Background and Aims
Australia is home to one of the world’s most diverse ranges of venomous species, yet the majority remain poorly characterised at the molecular level. These organisms play critical ecological roles and hold significant potential for applications in medicine, agriculture, biosecurity and national defence.
The Australian Venom Innovation and Discovery (AVID) Initiative is a national collaborative effort to generate foundational genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data for venomous species of ecological, medical, agricultural and strategic importance. By building interoperable and openly accessible molecular datasets, AVID will advance understanding of venom evolution, gene regulation and functional diversity, while also enabling research into the ecological roles of venom systems and their responses to environmental change. Please note that purely toxin-producing species are not currently in scope.
The initiative brings together expertise in ecology, toxinology, genomics and translational science to create an integrated national resource. The initiative has three core objectives:
- Advance the genomic and transcriptomic characterisation of venomous species to explore venom evolution, gene regulation and functional diversity;
- Profile venom proteomes by analysing venom composition and bioactivity to support evolutionary research and the discovery of novel compounds; and
- Support translation and innovation by enabling therapeutic, agricultural and diagnostic applications through accessible molecular datasets and collaborative research partnerships.
Projects supported through this Request for Partnership should contribute to these objectives and demonstrate the scientific and/or strategic value of the nominated species.
Projects may focus on a single species or a closely related comparative species group where this supports a common research question.
The following genomic and proteomic data generation activities are in scope for this Request for Partnership:
- Whole genome sequencing using long-read technologies
- Transcriptome sequencing, including at least one sample from the venom gland or venom-producing organ
- Venom proteome generation
Proposals should clearly articulate the scientific or strategic importance of the nominated species and how the proposed genomic, transcriptomic and/or proteomic data will contribute to the objectives of the AVID Initiative.
Support provided
Through the AVID Initiative, Bioplatforms Australia will provide the following resources:
- DNA extraction services, where required
- Genomics data generation, including high-quality reference genome sequencing, through our network of facilities including AGRF, ANU-BRF, Ramaciotti, SAGC and Genomics WA
- Hi-C sequencing at ANU-BRF
- Transcriptomic data generation
- Venom proteome data generation through our network of facilities including APAF, Monash Proteomics & Metabolomics Platform, Proteomics International, and Adelaide University Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics
- Project management and data management, including raw data storage and access, with associated metadata
- Automated reference genome assembly and data submission to the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) through the Australian Tree of Life Genome Engine pipeline
- Access to required high-performance computing and analytical resources through the Australian BioCommons Leadership Share (ABLeS), including Pawsey and NCI
- Collaboration through a national consortium of genomics and proteomics experts working on venomous species
- Specialist venom extraction capabilities through collaboration with relevant research groups, where required. Live specimens will be required for venom collection, and shipping costs to the relevant laboratory may be supported by the Initiative.
Co-contributions
Project teams will provide co-contributions for the following:
- Project design
- Sample provision and preparation, including venom sample, DNA and RNA extractions where not undertaken through the Initiative, shipping and supply of sample metadata
- Samples for sequencing and other data generation must be provided within 12 months of project acceptance
- Bioinformatics and data analysis
- End-use application and interpretation of the data
- Data publication
- Submission of raw and analysed sequence data to international repositories, as required
Project teams are encouraged to leverage additional funding and in-kind contributions where available.
Important note
Support through the Australian Venom Innovation and Discovery Initiative is intended to be catalytic, enabling or enhancing existing research activities rather than serving as the sole source of funding for data acquisition within a project.
Data and Collaboration Policy
The Australian Venom Innovation and Discovery Initiative is an open data initiative. Data generated through the Initiative will be made accessible in accordance with the Initiative’s Data and Collaboration Policy. Applicants should review the full policy before submitting a proposal.
Assessment criteria
The AVID Initiative aims to create foundational molecular resources that are broadly useful to researchers and support research into venom biology, evolution, ecology and translational applications. Applicants should therefore consider how the proposed datasets could contribute to ongoing or future research, innovation and application.
Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with consideration given to:
- the scientific and/or strategic importance of the nominated species;
- the strength of the scientific rationale and research question, including the knowledge gaps the proposed data will address;
- the relevance of the proposed genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic datasets to the objectives of the AVID Initiative;
- the suitability and availability of samples for the proposed data generation within the required timeframe;
- the capability of the project team and its collaborators to undertake the proposed project and make use of the resulting data;
- the potential for the resulting molecular resources to support future research, innovation, therapeutic, agricultural, diagnostic, biosecurity or other applications; and
- the ability of the project team to provide samples for data generation within the required timeframe.
Collaboration with relevant research, industry, collections or other partners is encouraged.
The AVID Initiative welcomes proposals involving international collaborators on Australian-relevant venomous species, provided meaningful collaboration with Australian researchers is established.
To submit a partnership proposal
- Submit your Request for Partnership using the online form, and address all criteria and questions listed. A PDF copy of the application form is available to assist with preparation.
- Complete one form per species or comparative species group. Where multiple closely related species form part of a single research question, a single proposal may be submitted for that species group or complex. You are welcome to submit more than one proposal if you wish to nominate additional, unrelated species or research groupings.
- Please provide an estimated or known genome size and ploidy, where available, to assist with proposal review and project planning.
- The form will remain editable until the deadline if you have logged in to edit your responses. If you accidentally submit multiple responses, please contact us to remove the duplicate submission.
- Please review the Data and Collaboration Policy before submitting your proposal.
The AVID Initiative aims to support all projects that align with its objectives, within the limits of available budget. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with consideration given to the scientific and/or strategic value of the proposed species and the ability of the project team to complete the proposed project.
Deadline: 5:00 pm AEDT on Friday 13 November 2026
Contact information
Aude Touffu, Project Manager, atouffu@bioplatforms.com | 0403 271 059