WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza

What WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza does

The WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (WHO CCRRI) is a publicly funded reference laboratory hosted within the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Australia. It is one of only five WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza globally, alongside centres in Atlanta, Beijing, London, and Tokyo, and operates as a designated node within the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) established in 1952. The Centre receives influenza virus isolates and clinical specimens from 142 National Influenza Centres across 115 countries, then performs antigenic characterisation using Haemagglutination Inhibition assays, full-genome genetic sequencing (Sanger methodology plus a published simplified full-genome method, with Oxford Nanopore-based long-amplicon sequencing extended to RSV), and antiviral drug sensitivity testing. Its analyses feed into the WHO's twice-yearly vaccine composition recommendations for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and support pandemic preparedness through early detection of novel influenza viruses with pandemic potential.

The Centre's service portfolio also includes laboratory training programmes for Asia-Pacific National Influenza Centres and reference laboratories, applied research projects in transmissibility, antiviral resistance, immune response, and epidemiology, and contribution to peer-reviewed publications. It collaborates directly with the other four WHO Collaborating Centres, vaccine manufacturers (bioCSL, NIBSC, NYMC) for candidate vaccine strain reassortment, the US CDC for reagent provision, WHO regional offices (WPRO, SEARO), and the Pacific Community (SPC) and REDI for regional capacity building. The Therapeutic Goods Administration's Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee uses the Centre's surveillance data for national vaccine decisions.

There is no commercial revenue model. Services are provided to National Influenza Centres and regional laboratories at no charge as part of WHO's global influenza surveillance mandate; the Centre is funded through WHO partnerships and government grants via its parent institutional framework (VIDRL and the Peter Doherty Institute). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and there are no paying customers, sales motions, or distribution channels in the conventional sense. Distribution occurs through formal WHO GISRS sample-submission channels, and surveillance outputs are disseminated via scientific publications, annual reports, the Influenza Updates newsletter, the biennial Australian Influenza Symposium, and the GISAID EpiFlu sequence database.

Name

WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza

Legal name

WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza

Website

https://influenzacentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza is a publicly funded reference laboratory in Melbourne, Australia, and one of five global WHO Collaborating Centres within GISRS. It performs antigenic and genetic influenza characterization, antiviral resistance testing, and supports WHO's twice-yearly vaccine strain recommendations for National Influenza Centres.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Reference Laboratory Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Reference Laboratory Networks (e.g., TB, HIV, Influenza) (HLAJAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Public Health Reference Laboratories (HLAJAIAA), Laboratory-Based Surveillance & Genomic Epidemiology (WGS/NGS) (HLAJABAC), Microbiology & Infectious Disease Diagnostics (culture, rapid antigen, syndromic panels) (HLAAALAC)

Keywords

• Influenza surveillance services
• Virus reference laboratory
• Vaccine strain analysis
• Antigenic characterization
• Respiratory virus sequencing

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (WHO CCRRI) is a WHO-designated global reference laboratory that analyses influenza virus samples submitted by National Influenza Centres and regional laboratories. It performs antigenic characterization (HI assays), full-genome sequencing, and antiviral drug sensitivity testing, and uses these data to inform WHO's twice-yearly seasonal influenza vaccine composition recommendations. It also delivers laboratory training, conducts research into influenza virus biology and immunity, and shares sequence data via the GISAID EpiFlu database.

Product overview

The WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (WHO CCRRI) operates as a reference laboratory within the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), providing a suite of interconnected surveillance, research, and training services rather than commercial software products. The core offerings center on influenza virus analysis including antigenic characterization via Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) Typing Assays, molecular analysis with full genome sequencing capabilities, and antiviral susceptibility testing. These diagnostic services support the WHO's semi-annual vaccine strain recommendations. The Centre also delivers training programs to regional laboratories and conducts fundamental research into influenza virus biology, transmissibility, and immune responses. Data generated is shared via the GISAID international database. The organization functions as a public health reference facility rather than a product-based company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WHO GISRS Surveillance Services Comprehensive influenza surveillance services including antigenic analysis (Haemagglutination Inhibition assays), genetic analysis (HA and NA gene sequencing), and antiviral drug sensitivity testing to monitor circulating influenza viruses globally. Provided to WHO National Influenza Centres and global surveillance partners.
• Molecular Analysis and Full Genome Sequencing Complete genome sequencing services for influenza A and B viruses using Sanger sequencing methodology, with specialized primers for avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses. Also encompasses RSV whole genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technologies. Provided to National Influenza Centres.
• Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) Typing Assay Laboratory assay used to identify and type new and existing influenza virus isolates using antisera prepared against known standard viruses. Determines antigenic relationships between test viruses and reference strains.
• Laboratory Training Programs Technical training opportunities for laboratories in the Asia-Pacific region including on-site training, regional workshops, and in-house training programs covering techniques for influenza virus detection and analysis.
• Research and Education Programs Research projects in influenza virus transmissibility, antiviral resistance, immune response, fundamental biology, and epidemiology. Offers Honours, Masters, and PhD research projects undertaken in collaboration with partner institutions.
• Vaccine Strain Recommendation Support Analysis and characterization of circulating influenza viruses to inform WHO vaccine composition recommendations for both Northern and Southern Hemisphere seasons, conducted twice yearly.
• Sample Shipping and Submission Services Accepts influenza virus isolates and clinical specimens from National Influenza Centres and reference laboratories globally, with detailed shipping protocols and documentation requirements.
• Antiviral Drug Sensitivity Testing Circulating viruses tested for sensitivity to influenza drugs both currently in use and in late-stage development to monitor emergence of drug-resistant strains.

