Australian Animal Health Laboratory director appointed

CSIRO has appointed Dr Martyn Jeggo, international expert on livestock disease detection and control, as the new director of the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong.

"We searched for a livestock science leader with proven qualities in setting a vision and managing a research team, and in Dr Jeggo we believe we have found that person," said CSIRO Livestock Industries chief Shaun Coffey.

Coffey said that Jeggo's extensive ties within the animal health world, as well as his experience with governmental and non-governmental organisations and international research agencies would bring a different set of experiences to the Laboratory and would allow the whole division to develop an international profile.

Jeggo is currently the head of the animal production and health science section of the Joint Food and Agricultural Organisation/International Atomic Energy Agency's (FAO/IAEA's) Division of Agriculture, where he manages a range of research programs involving over 200 animal production and health research contracts operating in around 130 countries.

His past experience has included senior positions in several animal health laboratories in Yemen and the UK.

"His initial focus will be to have a good look at the diagnostic science capability, especially the readiness for potential outbreaks of diseases like foot-and- mouth disease," said Coffey.

Jeggo has worked extensively on exotic livestock diseases including rinderpest, bovine pleuropneumonia, brucellosis, and foot-and-mouth disease.

"Foot-and-mouth disease is very much at the forefront at the moment," said Jeggo.

He explained that there was a need for effective, rapid diagnosis as well as the capability to rapidly test large amounts of sera.

Dr Jeggo will take up his appointment in September, in time for the national simulation exercise of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Jeggo said that the simulation exercise, Exercise Minotaur, would be an excellent opportunity to fully examine the systems in place to detect and control foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks.