Queensland will be a major international hub for vaccine discovery and development with a $32 million partnership secured between The University of Queensland and US-based Emory University, with support from the Queensland Government, to establish the Queensland Emory Vaccine Centre (QEVC) at UQ.
QEVC will bring together UQ and Emory researchers, along with industry partners including global pharmaceutical company Sanofi and homegrown biotech company Vaxxas, to accelerate the development of vaccines and their delivery to help address the world’s critical health challenges.
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry AC said the partnership would make Brisbane a significant player in the burgeoning global biomedical industry.
“QEVC will co-locate some of the best vaccine researchers in the world in a new cutting-edge laboratory at UQ that will fast-track the translation of vaccines into viable treatments to improve the lives of people around the world,” Professor Terry said.
“Once operational, the QEVC will house more than 80 researchers and create over 20 direct jobs, provide new teaching and learning opportunities to boost Queensland’s skills pipeline and help to attract and retain talent.
“Other research institutions and the biotech sector will also be able to take advantage of the new facilities and work with the wider vaccine research and development community built on the Emory and UQ partnership.
“The focus will be to ensure a robust pipeline of vaccines and therapeutics moving from discovery to commercialisation – quite simply getting more vaccines from the lab to the communities that need them.”
Dr Ravi Thadhani, Emory University Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Executive Director, Woodruff Health Sciences Center, said QEVC builds on a decade-long relationship between Emory and UQ.
“The QEVC combines the strengths of the Emory Vaccine Center, a world leader in discovery, development, and clinical analysis of safe and affordable vaccines, with exceptional partners at UQ and across Queensland,” Dr Thadhani said.
“QEVC will address global vaccine needs, create innovative platforms and help address pandemic threats.”
The Queensland Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Grace Grace MP said this is a nationally significant opportunity to reduce the vaccine development timeline, through investment into novel approaches of vaccine development and technologies right here in Queensland.
“With the support of the Miles Government’s Industry Partnership Program, the Queensland Emory Vaccine Centre will provide an opportunity for The University of Queensland to collaborate with other Queensland research institutions in developing new vaccines,” Minister Grace said.
“It will provide the infrastructure, access to technologies and skills to fast track the identification of vaccine candidates, connecting Queensland’s vaccine development through Emory University into US opportunities.
“The Centre aligns with the Queensland Biomedical 10-year Roadmap and Action Plan and will see The University of Queensland creating over 20 new highly skilled and high value job opportunities.”
The new partnership extends a longstanding collaboration in drug discovery between Emory University and UQ through UniQuest’s Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative (QEDDI) and the Queensland Emory Development (QED) Alliance together with QIMR Berghofer.
In 2022, global vaccine manufacturer Sanofi and the Queensland Government signed an agreement for the establishment of a Brisbane-based $280 million Translational Science Hub, with UQ and Griffith University as foundational partners.
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