La Trobe University and VivaZome Therapeutics Pty Ltd have joined forces to work on the development of innovative biological treatments for disease.
VivaZome is a Melbourne-based biotechnology company that develops and commercialises extracellular-vesicle (EV) based therapies for disorders including traumatic brain injury and retinal disease.
The partnership provides opportunities to drive advancements in medical research and contribute to the development of innovative EV-based treatments.
“We are proud of this pioneering industry partnership with VivaZome,” says La Trobe’s Dr Lesley Cheng. “This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of innovative therapeutic solutions using EVs.”
The project is supported by $3M in funding through an Australian Government Cooperative Research Centre grant led by VivaZome, with La Trobe University as a partner alongside the Australian National University, The University of Queensland, SeerPharma and Cytiva.
There are currently limited options for the manufacture of clinical-grade exosomes within Australia. This partnership is underpinned by La Trobe’s capacity to provide expertise and facilities to manufacture these products, which have the potential to revolutionise regenerative medicine.
“La Trobe’s world-leading expertise in exosome analytics and bioinformatics will be a valuable part of the project and will continue the six-year research collaboration between VivaZome, La Trobe and Dr Lesley Cheng’s Neurodegeneration EV Biology and Biomarker Group,” says Professor Susan Dodds, La Trobe’s Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Industry Engagement.
Xenia Sango, VivaZome CEO, is excited about the next steps.
“We are absolutely delighted to be working with an incredible group of world-leading project partners to push the boundaries of research and technology and pave the way for the development of transformative therapies.”
VivaZome is based at La Trobe’s Research and Innovation Precinct in Bundoora – a precinct for partners to co-locate and connect with world-leading research, capabilities, expertise and ecosystems. The precinct is part of La Trobe’s University City of the Future plan.
