Vision

The National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease is built upon a unique alignment of autonomous groups specialising in infectious animal and human disease and biosecurity. It covers operational delivery, research and commercialisation, and will foster collaboration among New Zealand’s experts and build reputation, trust and integrity.

The establishment of NCBID will enhance collaboration among researchers, investigators and diagnosticians. It will assist in the identification of research and development needs and enhance the application of research results to achieve applied biosecurity and infectious disease control outcomes that help protect New Zealand and New Zealanders from biosecurity risks.

To support Government goals and to achieve this vision, NCBID will:

• Investigate, diagnose and contribute to the management of outbreaks and suspected outbreaks of infectious disease. 
• Investigate, diagnose and contribute to the management of outbreaks and suspected outbreaks of disease caused by microbial toxins. 
• Provide enhanced monitoring and surveillance of infectious disease and toxins. 
• Carry out joint research projects on infectious diseases including everything from basic studies to methods for the collection and analysis of surveillance data and the development of procedures for their control or eradication. 
• Provide access to appropriately trained staff and specialist facilities in an emergency and share specialist skills and knowledge between organisations. 
• Participate in the training and development of personnel to enhance New Zealand’s ability to manage biosecurity issues and the control of infectious diseases. 
• Identify research and development opportunities and fill knowledge gaps that provide innovative solutions to biosecurity and infectious disease problems that benefit New Zealand. 
• Enhance the capabilities and effectiveness of NCBID partners and their value to stakeholders while maintaining facilities and capabilities for response in an emergency.
• Transfer, validate and apply new technologies in an operational environment to achieve biosecurity and disease control outcomes. 
• Enhance relationships with national and international organisations with similar objectives to strengthen both operational activities and related research programmes. 
• Recognise the constraints on collaboration that are inherent in agencies that operate to different business models and within different mandates.