WIMR partner in new NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Vaccine Adjuvant Discovery and Development (Vaccine-ADD)

The Westmead Institute for Medical Research is proud to be a partner in the newly funded NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Vaccine Adjuvant Discovery and Development (Vaccine-ADD), a national program led by Griffith University. 

Funded at $3 million over five years, Vaccine-ADD will bring together leading researchers from Griffith University, Monash University, The University of Queensland, the University of Sydney, WIMR, The Australian National University, CSIRO and the Sanofi Translational Science Hub. The program will focus on discovering and developing novel vaccine adjuvants to improve vaccine efficacy and safety, expand vaccine options for diverse populations, and strengthen national capability in vaccine research. 

WIMR will contribute specialist expertise in vaccine and adjuvant research through its Centre for Virus Research, helping to advance the program’s translational impact. Chief Investigator Professor Tony Cunningham said, “WIMR will contribute specialised human lymph node models to the CRE, providing a physiologically relevant platform to assess how novel adjuvants shape immune responses at the tissue level.” 

Associate Investigator Dr Kerrie Sandgren added, “This capability will support mechanistic studies and early validation, helping prioritise the most promising adjuvant candidates for further development.” 

Vaccine-ADD will also support mentoring for early career researchers and help build Australia’s long-term capacity in vaccine discovery and development. Therapeutic Innovation Australia supported the application, with the program set to benefit from access to national infrastructure and NCRIS co-funded facilities as it progresses over the next five years.