Evaluation of the AB-CRC's PhD Scholarship Program Dr Mahomed Patel, from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University, Canberra, evaluated the AB-CRC’s PhD scholarship program for research training opportunities in South-East Asia (PDF 37.5KB). The PhD program is designed to address the critical shortage of research graduates with experience in government and industry settings able to respond to infectious disease threats. Dr Patel’s evaluation focussed on one aspect of the PhD Program related to research in South-East Asian countries for international as well as Australian scholars. In his final report, Dr Patel concluded that to safeguard Australia’s public health, livestock, wildlife and economic resources, we need to focus more on helping other countries control and prevent dangerous diseases at the source, rather than focussing on trying to prevent their introduction into Australia. Economic Assessment 2008 Agtrans Research and Consultancy carried out an independent economic analysis (PDF 51.8 KB)of selected AB-CRC projects to determine their contribution to Australia’s industrial, commercial and economic growth. The analysis concluded that AB-CRC investment of $13 million in three areas of research has realised $228 million in benefits, In other words, the $13 million investment in research and development (R&D) has paid for total AB-CRC costs almost three times over. This does not take into account any benefits from other AB-CRC projects not included in this analysis Parliamentary Forum 2008 More than 125 invited leaders from across Australia’s environment, agriculture and public health sectors attended the Australian Biosecurity Forum at Parliament House in Canberra. The forum stimulated discussion of the current and emerging biosecurity threats to Australia and our region, including the social and economic impacts of these threats. It was also an opportunity to discuss holistic strategies to deal with biosecurity threats and their possible inclusion in the Biosecurity CRC Mark II, including the ‘One Health’ approach which recognises the inextricable link between human, livestock and wildlife health. Federal Government Reviews Our Year 3 Review was held in July 2006. The review panel on this occasion commended AB-CRC governance and management, operations and research progress, while making many valuable recommendations for consideration by the Board and senior management. Our Year 1 Review was held on 18 March 2005. The report stemming from the visit was very complimentary about the progress made by the AB-CRC in the first year of the operation.