2 November 2009
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| Professor Bill Charman |
The Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS; Australia's leading and most experienced pharmaceutical sciences research institute) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Australia will establish an Australian Centre of Pharmaceutical Innovation to design and develop next generation formulation platforms and new medical products with support from the Victorian Science Agenda Investment Fund.
The $3.3 million project was announced by the State Government Minister for Innovation Gavin Jennings at the 2009 AusBiotech Conference in Melbourne.
This exemplary collaboration uniquely brings together and leverages cutting edge university science, industrial know-how and manufacturing skills to translate scientific knowledge into next generation, high-value pharmaceutical products (i.e. medicines) destined for international export markets.
Additional project outcomes include new employment opportunities and the strategic enhancement of Victoria 's knowledge base, skills sets and capability in pharmaceutical product development and manufacture.
In the medium term, the collaboration ultimately aims to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing in Victoria. This partnership will also generate new, fundamental scientific knowledge and provide a unique training opportunity for students and high-achieving scientific staff.
Professor Bill Charman, Director of MIPS said the new partnership leverages the unique skills in pharmaceutical science and nanatechnology within the institute with the industrial know-how and world-class medicine development capabilities of GSK Australia. The program at MIPS will be led by Dr David Morton and Professor Bill Charman.
"This is an exciting and significant strategic step for MIPS as a forerunner to a long term, broad-based collaboration with GSK," Professor Charman said.
Medicines developed within Victoria contributed to improved health of Australians and boosted Victoria's life science export sales, which in 2008-09 generated $1.2 billion for the state.
This project is one of ten successful health projects to be funded through Victoria's Science Agenda Investment Fund. Victoria's Science Agenda Investment Fund was established to help turn Victorian science and technology ideas into new products and services and take them into the global marketplace.
The Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) was established in 2008 from the precedent Victorian College of Pharmacy. Areas of therapeutic focus include infectious disease, cancer, neuroscience and metabolic diseases.
For more information or to request an interview, contact Samantha Blair, Media and Communications + 61 3 9903 4841 or 0439 013 951.
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