Quantifiable outcome

• Analysis of thousands of influenza samples annually from laboratories across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1952Formal designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre since 1952. The Centre operates as part of GISRS, which monitors influenza viruses circulating globally. GISRS comprises 5 WHO Collaborating Centres, 142 National Influenza Centres, 12 H5 Reference Laboratories, and 4 Essential Regulatory Laboratories.
• WHO Collaborating Centres (Atlanta, Beijing, London, Tokyo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive global collaborating centres responsible for analysing influenza viruses currently circulating in the human population in different countries. Centres exchange viruses, data, and candidate vaccine strains to enable direct comparison and global surveillance coordination.
• WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional office providing training support and technical collaboration for influenza surveillance capacity building in the Western Pacific region.
• WHO South-East Asian Regional Office (SEARO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional office collaborating on technical support and training for influenza surveillance in South-East Asian countries.
• Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional organization providing support for influenza surveillance capacity building activities in Pacific Island countries.
• Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention (REDI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional organization supporting capacity building for emerging disease surveillance including influenza in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on influenza surveillance methods, reagent kits, and capacity building. CDC supplies influenza reagent kits through the International Reagent Resource for laboratories.
• Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and ImmunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre is physically located within the Peter Doherty Institute, a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health. This provides access to state-of-the-art PC3 and PC4 laboratory facilities and collaborative research opportunities.
• Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO CCRRI is part of VIDRL, which provides the institutional framework and additional laboratory capabilities for infectious disease reference work.
• GISAID InitiativecoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational database for sharing influenza sequences and metadata. The Centre uploads sequencing data to the GISAID EpiFlu Database regularly, particularly before WHO vaccine selection meetings.
• Vaccine Manufacturers (bioCSL, NIBSC, NYMC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with vaccine manufacturers to ensure suitability of candidate vaccine strains. Candidate strains are shared with bioCSL (Australia), NIBSC (UK), and NYMC (USA) for virus reassortment to produce potential vaccine seed strains.
• Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) - Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AIVC, part of TGA, makes final decisions on vaccine composition for Australia based on WHO recommendations and Centre surveillance data.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Robert Koch Institute (RKI): Germany's federal public health institute conducting national influenza surveillance and reference work. Comparable in reference laboratory capability and public health mandate, but operates at a broader national scope rather than serving as a WHO global reference centre.
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): Broader infectious-disease surveillance agency coordinating influenza and other respiratory pathogen monitoring across EU/EEA states. Overlaps with the Centre's surveillance and outbreak-response roles but at a wider multi-pathogen scope and regional rather than lab-based focus.
• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA): National public health agency undertaking influenza surveillance, reference testing, and vaccine strain work in the UK. Comparable scientific functions but operating at a national rather than WHO Collaborating Centre level.
• Institut Pasteur: Global infectious disease research and reference network with extensive influenza and respiratory virus capacity, including the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (a Centre submitter). Comparable in virology, surveillance, and training, but with a broader multi-pathogen mandate.

Direct peers

• Chinese National Influenza Center (China CDC): Hosts the Beijing WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza. Closely comparable role in regional surveillance, virus characterisation, and vaccine recommendation inputs, with significant geographic overlap in sample sourcing.
• WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (CDC, Atlanta): One of the five WHO Collaborating Centres for Influenza, hosted by the U.S. CDC Influenza Division. Directly comparable mandate, methodology, and vaccine-recommendation role, with overlapping Asia-Pacific inputs via the U.S. CDC's International Reagent Resource.
• National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC): Hosts the London WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza and operates as a major influenza reference and vaccine standard-setting laboratory. Comparable in scope (antigenic, genetic, antiviral resistance testing) and plays a parallel role to the Melbourne Centre in Northern Hemisphere vaccine strain preparation.
• National Institute of Infectious Diseases (Japan): Hosts the Tokyo WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza. Performs essentially the same antigenic, genetic, and antiviral resistance analyses as the Melbourne Centre and contributes to WHO vaccine recommendations.

Others

• GISAID Initiative: International database through which the Centre shares and consumes influenza sequence data. Functionally an ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, but a key dependency for the Centre's data contribution and global surveillance visibility.
• bioMérieux (including BioFire): Major infectious disease diagnostics and molecular testing platform provider whose syndromic respiratory panels complement the Centre's reference-level characterisation work. Connected as adjacent enabling technology rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WHOCCFluMelb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/who-collaborating-centre-for-reference-and-research-on-influenza

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza