Monash University and Moderna form partnership to advance homegrown mRNA medicines

15 August 2023

Monash University and Moderna today announced the establishment of the Monash-Moderna Quantitative Pharmacology Accelerator (MMQPA), a five-year program which aims to drive advancements in mRNA medicines, including therapeutics and vaccines, through a $3 million investment by Moderna and substantial in-kind contributions to the collaboration from Moderna and Monash.

Victoria’s Minister for Industry and Innovation, the Hon. Ben Carroll, visited the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) in Parkville, where the program will be headquartered, and met with Monash mRNA and quantitative pharmacology researchers, along with international Moderna delegates.

The MMQPA has been established through the newly established, Melbourne-based Moderna Research Centre for Respiratory Medicines and Tropical Diseases.

Quantitative pharmacology uses mathematical computer models to help describe and predict how medicines will work in the human body. Much like mRNA technology, quantitative pharmacology is a transformative science which has significantly improved the speed, efficiency and safety of the drug development process.

As such, the Monash-Moderna collaboration will enable Australia to accelerate the development of new safe and effective mRNA medicines for a broad range of diseases by harnessing quantitative pharmacology systems to make the process more efficient.

Located in the heart of Parkville’s biomedical precinct, MIPS is home to some of Australia’s leading quantitative pharmacology experts with extensive experience in model development across a range of diseases, especially infectious and tropical diseases. Likewise, Monash is at the cutting-edge of mRNA therapeutics development for a broad range of diseases.

Read the full story on the Monash News website.