Two pilot programs targeting varroa mite, are due to begin in the coming months.

The ACT pilot is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), CSIRO, the ACT Government and University of Canberra (UC). It will use a citizen science approach to trial Vimana Tech’s BeeRight technology and use environmental DNA (eDNA) with up to 30 local backyard beekeepers/hobbyists in the ACT region.

For more information on this exciting collaboration, please see these articles:

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/about/news/community-takes-sting-out-of-varroa-mite

https://the-riotact.com/smart-hives-the-latest-buzz-which-could-help-with-varroa-mite-detection-and-bee-health/750133

Lead Researcher Recognised for Innovation

helen.thomas@canberra.edu.au (Helen Thomas) — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 23:55:27 GMT

Dr Alejandro Trujillo-Gonzalez receives the Faculty of Science and Technology award for Innovation in Research.

Dr Trujillo-Gonzalez was presented with this award for spearheading innovation as a lead researcher in the EcoDNA team, and includes recognition for the deployment of a simple swab technique to detect the invasive Varroa Mite.

New Trace DNA Lab facility opens

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 02:32:53 GMT

An expanded Trace DNA Lab for eDNA work at EcoDNA and the University of Canberra, will see new opportunities in both its work activities and talent pool to protect Australia from biohazards supporting important conservation work.

The Trace DNA Lab is a new stomping ground for the EcoDNA research team, which works on environmental DNA applications for biosecurity and biodiversity. The lab is equipped to deal with very small amounts of DNA; lab conditions are particularly stringent, as the potential of sample contamination is high.

EcoDNA is recognised as the National eDNA Reference Centre. “As the National eDNA Reference Centre, we deliver the standardisations, results and data that the government needs for action around biodiversity and biosecurity,” said Professor Dianne Gleeson, who heads the EcoDNA team. “This new lab has increased our footprint size, so we can do more throughput and process a greater volume of samples. It will also allow us to expand our team – including to students and interns – and offer training, which feeds into our work with the ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity. We can also conduct additional techniques like DNA synthesis and RNA analysis.”

Professor Gleeson said that the new lab would make it possible to scale up existing projects and commit to more new ones. “Some of our notable activities in the biosecurity work program include the hitchhikers project, which monitors and analyses the dust content in shipping containers, and the ports monitoring project, under which airborne DNA is analysed though iMapPESTS sentinel units,” she said. “We also have many ongoing biodiversity monitoring projects with a range of different private sector groups.”

Officially opened on 31st October, the launch was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research & Enterprise, and guests from Federal Government departments. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Lucy Johnston said that the work of the EcoDNA team exemplified the University’s ethos that research should have real world impact.

“The work of the EcoDNA team is about protecting Australia from biohazards, supporting important conservation work, and – crucially – nurturing future scientific talent,” Professor Johnston said.

Also speaking at the launch was Professor Geoff Grossel, Director of Biosecurity Research at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), with which the EcoDNA team works closely. “This is a real testament to the power of strong partnerships, which also form an important aspect of the National Biosecurity Strategy,” Professor Grossel said.

The new limited access Trace DNA Lab is equipped with UV lights for decontamination and specialised airflow systems to prevent cross-contamination. Nonetheless, all researchers will need to conduct their work in the Trace DNA Lab before any other, said Professor Gleeson. “Trace DNA must be separate from our other labs – we’re dealing with tiny amounts of DNA, and they need to be kept separate from other lab activities to ensure there is no cross-contamination,” she said.

ecoDNA and the Scientific Advisory Board of the UNESCO environmental DNA initiative

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 03:42:14 GMT

On 4 July 2022, the Scientific Advisory Board of the environmental DNA initiative convened for the first time, sharing crucial recommendations as UNESCO prepares the global roll-out of the citizen science initiative.

The project “Environmental DNA Expeditions in UNESCO World Heritage Marine Sites” is guided by an international Scientific Advisory Board that brings together some of the world’s leading science and expertise in molecular ecology, eDNA, bioinformatics, fish metabarcoding, ocean science.

Included in it’s sixteen members from across the globe is ecoDNA’s Professor Dianne Gleeson.

The Board represents and acts as a connection to cutting-edge global scientific knowledge in the use of the eDNA sampling for marine biodiversity monitoring. The Scientific Advisory Board will collaborate with the UNESCO coordination team and partner eDNA laboratory in defining the optimum sampling and sample processing protocols within the limitations of citizen science sampling. In addition, the members of the Scientific Advisory Board will play a key role in the development of the publications utilizing the results of the project.

The project is implemented by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and World Heritage Centre, with the support of the Government of Flanders. It is the first UN Decade Action for Marine World Heritage, in the context of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

ecoDNA researchers involved in the new ARC funded Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 03:42:12 GMT

Professor Dianne Gleeson has been named Co-Director of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity, which will be led by Professor Peter Solomon of the Australian National University (ANU).

