The Victorian Government funds more of its mRNA Plan

There $5.4m for Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne and Monash University to, “advance the technologies involved in mRNA vaccines and therapeutics production.” The money is from the mRNA Victoria Activation Programme. Partner institutions are kicking-in another $3.7m.

It’s part of the state government’s plan, born of politics and policy, to expand Melbourne’s global role as a med research centre.

““One of the most important lessons of COVID‑19 — as demonstrated by the difficulty to secure mRNA vaccines — is that Australia is over reliant on global supply chains. Socially and economically, Australia must become more self‑reliant in areas of national interest — including health,” the state government’s ten year research strategy states, (CMM July 27).