Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM announces the partnership
Thanks to a partnership with Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, Perth’s The Kids Research Institute Australia will be at the forefront of a global push to decode the human immune system to transform how we prevent, diagnose and treat disease as the first international hub of the Human Vaccines Project.
The Human Vaccines Project membership, announced today by WA Health Minister Roger Cook, will also see Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and The Kids Research Institute Australia co-fund the relocation of an international leader in the field, paediatric clinical scientist Professor Tobias Kollmann and his laboratory team, from Canada to head the initiative.
Dr Kollmann, as a senior scientist at The Kids Research Institute Australia, will lead the Human Vaccines Project’s efforts to enable the development of one shot vaccines that provide lifelong protection from disease for all people.
Institute Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis said the Project was both ambitious and achievable.
“Just as the mapping of the human genome has led to incredible advances in medical science, the Human Vaccines Project has the potential to truly unlock the power of the immune system to fight disease from within – that means more effective vaccines and immunotherapies,” Professor Carapetis said.
“It is a fantastic honour to be invited to be the first international member and reflects the reputation of our researchers and the work that we’re doing, particularly in paediatric infection and vulnerable communities.
“Tobi visited Perth earlier this year and was so impressed with our research quality, people and environment.”
CEO of the Human Vaccines Project, Dr Wayne C Koff, said the partnership with The Kids Research Institute Australia brings extensive and complementary scientific capacity to the Project.
“The strategic importance of the Project’s partnership with The Kids Research Institute Australia is critical to ensure that all people – including the most vulnerable – will benefit from the breakthroughs realized by decoding the human immune system. Together we will enhance scientific efforts toward better vaccines and immunotherapies, including a universal flu vaccine,” Dr. Koff said.
Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Carrick Robinson said the international collaboration with the Human Vaccines Project and the recruitment of Professor Kollmann and his team would have direct benefit to WA children and families.
“Tobi’s research has changed the way we think about infection in young babies and has led to the development of new techniques for diagnosis and research,” Mr Robinson said.
“Not only will he treat children at PCH, he will ensure that WA families reap the benefits of us being at the leading edge of new techniques and therapies.”
The Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and The Kids Research Institute Australia acknowledge generous support from Telethon, the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, BHP and Wesfarmers to make this initiative possible.
See an introduction to Professor Kollmann and the Human Vaccines Project here.
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ABOUT THE HUMAN VACCINES PROJECT
The Human Vaccines Project is a nonprofit public-private partnership with a mission to decode the human immune system to accelerate the development of vaccines and immunotherapies against major global diseases. The Project brings together leading academic research centers, industrial partners, nonprofits and governments to address the primary scientific barriers to developing new vaccines and immunotherapies. Support and funders for the Project include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Michelson Medical Research Foundation, GSK, MedImmune, Illumina, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, Pfizer, Moderna, Boehringer Ingelheim, Aeras, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University of California San Diego, The Scripps Research Institute, J. Craig Venter Institute and La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology. To learn more, visit www.humanvaccinesproject.org and follow @HumanVacProject on Twitter.
ABOUT PERTH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation is the main fundraising body for and largest non-Government funder of Perth Children’s Hospital. Established in 1998, we receive donations and support from thousands of generous individuals, community groups and organisations who share our belief that all children deserve the chance to live their healthiest and happiest lives. Foundation funds ensure Perth Children’s Hospital is able to attract world-leading experts in paediatric medicine, deliver the most innovative medical training to its staff, function with the latest medical equipment, conduct and contribute to ground-breaking research, and provide child and family-centric initiatives to make the hospital less daunting. Learn more at www.pchfwa.com.au
ABOUT The Kids Research Institute Australia
The Kids Research Institute Australia is one of the largest and most successful medical research institutes in Australia, comprising a dedicated and diverse team of more than 600 staff and students. We've created a bold blueprint that brings together community, researchers, practitioners, policy makers and funders, who share our vision to improve the health and wellbeing of children through excellence in research. The Institute is headed by leading paediatrician and infectious diseases expert Professor Jonathan Carapetis, with Founding Director Professor Fiona Stanley now Patron. The Kids is independent and not-for-profit. The majority of funding comes from our success in winning national and international competitive research grants. We also receive significant philanthropic support from corporate Australia and the community.
