The Victorian Government and Monash University have partnered to establish Australia’s first dedicated mRNA medicines manufacturing workforce training centre through a landmark agreement supported by a $10 million grant and further investment from Monash University.

Located on Monash’s Clayton Campus, The Monash Centre for Advanced mRNA Medicines Manufacturing and Workforce Training will develop the skills and capabilities of the future specialist workforce required for Victoria and Australia’s mRNA vaccine and therapeutic manufacturing ecosystem, as well as training people from across the Asia-Pacific region.

It will  provide the education and training to support the specialist workforce needed for the new mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility now being built on Monash’s Clayton campus by global biotech Moderna.

The first set of programmes will cater to both recent graduates and those from pharmaceutical companies or allied manufacturing industries looking to upskill and contribute to the dynamic and rapidly expanding mRNA medicines manufacturing ecosystem.

Courses will be developed in consultation with industry stakeholders, government and regulatory bodies, and will focus on the science underpinning the development of mRNA-based vaccines and medicines, as well as the regulatory processes governing the local manufacturing environment.

Importantly, courses will be designed to support growth of the mRNA vaccines and medicines industry across the entire production system, including bioprocess engineering, manufacturing, packaging and transport processes.