A total of 35 projects to share $1,045,256 in voucher awards to access translational national research infrastructure (NRI) to accelerate the translation of therapeutics to improve human health. Of the total recipients, six were awarded a TFA voucher for the provision of advice specifically on cell and gene therapy product development. Research in cancer, neurodevelopmental and cardiovascular disorders, therapeutics development, and immunity, among others, will advance with the combined support from TIA and Phenomics Australia. These vouchers will subsidise a maximum of 50% of the total cost to access these translation NRI.

TIA and Phenomics Australia are enabled by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and support research in addressing the health challenges. The NCRIS 2023 funding jointly announced by The Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education and The Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, has enabled us to continue bridging gap between discovery research and the point of value inflection, beyond which industrial support becomes available.

Recipients of TIA Pipeline Accelerator 2023-24 (Round 1) are listed below:

• Mr Miguel Aguirre from University of Queensland to access Protein Expression Facility for a project entitled Development of a vaccine to prevent Group A Streptococcus pharyngeal infection.
• Dr Natalie Borg from RMIT University to access CSIRO Biomedical Manufacturing for a project entitled Development of novel agents targeting severe viral infections.
• Prof Rachel Codd from University of Sydney to access Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation for a project entitled Efficacy and toxicity measures of a new class of iron chelator.
• Dr Jonathan Danon from University of Sydney to access Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation for a project entitled Innovative Molecules for Imaging Neuroinflammation.
• A/Prof Garron Dodd from University of Melbourne to access Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics for a project entitled Identifying New Targets to Treat Metabolic Disease.
• Dr Serena Duchi from University of Melbourne to access Cell & Molecular Therapies for a project entitled Developing a GMP Compliant Adipose Derived Stem Cell Manufacturing Process for Cartilage Based Stem Cell Therapies.
• Prof Tom Gonda from University of South Australia to access Australian Translational Medicinal Chemistry Facility for a project entitled Structure-Activity Analysis and Optimisation of Potential MYB-p300 Inhibitors.
• Prof Shane T Grey from Garvan Institute of Medical Research to access Sydney Cell and Gene Therapy for a project entitled Development of a novel anti inflammatory gene therapy for type 1 diabetes.
• Dr David Jacques from University of New South Wales to access Monash Fragment Platform for a project entitled Developing anti-capsid therapeutics for HTLV-1.
• Dr Sarah Jones from Monash University to access Monash Fragment Platform for a project entitled Fragment screen for TRIM25 inhibitors.
• Dr Aggie Susanti Lawer from University of Sydney to access GRIDD Mass Spectrometry Screening and Compounds Australia for a project entitled Developing Precision Covalent Therapeutics to Target Protein Disulfide Isomerase A6: A Novel and Safer Strategy Against Acute Ischaemic Stroke.
• Dr Willem Joost Lesterhuis from Telethon Kids Institute to access Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation for a project entitled Small molecule drugs in immunooncology.
• Dr Steven Petratos from Monash University to access Australian Translational Medicinal Chemistry Facility for a project entitled Development of Integrin αVβ3 Agonists to Promote Remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis.
• A/Prof Matthew Piggot from University of Western Australia and Emyria Ltd to access Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation for a project entitled Hit to lead optimisation of novel drug candidates targeting mental health and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Dr Sohinee Sarkar from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute to access Stem Cell Disease Modelling & Drug Screening Facility for a project entitled A stem cell powered drug discovery pipeline for non-tuberculous mycobacteria.
• A/Prof Ian Street from Children’s Cancer Institute to access Australian Translational Medicinal Chemistry Facility and Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation for a project entitled Developing METTL5 Inhibitors for the treatment of paediatric neuroblastoma and adult solid tumours.
• Dr Thomas Tapmeier from Monash University to access Australian Translational Medicinal Chemistry Facility and Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation for a project entitled Peripherally Restricted NPSR1 Antagonist in Endometriosis
• Dr Pegah Varamini from University of Sydney to access Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development for a project entitled Development of new nano-platforms for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
• Dr Rosalind Wilson from Carpe Vitae Pharmaceuticals to access Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation for a project entitled Development of a novel drug targeting age-related diseases.
• A/Prof Andrew Wise from Bionics Institute to access CSIRO Biomedical Manufacturing for a project entitled Optimisation of a therapeutic neurotrophin molecule to enable evaluation in a first in human clinical trial.

Recipients of TFAs 2023-24 (Round 1) are listed below.

• Dr Anai Gonzalez Cordero from Children’s Medical Research Institute to access Sydney Cell and Gene Therapy for a project entitled Developing an ‘allogeneic stem cell-derived photoreceptor cell product’ compatible with good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions.
• Professor David Gottlieb from Western Sydney Local Health District to access Centre of Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy for a project entitled Commercial scale up of CMV and EBV specific T-cell manufacturing.
• Mr David Thomas Kneen from Celleo Biotech Pty Ltd to access Cell & Tissue Therapies WA for a project entitled Automated aseptic manufacture of serum eye drops for patients suffering dry eye condition
• Dr Saparna Pai from James Cook University to access Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics for a project entitled Retrieving short-term memories for tuberculosis treatment.
• A/ProfJason Waithman from University of Western Australia to access Q Cell & Tissue Therapies WA for a project entitled Improving adoptive cell therapy protocols through transcriptional rewiring of T cells.
• Prof Majid Ebrahimi Warkiani from SMART MCs Pty Ltd to access Cell & Tissue Therapies WA for a project entitled Biodegradable Microcarriers for Therapeutic Stem Cells: A Feasibility Analysis for Large-Scale Production.