New centre for therapeutic innovation

In a major new research collaboration, Monash University will partner with Pfizer to set up the Victorian Centre for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI).

The first centre to be set up by Pfizer outside the US, it will be managed by researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash’s Clayton campus, with a focus on commercialising Victorian life sciences research.

Launched in 2010, the CTI program is a unique model for academic-industry collaboration, designed to bridge the gap between early scientific discovery and its translation into new medicines.

The announcement of the Monash CTI was made by the Victorian Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips at the BIO 2014 International Convention in San Diego.

Rich-Phillips said the new centre represents a significant investment by Pfizer in Victoria’s biotechnology capabilities and will see Monash and Pfizer strengthen existing research collaborations.

“These collaborative projects are estimated to each represent an investment of between $12-14 million,” Rich-Phillips said.

The Monash centre joins four other CTIs in Boston, New York, San Diego and San Francisco.