The Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics (Cumming Global Centre) and the University of Bonn have today announced the AUD$54 million Bonn-Cumming Host-Directed Pandemic Therapeutics Research Program ("the partnership") to fund groundbreaking research into early immunity to develop novel targets for therapeutics for pathogens of pandemic potential.
Early immunity refers to the body's first line of defence against invading pathogens. The partnership aims to develop a blueprint for therapeutics that trigger the body's natural immune response into appropriate action to fight off infection, no matter the pathogen. This is a revolutionary change from the more common focus on individual treatments for specific pathogens and aims to make pandemic therapeutics available in much shorter timeframes than currently possible.
Inaugural Director of the Cumming Global Centre and the Doherty Institute, Melbourne Laureate Professor Sharon Lewin, said the partnership was a significant milestone.
"This is the Cumming Global Centre's first international research partnership and brings significant investment from both partners to advance the science behind therapeutic development for future pandemics," said Professor Lewin.
"This partnership taps into the University of Bonn's world-leading expertise in deciphering how the immune system first responds to infections and disease, an important strategic priority for the Cumming Global Centre."
The University of Bonn's expertise in this important aspect of the wider field of immunology is best demonstrated through the ImmunoSensation Cluster of Excellence, a research consortium seeking to better understand the connection between the immune system and human health and disease.
"Trusting collaborations are a core part of our strategy, especially with excellent partners worldwide who share our values. This allows us to work together, with our different perspectives, on scientific solutions to global challenges," said Rector of the University of Bonn, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Hoch.
"The University of Melbourne is an outstanding medical leader globally, especially in immunology, and Bonn Immunology is a leader in immune response research. With the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics, we are taking our long-standing and very successful collaboration to a new level in order to research and ultimately combat common immunological diseases."
The new partnership builds on and extends a long-standing collaboration between the University of Bonn and the University of Melbourne led by Prof Sammy Bedoui in Melbourne and Prof Christian Kurts in Bonn. The two institutions established an International Research Training Group joint PHD program in 2016 to foster global collaborations in immunology. The program has supported over 80 PhD candidates to date.
University of Melbourne's Vice Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell reiterated the importance of the partnership, and its contribution to the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics.
"When we announced the establishment of the Cumming Global Centre in August 2022, I indicated that it would attract global collaborations and people, focused on breakthrough research to develop treatments that would aim to reduce the progression of diseases and ultimately save lives. Today's partnership announcement is a proud moment that signifies that we are advancing the core purpose of the Centre through outstanding international collaborations."
Dean of the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor Jane Gunn AO, welcomed the opportunity to enhance the collaboration.
"We have built a meaningful relationship with the University of Bonn over the past decade. This latest partnership via the Cumming Global Centre is an exciting next step in our collaboration and we look forward to continuing our pioneering work together," said Professor Gunn.
Professor Bernd Weber, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bonn, is also looking forward to the unique collaboration.
"The University of Melbourne and the life sciences there are among our most important strategic partners. By working together at the Cumming Global Centre, we are building on the outstanding development of recent years and further intensifying our partnership," said Professor Weber.
Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll also welcomed the partnership as an exciting development for the state of Victoria.
"This new international partnership has the potential to transform how future pandemics are managed – bringing us one step closer to more life-saving treatments for Victorians and people across the world," said Minister Carroll.
"This is a significant milestone for the Cumming Global Centre as we continue to back our medical researchers to deliver groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs."
The partnership was ratified in a signing ceremony at the University of Bonn today, with a senior delegation from the University of Melbourne in attendance.
