CSL and QIMR Berghofer partner on translational research

Global biotherapeutics company CSL has announced a five-year agreement with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute to help turn the institute’s scientific discoveries into innovative new medical technologies.

Working in close collaboration with clinicians at neighbouring hospitals in the Herston precinct and other research institutes in Brisbane, QIMR has a rich history of scientific discoveries and translational medical research. According to QIMR Berghofer’s director and CEO, Professor Frank Gannon, the goal of the new agreement is to move this research towards commercialisation faster.

“CSL’s input and expert advice will support the translation of QIMR Berghofer’s research and will help to ensure these projects answer the critical commercial questions, accelerating their path towards commercialisation,” Professor Gannon said. QIMR Berghofer will maintain the rights to any subsequent intellectual property.

“At QIMR Berghofer, our priority is to take our research from the laboratory bench, to the biotech lab, to the hospital bedside so it can benefit the community. We call that our B2B2B plan. This financial assistance and commercial input from CSL will help us to do that.

“In doing so, it will also support jobs and investment in Queensland and Australia.”

CSL’s chief scientific officer, Dr Andrew Cuthbertson, said the partnership with QIMR is “one of a number of new initiatives … designed to support the brightest minds in biomedical research and continue our support of Australian medical discovery”.

At the same time, the move is one of several strategies QIMR Berghofer has adopted to help translate more of its scientific research into new treatments and diagnostics. For example, the institute will give researchers the opportunity to take a leave of absence for up to two years to work in the biotechnology sector.

“This initiative will allow our researchers to get experience in the commercial sector and follow their innovations through to the commercial stage, then return to the institute with significant new skills,” Professor Gannon said.

QIMR Berghofer has also established a new initiative known as The SEEDBox (Scientific Exploitation and Entrepreneurial Development), which will provide investment and expertise to prepare qualified projects for commercialisation. The SEEDBox will be run by managers with industry experience and will be supported by international advisors, including CEOs and entrepreneurs.

“These expert advisors will help our scientists to get their research ready to start attracting investment,” Professor Gannon said.