Biopharmaceutical leaders from South Korea visit Monash’s Parkville campus
The world-leading Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (FPPS), located at Monash University’s Parkville campus, has welcomed a delegation of government and academic representatives from South Korea to collectively discuss and share knowledge on the rapidly advancing fields of biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences and mRNA research and workforce development.
Supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australia-Korea collaboration featured speakers from The Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) and Yonsei University’s Korea National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (K-NIBRT), along with representatives from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), FPPS, and leading voices from Australia’s vibrant life science sector - MTPConnect and mRNA Victoria.
The initiative represented a unique opportunity to explore new avenues for collaboration between prominent Korean institutes, Monash University, MTPConnect, mRNA Victoria and the broader local scientific community, particularly during a time of exciting technological development, which is rapidly transforming the world of drug discovery across the entire pipeline.
Dean of the FPPS, Professor Arthur Christopoulos FAA FAHMS, who welcomed the delegation, said the timely visit provided valuable two-way insights into Korea and Australia’s research and development landscapes, opening up fresh opportunities for collaborative research and education.
“Australia is a thriving hub of life science advancements, regularly ranked among the top countries in the world for our strengths in medical innovation and technology-driven drug discovery,” Professor Christopoulos said.
“Central to this success is recognising the importance of global collaboration. It was a pleasure to welcome and learn from our KHIDI and Yonsei University guests, who are playing a pivotal role in Korea’s burgeoning biopharmaceutical sector, particularly in the field of mRNA and other pharmaceutical research.”
Director of MIPS, Professor Chris Porter, said the visit was an important step in paving the way for future collaboration between two world-leading scientific research sectors with common goals.
“The visit from KHIDI, Yonsei University, MTPConnect and mRNA Victoria to our Parkville campus was a fantastic opportunity for researchers to come together to hear and share ideas and expertise, particularly in the exciting and rapidly moving field of mRNA research, in which both Australia and Korea have become renowned,” Professor Porter said.
“When Australia continues to facilitate linkages between industry, government and academia, not only are we creating new opportunities for our local scientific community, we also continue to strengthen our collective position as world-leaders in biotech research.”
MTPConnect Partnerships Director Jarrod Belcher said Korea is an increasingly important market for the life sciences sector in Australia.
“We are delighted to be hosting this high level Korean delegation in Melbourne and helping to build connections around our life sciences and medical products, including the research and clinical trials sector. Korea is Australia’s third largest two-way trading partner and there are ongoing opportunities for partnerships, collaborations and market expansion,” he said.
mRNA Victoria CEO Phoebe Dunn said: "mRNA Victoria was delighted to join the South Korean delegation at the Monash Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences. This visit underscored the importance of international collaborations in advancing mRNA research and innovation. By sharing expertise and exploring potential partnerships, we aim to drive forward the development of a collaborative mRNA industry in the region.”
From Korea, key speakers included Director of KHIDI, Dr Yong U Kim; Chairperson of External Affairs, K-NIBRT at Yonsei University, Professor Jae Hun Shin; Director of Yonsei University’s International Campus, Professor Wan Namkung and Professor Jin Wook Yang, Dongguk University.
Local speakers included Director of MIPS Professor Chris Porter; MTPConnect Partnerships Director Jarrod Belcher; mRNA Victoria’s Director of Research and Industry Development, Rebecca Skinner, and Director of the Monash Centre for Advanced mRNA Medicines Manufacturing and Workforce Training, Associate Professor Jen Short.
In 2024 Monash University was ranked number two in the world for Pharmacy and Pharmacology in the 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject, and has consistently ranked in the most elite group of Pharmacy and Pharmacology programs worldwide, with an average top three ranking for the last eight years.
In the last five years Monash scientists have also been at the forefront of mRNA technology, including the local design, development and manufacture of Australia's first mRNA clinical candidate, a second-generation COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. The University’s knowledge and expertise in translating fundamental science into products for clinical trials now serves as a platform for navigating the challenges of producing the next generation of mRNA medicines.