Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Medical Research the Hon Ben Carroll today officially opened the newly built Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) within the heart of the Monash Technology Precinct, Clayton.
Funded through an $8.58 million investment from the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund and $4 million from Monash University, MMIC’s expansion to Clayton builds on the Centre’s work based at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) in Parkville to provide further opportunities for innovation across medicine formulation, resolving manufacturing process challenges and building supply of highly-skilled, industry ready candidates for the workforce.
Minister Carroll also announced a grant awarded to MMIC by the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics (Cumming Global Centre). The grant will fund the development of a potential new therapeutic agent for the treatment of respiratory infections and inflammation, with the aim to help safeguard the community against both existing and future viruses.
Director of MMIC, Professor Michelle McIntosh said the Centre’s expansion to Clayton will deliver far-reaching benefits to the Victorian community.
“
“We’re also thrilled to have Cumming Global Centre’s Professor Sharon Lewin join us for the MMIC launch. Fostering collaboration between research institutes is central to MMICs mission, and we are excited to be working with Professor Lewin and her team to progress a new treatment for respiratory viruses and further strengthen Australia’s resilience to future health emergencies,” Professor McIntosh said.
Inaugural Director of the Cumming Global Centre, Melbourne Laureate Professor Sharon Lewin congratulated Professor McIntosh on the grant and said she looks forward to seeing the project come to fruition.
“In a globally competitive process, Professor McIntosh’s exploration of an innovative delivery system to treat future respiratory viruses stood out for both scientific excellence and its alignment to the Centre’s mission to advance the science behind therapeutics for pathogens of pandemic potential,” Professor Lewin said.
Monash
University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Sharon Pickering said the
permanent MMIC facility is an important new addition to the Monash
Technology Precinct – a world class hub of research, industry, innovation and
talent that is part of Victoria’s largest employment precinct outside the
Melbourne CBD.
“This
new facility will further strengthen the research and development capability of
the Monash Technology Precinct innovation ecosystem, joining world-leading
research and technology organisations such the CSIRO, the Melbourne Centre for
Nanofabrication, the Victorian Heart Hospital and the soon-to-be completed
Moderna manufacturing facility.
MMIC Clayton
is a purpose designed and built facility including laboratory and office space,
co-located with the Australian Synchrotron in the heart of the Monash
Technology Precinct, promoting further economic opportunities and growing
employment.
“By being
located in the world-class Monash Technology Precinct, the MMIC will provide
our researchers, precinct partners and local and international companies the
opportunity to develop, test and scale-up new medicines here in Australia
without going off-shore.”