Victorian Infection and Immunity Network gets $300K injection from Vic government

A collaborative network of researchers in infection and immunity has received a $300,000 grant from the Victorian government to encourage industry partnerships.

A $300,000 grant from the Victorian government will promote collaborations between researchers and the industry focused on developing new innovations in infection and immunity.

The Victorian Infection and Immunity Network represents over 900 infection and immunity researchers across the state and is jointly led by Professor Paul Hertzog from the Monash Institute of Medical Research and Professor Elizabeth Hartland from the University of Melbourne.

The money will go towards encouraging linkages between academia and biotechnology companies and will help showcase new research as well as assisting in placing recent graduates in the industry.

“This initiative will address the perceived gap in bidirectional interactions between industry and academia, enhance the education and training of a highly skilled workforce, and refine the commercial acumen of academic research programs,” said Hertzog.

“Having already established strong membership and activities, VIIN has positioned itself to form an industry alliance with businesses interested in cutting-edge platform technologies and innovative research,” said Hartland.