In a bid to develop the next generation of mRNA vaccines and medicines, the Victorian Labor government is funding grants for eligible research teams and biotech startups.
The state government says the grants will support research teams to develop new RNA and mRNA-based therapeutics.
The grants will make up to $500,000 (US$316,000) available for startups to fast-track the “translation of research,” while up to $100,000 will be made available to teams conducting “early-stage research.”
Minister for Economic Growth Tim Pallas opened grant applications this week for “Round 3” of the mRNA Victoria Research Acceleration Fund, a move he says will drive jobs and life-changing treatments for Victorians.
“mRNA is an exciting and growing part of our innovation economy, providing amazing jobs now and the potential for many more in the future,” said Mr. Pallas.
Victoria Leads in mRNA Technology in Australia
Over $27 million has been spent on new mRNA treatments and vaccines for 42 research projects as a part of the Labor Government’s mRNA Victoria program.
The government says the research has helped unlock new mRNA treatments and vaccines for diseases including muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s and hard-to-treat cancers.
“Victoria’s dedicated and talented medical researchers are changing and saving lives—and we’re proud to back them in their vital work,” said Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll.
Pharmaceutical giant Moderna—which has its headquarters in Melbourne for Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia, and Oceania—has plans to produce 100 million mRNA vaccine doses each year once their new Clayton facility is built. So far, construction on the facility has passed its halfway mark.
To boost their work with medical researchers across the country on new mRNA therapeutics, Moderna also recently opened the Moderna Regional Research Centre for Respiratory Medicines and Tropical Diseases in Melbourne.
It’s first collaboration is a $3 million Quantitative Pharmacology Accelerator with the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. This program will accelerate the development of mRNA medicine through the use of digital models to predict the effects of its treatment.
Victoria is also home to biotech giant CSL, the second largest influenza manufacturer in the world, which also started manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines in 2021.
The Victoria government also committed $400 million in 2021 to create the Australian Institute for Infectious Diseases beside the Doherty Institute, the first place in the world outside of China to decipher the genetic code for COVID-19.
The state is also home to the Australian Government’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness operated by the CSIRO, and the Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Nearly 60 percent of Australia’s pharmaceuticals exports come from Victoria supporting over 100,000 full-time jobs in the biotech sector.
The Victorian Labor government has invested $12.3 million in the state budget to develop mRNA technology as part of the $1.3 billion of funding into medical research since 2014.