Made possible by an ARC funding boost of $5 million, the Training Centre will transform Australia’s biosecurity sector by upskilling an entire cohort of experts to boost pest and disease prevention, response and recovery capabilities on a national level.

“The National Biosecurity Strategy has identified the upskilling of the future workforce to deal with biosecurity issues as a key area that requires attention, in order to mitigate risk to the country,” said Professor Gleeson. “There is a huge skills gap that needs to be addressed, and the Training Centre will do exactly that.”

The Training Centre will commence in 2024 and will be led by ANU, in collaboration with the University of Canberra, James Cook University, and over 20 partners from industry and government.

“UC’s Faculty of Science and Technology was approached to be part of the Training Centre because of our eDNA capabilities – we host the eDNA National Reference Centre on campus, and are national leaders in the space,” Professor Gleeson said.

“Environmental DNA – or eDNA – technology is both cutting edge and being used increasingly in an operational capacity in Australia.”

Detection methods using eDNA have become more common for an increasing number of organisations across the world, which are concerned with both biosecurity and conservation as they are low-impact, cost-effective, accessible and portable, and provide almost instant results.

These methods target DNA shed by organisms – including skin and hair cells and faecal matter – which can be captured from environmental samples such as soil and water, and tested to detect the presence of certain species or the diversity of species within an environment. The EcoDNA research group have used eDNA to successfully detect the devastating khapra beetle, a foreign species that could cause billions of dollars’ worth of damage to Australia’s agricultural sector, from dust and dirt samples from shipping containers using eDNA techniques.

The Training Centre will provide research and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for students and early career researchers from partner universities.

Professor Solomon said this research cohort would focus on three key areas: novel diagnostic technologies, data-driven decision platforms, and addressing barriers to biosecurity adoption.

"Our future leaders in plant biosecurity will need not only technical skills, but the skills to communicate, collaborate and engage with multiple stakeholders,” he said.

Professor Gleeson said that industry partners will bring a diverse array of questions, issues and projects to the research table, which Training Centre researchers will seek to address.

“This will be a very valuable opportunity for our students, some of whom will be embedded with our industry partners, while other research projects will be based right here at UC,” she said.

“I am very much looking forward to the collaborations with fellow researchers, industry and government that will grow from the work at the Training Centre – this will be about the legacy we leave behind.”

ecoDNA researcher awarded prestigious ARC DECRA research grant

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 03:30:50 GMT

Dr Elise Furlan has been awarded the prestigious Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) from the Australian Research Council and will receive $438,909 in funding.

Dr Furlan’s research project will be conducted over three years, studying the application of eDNA to extract more detailed population information, focusing specifically on the redfin blue eye (Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis) , a small, critically endangered fish isolated to Edgbaston Reserve, managed by national conservation not-for-profit Bush Heritage Australia , in central Queensland. The project includes field trips to the reserve to gather water samples that will be filtered and brought back to the University’s specialised Trace DNA labs for analysis.

“I’m honoured to receive this funding from the Australian Research Council to further develop eDNA methods that could help conservation efforts for endangered species like the redfin blue eye,” Dr Furlan said.

Traditional DNA sampling involves taking tissue samples from individuals and can be an expensive and challenging method for species monitoring. It can be incredibly difficult for aquatic, nocturnal, and endangered species, because they can be challenging to trap for tissue samples. These invasive methods can also result in the species being stressed, injured or even killed during the process. The eDNA method is rapid, convenient, non-invasive, low-cost, and typically does not require ethics approval for involved research.

“With eDNA, we can target those trace bits of DNA to understand the genetic makeup of a species in that environment without needing tissue samples,” Dr Furlan said.

While researchers can use eDNA for a general biodiversity survey, or investigate the presence or absence of a species, Dr Furlan will be targeting the information of a species’ genome where a sample is taken.

“I’m trying to target detailed, population level information to learn not only if the species is there, but how the populations we find differ by area – for instance, whether there is migration between areas and populations, and a lot more from the data,” Dr Furlan said.

Other information Dr Furlan is hoping to investigate includes evolutionary history, population structure and hybridisation with applications for native species conservation, invasive species management, delineation of species boundaries, identification of hybrid zones, and more.

“If we can show this works accurately, it could potentially be a game changer for conservation. It could be applied to hundreds - even thousands - of species across the world because it’s more efficient, convenient, ethical, and cost-effective than using tissue samples, but still provides valuable information about a population,” Dr Furlan said.

ecoDNA at PISCeS International Conference in Guelph, Canada

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 02:30:24 GMT

Dr Alejandro Trujillo-González was invited to the Pathways to Increase Standards and Competency of Environmental DNA Surveys (PISCeS) International Conference in Guelph, Canada to deliver a keynote presentation on the implementation of quality standards and guidelines for eDNA.

From the 18th to the 20th of June, Alejandro had the pleasure of sharing with experts and end-users, seeing new and novel technologies, applications and capabilities developed across North America.