Australian gov’t invests $1.1m for Victorian mRNA research projects

Six teams were chosen as part of the mRNA Victoria Research Acceleration Fund.

The Australian government has awarded a total of $1.1m (A$1.7m) to six Victorian research teams to advance messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based treatments.

Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson announced the latest recipients of the mRNA Victoria Research Acceleration Fund.

The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health has secured over $351,155 (A$535,000) for two projects that will use mRNA technology to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease.

Meanwhile, the University of Melbourne has received more than $95,200 (A$145,000) to design an antiviral drug to stop multiple respiratory viruses.

Local startup Zitra Medicines will use approximately $318,306 (A$485,000) to focus on Sandhoff and Tay-Sachs diseases, a genetic neurological disorder affecting children.

The Hudson Institute of Medical Research has obtained over $85,343 (A$130,000) to develop new mRNA-based treatments to tackle autoinflammatory disease.

Moreover, a $260,000 (A$395,000) grant will support RMIT University to develop targeted gene therapy treatment for atherosclerosis.

A$1 = $0.66