Asian bird flu expert joins Murdoch University

Aug 30 2005

Murdoch University's School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences have appointed Dr Trevor Ellis, an expert in Asian Bird flu, SARS and Foot and Mouth Disease.

Murdoch Veterinary School's reputation on the international research scene has just received a boost with the appointment of Senior Research Fellow Dr Trevor Ellis in August.

Dr Ellis has recently returned to Perth from six years in Hong Kong where he was involved in the establishment of a new state of the art animal health laboratory and had experience dealing with outbreaks of diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), SARS and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Dr Ellis is internationallly recognised for his expertise and has consulted to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and FAO during the outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in Asia.

Dr Ellis has a PhD from Murdoch University and is a former Principal Veterinary Virologist with the Department of Agriculture in Western Australia where he was closely involved in WA and Australia's preparedness and response to emergency animal diseases for 17 years.

His role at Murdoch is to play an important role in the University's plans to expand its capacity for international research and training in animal biosecurity.

Dr Ellis said, 'I am keen to encourage multidisciplinary approaches in research to enhance capacity in animal biosecurity.'

He will be involved in research on transboundary diseases and to assist with supervision of international postgraduate students working on FMD and Avian Influenza.