Australia is home to one of the world’s most diverse arrays of venomous species, yet the vast majority remain poorly characterised at the molecular level. The Australian Venom Innovation and Discovery (AVID) Initiative is addressing this gap through a national collaborative effort to generate foundational genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data for venomous organisms of ecological, medical, agricultural, and strategic significance.
Following the 2025 Request for Partnership, AVID has supported 17 research groups to generate high-quality omics data for 38 species. These projects bring together collaborators from across Australia as well as international partners, creating an unprecedented molecular resource to advance understanding of venom evolution, gene regulation, and functional diversity.
The data generated through AVID will enable a wide range of outcomes, including: improved understanding of venom biology and evolution; support for conservation and biosecurity planning; identification of novel compounds with therapeutic or agricultural potential; and development of molecular tools to better monitor and manage venomous species. By making these datasets openly accessible, AVID ensures that the knowledge generated can inform research, conservation, and practical applications across multiple sectors.
AVID is being developed with advice from experts across Australia, including The University of Queensland, Macquarie University, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James Cook University, Proteomics International (WA), Defence Science and Technology Group, and the Australian National Insect Collection at CSIRO. The initiative is coordinated by Bioplatforms Australia as part of its mission to provide high-quality molecular data in support of research and innovation for national benefit.
Review the list of supported projects on our website.