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The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) has established a state-of-the-art facility at the Australian Synchrotron in Clayton, officially opened by the Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Medical Research. The opening event, co-hosted by ANSTO, marks a significant milestone in the collaboration that began in 2022. The agreement formalised their partnership and set the stage for the construction of a dedicated two-storey facility designed to house MMIC’s activities at the synchrotron.
During the facility’s construction, MMIC leveraged existing laboratory and office space at the Australian Synchrotron. This interim arrangement enabled MMIC to maintain momentum in its research and development activities. The new MMIC facility is now equipped to support an advanced synchrotron research program, which will benefit from Merit and Commercial Access beamtime. Additionally, the appointment of an MMIC-funded Postdoctoral Fellow will further enhance the research capabilities.
ANSTO’s collaborative partnership with MMIC is pivotal, providing the Centre with access to a suite of beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron and various on-site laboratory facilities. These resources are essential for characterising new pharmaceutical formulations, many of which include crystalline components or utilise nanomaterials. Synchrotron techniques offer unparalleled precision in analysing these materials, significantly enhancing the Centre’s service offerings to clients and research activities.
Professor Michael James, who attended the official opening, emphasised the value of synchrotron capabilities in the Centre’s research. He noted that the utilisation of these advanced techniques has significantly bolstered the Centre’s ability to provide high-quality services and conduct cutting-edge research. This initiative is seen as an extension of MMIC’s productive relationship with Monash University, furthering the potential for innovative developments in medicine formulation and manufacturing processes.
The construction of the new facility was funded with an AU$ 8.58 million investment from the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund and an additional AU$ 4 million from Monash University. This financial support underscores the importance of the Centre’s mission to drive innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing. MMIC’s expansion to Clayton builds on its foundational work at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Parkville, broadening the scope of its research and development efforts.
During the opening ceremony, the Deputy Premier announced a significant grant awarded to MMIC by the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics, part of the Doherty Institute in Melbourne. This grant aims to support the development of a new therapeutic agent for treating respiratory infections and inflammation, with a focus on safeguarding the community against current and future viral threats.
The Director of MMIC highlighted the transformative impact of the new facility on Victoria’s research commercialisation landscape. She emphasised that the dedicated team of pharmaceutical scientists at MMIC is committed to advancing the end-to-end development of various medicines. Utilising state-of-the-art technology, the team aims to take projects from the laboratory scale to the local manufacture of medicines for clinical trials.
The Inaugural Director of the Cumming Global Centre noted that the project’s scientific excellence and its alignment with therapeutic strategies for pathogens of pandemic potential were key factors in the grant award.
Beyond the recent grant, MMIC is actively engaged in a range of local and international projects. This includes collaborations with partners such as a Texas-based biotechnology company, demonstrating the Centre’s global reach and influence in pharmaceutical research and development.
The establishment of the MMIC facility at the Australian Synchrotron represents a significant advancement in the integration of cutting-edge technology and pharmaceutical innovation. With enhanced capabilities and a strong collaborative framework, MMIC is poised to make substantial contributions to the field of medicine manufacturing, addressing both current healthcare challenges and future needs.
