The Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (AIID) is a visionary $650 million project supported by the Victorian State Government to bring some of the nation’s greatest scientific and medical research minds together to provide a rapid, coordinated response to current and future pandemics and infectious diseases.

The AIID building, designed by leading Australian architectural firm Wardle and engineered by international engineering firm Aurecon, has been specifically designed to foster collaboration and innovation between the Foundation Partners – the University of Melbourne, Doherty Institute and Burnet Institute – industry, and an alliance of Victorian infectious disease organisations.

AIID’s new home will be occupying the area of 766–780 Elizabeth Street and 213–223 Berkely Street in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct and physically connecting to the Doherty Institute across multiple storeys.

The new building will allow the University of Melbourne and the Doherty Institute to expand and Burnet Institute to relocate its headquarters.

The AIID will focus on genomics, diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccine research, clinical trials and data and public health research to inform decision making. Robotic biobanking will allow remote treatment and storage of biomedical samples from large clinical trials, enabling more efficient and safer storage and retrieval than traditional methods.

Demolition of the existing buildings on the site will be undertaken in 2024, with construction to commence in 2025. The project is likely to be completed by late 2027.