Army Malaria Institute - its evolution and achievements fifth decade: 2006-2015

As the Army Malaria Institute entered its fifth decade, its research mission expanded and matured. Five research departments were engaged in assessing a variety of malaria drugs, molecular biology, field, clinical and diagnostic studies while arbovirus vaccines and molecular epidemiology topics were studied. Internal and external reviews of the Army Malaria Institute (AMI) were conducted indicating that AMI should remain within the Joint Health Command and eventually change its name to better reflect its role within the entire Australian Defence Force and with infectious diseases beyond malaria. AMI's deployment capability is intended to be emphasised by the evolution of a separate identifiable unit involving the uniformed members. How AMI should manage its quasi-academic status as well as external research funds has not been determined yet. As AMI's Fiftieth Anniversary approaches in mid-2016, it is clear that the on-going threat of infectious diseases to the ADF will mean that the Institute will continue to evolve its structure and functions into the future.