The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, has joined Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations or CEPI’s Centralised Laboratory Network, the largest global group dedicated to the standardised testing of epidemic and pandemic vaccines.

This is the latest laboratory to become a member of CEPI’s network – and the first in Australia – which will accelerate the development and evaluation of new vaccines for faster responses to a future epidemic or pandemic threat, thereby improving Australasia’s health security and minimising potential global disease burden.

The work of the Centralised Laboratory Network is a key enabler of the 100 Days Mission. Spearheaded by CEPI and embraced by the G7 and G20, the global goal aims to compress the time taken to develop vaccines against new threats to within 100 days of identification of a Disease X.

Expanding the network’s geographical footprint to include the Doherty Institute in Australia will help to reduce sample transfer and testing times for vaccine developers in the region, while also enhancing sustainable outbreak preparedness infrastructure globally.

The Doherty Institute becomes the 16^th member of CEPI’s Centralised Laboratory Network which now spans 14 countries. CEPI has, to date, provided up to $25 million to support the running of the network.