The Queensland Government has announced an additional $35.5 million investment to support the development of a locally-based vaccine manufacturing industry in the state, through the Translational Research Institute.
Cameron Dick, Queensland’s Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, said the new investment meant Queensland would cover three-quarters of the TRI’s Translational Manufacturing facility’s $80 million cost.
“The Translational Manufacturing facility at the Translational Research Institute (TM@TRI) would give Queensland researchers and biomedical companies the capacity to more easily achieve the production quantities they need for clinical trials,” the Treasurer said.
“This is one of the key steps in taking new medical treatments from benchtop to bedside.”
TRI CEO Professor Scott Bell welcomed the government’s funding announcement.
“Last year the Queensland Government announced $20 million towards this facility,” Professor Bell said.
“That put us within striking distance of building Queensland’s first agile and multifunctional scale-up manufacturing facility capable of producing a broad range of vaccines and medical products
“With today’s announcement, this facility is now fully funded.”
The facility, according to TRI, could support up to 500 industry jobs over the next ten years and provide hands-on training in clean room processes and advanced manufacturing to help Queensland develop a job-ready biomedical workforce.
The project is also backed by The University of Queensland, the Queensland University of Technology, and Mater Medical Research Institute.
