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.
(L-R) UQ’s Professor Paul Young, Qld Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace MP and Professor Rafi Ahmed & Dr Ravi Thadhani from Emory University. Image: supplied.
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.
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.
