Supporting vaccine research to fight Devil Facial Tumour Disease
Devil Facial Tumour Disease is a transmittable, aggressive and malignant cancer that is having a devastating impact on the Tasmanian Devil population. Research into the development of a vaccine to fight the disease is taking great strides thanks to the work of the Wild Immunology Group from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research.
Wild Immunology Group – Menzies Institute for Medical Research
The primary goal of the Wild Immunology Group is the development of a protective vaccine against devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) and progress has been greatly facilitated by funding from Wildcare’s Tasmanian Nature Conservation Fund to support the role of a research veterinarian in the group – Dr Ruth Pye.
Dr Ruth Pye – Research Veterinarian, Menzies Institute of Medical Research
New ideas, innovative design, big challenges and creative opportunities.
In this video:
- Greg Irons from Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary explains why he considers the Tassie Devil to be the most misunderstood animal on the planet.
- Immunologist, Andy Flies talks about the vaccine’s development – how it is made, how it works and how it is could translate to something useful in humans and,
- Ruth Pye explains how, without an intervention like this, Tasmanian Devil numbers are in danger of declining to the point of being ‘functionally extinct’, meaning the species will be unable to carry out its important ecological role.
“A vaccine to prevent the devils continuing to decline in numbers, will not only save that species, but will look after the whole of the Tasmanian environment.”
Dr Ruth Pye.
You can help continue this important work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Fund (Tasmanian Devils Cause).