The Victorian Government is ensuring Victoria’s medical research sector can continue to drive nation-leading infectious disease treatments and develop new products, grow exports and create jobs – with the opening of the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) at Monash University.

Senior Leadership Team from MMIC

Senior Leadership Team pictured left to right: Prof. Michelle McIntosh (Director), Ms Ruth Howell (Quality Systems Manager, Dr. Tri Nguyen (Operations Manager), Dr. Paul Wynne (Centre Manager and Principal Scientist)

On 10 July, Victorian Minister for Medical Research opened the expanded Centre and announced 10 local research projects will share in $5 million through the latest round of the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics Foundation Grants.

MMIC helps Victorian medicines manufacturers invest in research and development, create new products and develop skills.

The centre’s new purpose-built facility is dedicated to helping industry solve technical challenges, develop new product formulations and encourage investment in life-saving therapies thanks to a dedicated team of scientists.

The expansion has been made possible thanks to a more than $16 million investment by the government into the Monash Technology Precinct.

Dr Shadab Haque (freeze-drier) and Dr Garima Sharma (Biohazard hood)

MMIC is also a recipient in the latest round of the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics Foundation Grants and will develop a new therapeutic agent to treat respiratory viruses and prevent lung infections.

Backed by the Victorian Government’s investment of up to $75 million over 10 years, the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics was established in Melbourne in 2022 to rapidly develop, test and commercialise new therapeutics to tackle infectious diseases.

Victoria is leading the way by securing more than half of the total Cumming Global Centre’s funding pool for this round, with grants also awarded to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Parkville and the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong.

These grants will support researchers world-wide to uncover new technologies and fast-track the development of treatments for viruses and infectious diseases that could cause future pandemics.

View the full list of funded projects at cgcpt.edu.au