Victorian Minister for Economic Development and Medical Research, Anthony Carbines, has announced two cancer research teams will share $1.98 million through the mRNA Victoria Pipeline grant program.
The University of Melbourne will receive $980,000 for its project which builds on earlier research supported by mRNA Victoria to investigate how mRNA technology could help immune cells better target solid cancers making CAR T-cell therapies more effective.
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) will receive $1 million to support the development of potential mRNA treatments for aggressive brain cancers in children and adults.
“We’re backing Victoria’s world-class researchers to develop new cancer treatments and offer hope to patients here and around the world,” said Minister for Economic Development and Medical Research, Anthony Carbines.
“By advancing cutting-edge research towards clinical trials, we’re keeping Victoria at the forefront of medical innovation.”
The mRNA Victoria Pipeline grant program helps researchers progress treatments from pre-clinical research towards Phase 1 clinical trials. This includes, a world-first lupus clinical trial, new treatments for bone marrow failure syndrome with malaria and hepatitis C are also progressing towards clinical trials.
Victoria is home to around 30% of the nation’s clinical trial sites – more than any other state in Australia.
