About AusGEM

Connecting global research networks and world-class facilities to tackle Australia’s critical public health and biosecurity challenges.

The Australian Centre for Genomic Epidemiological Microbiology (AusGEM) is a strategic research collaboration between the Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection (AIMI) at the University of Technology Sydney and the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI) of the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Combining AIMI’s expertise in genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic technologies with EMAI’s disease control and outreach knowledge, AusGEM is building a better understanding of pathogen evolution and transmission in plants, animals, and humans, assisting in the development of more effective ways to manage threats posed by pests and diseases.

About AIMI

Based at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), AIMI’s team of scientists focus on discovery and applied research to build an understanding of how microbes grow, live, adapt and survive. Their research spans antibiotic resistance; food safety; computational biology; genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics; microbial ecology; and microbial morphology.

About EMAI

EMAI is the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Centre of Excellence for Plant and Animal Health. EMAI is NSW’s premier quarantine and biosecurity facility, which protects Australia’s economy, community and environment by monitoring the disease status of the state’s primary industries and providing certification for freedom from specific diseases.

What we do

AusGEM is working to better predict, diagnose, and prevent disease transmission, and to address the growing global problem of antimicrobial resistance.

We aim to:

  • strengthen our capacity to identify and respond to biosecurity threats

  • improve food safety management

  • increase agricultural productivity

  • reduce antibiotic use

  • develop more innovative ways to mitigate the risks of infectious diseases.

Our mission

Australia’s primary industries contribute significantly to the national economy. They play a critical role in supporting food security and safety, environmental sustainability, and the livelihoods of many Australians.

AusGEM is working to help maintain and strengthen Australia’s public health record and biosecurity, as well as improve agricultural productivity, to support the wellbeing of our people and economy into the future.