COVID-19 research has come a long way since the beginning of 2020, but what initial steps where taken to prepare for the emergence of this new virus? In late January 2020, the team in the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) announced they had grown the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the first Australian COVID-19 patient sample in cell culture. They were the first laboratory to do so outside of China and the first to share it with the world. In this episode, you'll discover how the team grew the virus, what led them to this moment and why it was an important catalyst for further research, preparedness and diagnostics, including that three letter initialism we've become so familiar with, PCR.
To talk us through it, our guest for this episode is Dr Mike Catton. Mike is the Deputy Director of the Doherty Institute and Director of the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s VIDRL, where he has been at the helm for more than 20 years. Aside from leading Victoria’s COVID-19 diagnostics capabilities over the last 20 months or so, Mike has many achievements under his belt. These include leading a collaborative effort to establish lab capacity for Australian back in 2003 for the original SARS; discovering a new arenavirus as the cause of a cluster of deaths among Victorian transplant patients in 2007, and being instrumental in the establishment of the Doherty Institute in 2014.

Show notes:
You can also read this story, , in our 2020 Impact Report.Growing and sharing the virus that changed the world
ABC exclusive story we referenced in the episode.
Watch the press conference Mike appeared in.
Learn more about the arenavirus outbreak Mike's team discovered in this episode of ABC Radio National's Patient Zero.
We want to hear from you! Help us shape future episodes of our podcast by telling us a little about yourself, how you listen to  and what you'd like to hear more of in 2022. The survey is anonymous and will only take a few minutes to complete.Infection and Immunity – Evidence Explained

<div>COVID-19 research has come a long way since the beginning of 2020, but what initial steps where taken to prepare for the emergence of this new virus? In late January 2020, the team in the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) announced they had grown the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the first Australian COVID-19 patient sample in cell culture. They were the first laboratory to do so outside of China and the first to share it with the world. In this episode, you'll discover how the team grew the virus, what led them to this moment and why it was an important catalyst for further research, preparedness and diagnostics, including that three letter initialism we've become so familiar with, PCR.</div><div><br></div><div>To talk us through it, our guest for this episode is Dr Mike Catton. Mike is the Deputy Director of the Doherty Institute and Director of the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s VIDRL, where he has been at the helm for more than 20 years. Aside from leading Victoria’s COVID-19 diagnostics capabilities over the last 20 months or so, Mike has many achievements under his belt. These include leading a collaborative effort to establish lab capacity for Australian back in 2003 for the original SARS; discovering a new arenavirus as the cause of a cluster of deaths among Victorian transplant patients in 2007, and being instrumental in the establishment of the Doherty Institute in 2014.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Show notes:</div><ul><li>You can also read this story, , in our <a href="https://doherty.edu.au/impact-report-2020/growing-and-sharing-the-virus-that-changed-the-world/" target="_blank">2020 Impact Report</a>.Growing and sharing the virus that changed the world</li><li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/bangon/ep193-josh-cavallo-tiptop-maid/13607438" target="_blank">ABC exclusive</a> story we referenced in the episode.</li><li>Watch the <a href="https://youtu.be/SpHa7Y4CxzM" target="_blank">press conference</a> Mike appeared in.</li><li>Learn more about the arenavirus outbreak Mike's team discovered in this episode of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rn-presents/patient-zero-the-december-transplant/12523220" target="_blank">ABC Radio National's Patient Zero</a>.</li></ul><div><br></div><div>We want to hear from you! Help us shape future episodes of our podcast by telling us a little about yourself, how you listen to  and what you'd like to hear more of in 2022. The <a href="https://melbourneuni.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3z3qxGznB8GOznE?Source=Whooshka" target="_blank">survey</a> is anonymous and will only take a few minutes to complete.Infection and Immunity – Evidence Explained</div>

Welcome to Infection and Immunity - Evidence Explained, a Doherty Institute podcast. Each fortnight we bring you the latest news and information on all things infectious diseases and immunology from the Doherty Institute and our collaborators.

Join us as we talk with world-leading experts to discuss the latest scientific and public health evidence around emerging and endemic diseases, from COVID-19 and Buruli ulcer, to HIV and the flu.

<p>Welcome to Infection and Immunity - Evidence Explained, a Doherty Institute podcast. Each fortnight we bring you the latest news and information on all things infectious diseases and immunology from the Doherty Institute and our collaborators.</p>
<p>Join us as we talk with world-leading experts to discuss the latest scientific and public health evidence around emerging and endemic diseases, from COVID-19 and Buruli ulcer, to HIV and the flu.</p>
<p> </p>

Infection and Immunity

Welcome to Infection and Immunity - Evidence Explained, a Doherty Institute podcast. 

Each fortnight on a Friday, we’ll bring you the latest news and information on all things infectious diseases and immunology from the Doherty Institute and our collaborators. Join us as we talk with world-leading experts to discuss the latest scientific evidence around emerging and endemic diseases – from COVID-19 and Buruli ulcer to HIV, the flu and everything in between.

<p>Welcome to Infection and Immunity - Evidence Explained, a Doherty Institute podcast. </p>
<p>Each fortnight on a Friday, we’ll bring you the latest news and information on all things infectious diseases and immunology from the Doherty Institute and our collaborators. Join us as we talk with world-leading experts to discuss the latest scientific evidence around emerging and endemic diseases – from COVID-19 and Buruli ulcer to HIV, the flu and everything in between.</p>
<p> </p>

COVID-19 research has come a long way since the beginning of 2020, but what initial steps where taken to prepare for the emergence of...

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