During the visit, Minister for Industry and Innovation Ben Carroll told the staff at the centre that what they are doing is not only saving lives but also creating jobs.
The fund will provide a one-off grant of up to $500,000 to support research that focuses on infectious diseases like COVID-19 and non-communicable diseases like cancer, metabolic diseases, degenerative diseases and auto-immune diseases.
“The potential for mRNA to treat cancer is huge. Our world-renowned researchers are building on decades of research excellence to harness the power of mRNA to treat cancer, with benefits for millions of cancer patients worldwide.”
The $1 million grant announcement is part of a $2.7 million fund Victoria has allocated for research into 16 mRNA projects targeting treatments for a range of diseases, including different types of cancer, Tuberculosis, malaria, and Parkinson’s Disease.
In addition, the Andrews Labor government has invested $12.3 million in its 2023/24 Budget to develop mRNA technology and aims to establish the centre as a global leader in medical research and develop some groundbreaking new mRNA cancer treatments to deal with numerous hard-to-treat cancers such as prostate, bowel and breast cancer.
Currently, Victoria is leading the development of mRNA technology in Australia, following the state securing Moderna’s mRNA Vaccine manufacturing facility in Clayton, which is now under construction. Once completed, it will have the capacity to produce 100 million vaccine doses per year.
Currently, Victoria exports nearly 60 percent of Australia’s pharmaceutical goods, regarded as the most high-value advanced manufactured export.
