Posted: 15 February 2023
La Trobe University researchers will collaborate with several industry and university partners, to develop ‘customised exosomes’ that have the potential to treat a wide range of diseases, including traumatic brain injury and retinal disease.
The project will see the development of exosomes as an off-the-shelf, cell-based pharmaceutical for various diseases without the technical challenges of cell therapies.
Including the establishment of an exosome manufacturing facility in Australia, the three-year project has been supported by the Australian Government as part of its Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) program.
Australian biotech company VivaZome Therapeutics Pty Ltd will lead the project, with collaborators including La Trobe University, University of Queensland, Australian National University, Cytiva and SeerPharma Pty Ltd.
La Trobe Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Industry Engagement), Professor Susan Dodds, said she welcomed the Australian Government’s strong investment in this exciting project.
“Clinical grade exosomes manufactured in Australia have the potential to revolutionise regenerative medicine,” Professor Dodds said.
“There are currently limited options for manufacture of clinical grade exosomes within Australia, so this is a fantastic opportunity for the University, its partners, and Australia’s biotechnology and health industries.
“La Trobe’s world-leading expertise in exosome analytics and bioinformatics will be a valuable part of the project and will continue the 5-year research collaboration between VivaZome, La Trobe and Dr Lesley Cheng’s Neurodegeneration Biology and Biomarker Group,” Professor Dodds said.
With work commencing in 2023, the project will establish an exosome manufacturing facility, develop customised exosome products with enhanced function, and generate proof of concept data in areas of unmet need – including ophthalmic and neurological diseases.
Dr David Haylock, CEO of VivaZome said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this strong support from the Australian Government, and to be working with an incredible group of world-leading project partners. Exosomes have great potential to treat a wide range of diseases, including traumatic brain injury and retinal disease.”
Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic announced $44 million in grants to support 19 collaborative research projects under round 13 of the CRC-P program. The grants support companies working to commercialise cutting-edge ideas in collaboration with researchers and innovators.
VivaZome is based at La Trobe’s Research and Innovation Precinct in Bundoora – a precinct for partners to co-locate and connect with world-leading research, capabilities, expertise and ecosystems. The precinct is part of La Trobe’s University City of the Future plan.
