Industry Fellowships play a critical role in strengthening collaboration between universities and the private sector, transforming research into practical solutions that address real-world challenges.
The Early Career Industry Fellowships scheme, part of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Program, exemplifies this approach by supporting talented researchers at the beginning of their careers and advancing industry-research partnerships that benefit society.
For industry partners, supporting eligible researchers for a Fellowship offers multiple strategic advantages. It provides direct pathways to cutting-edge research, facilitates the development of advanced skills within the workforce and fosters a culture of innovation by introducing new perspectives and technical expertise into ongoing projects. This engagement not only enhances the company’s research and development capacity but also strengthens its ability to address emerging industry challenges, positioning it at the forefront of sector innovation.
In July, ARC announced the outcomes for 2025 Future Fellowships and Industry Fellowships. La Trobe University secured $6.1 million in funding across six Fellowships.
Dr Ella Johnston, Research Scientist, VivaZome Therapeutics, is the recipient of the Early Career Industry Fellowship.
A co-located industry partner within La Trobe’s Bio Innovation Hub, VivaZome is an innovative Australian biotechnology company working to redefine the treatment of neuro-inflammatory diseases using extracellular vesicles (EVs).
This Fellowship represents a natural evolution of a strong and strategic university-industry partnership. A former La Trobe University student, Dr Johnston is uniquely equipped to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and its real-world industry application. The Fellowship collaboration also supports VivaZome’s development and commercial goals, and further highlights Australia’s leadership in advancing cell-free regenerative medicine.
Funded for a three-year period, Dr Johnston’s Fellowship will focus on developing and optimising methods to load small inorganic molecules and RNA into VivaZome’s EVs, enhancing their therapeutic functionality. Her work will leverage VivaZome’s advanced EV manufacturing and characterisation technology, establish specialised analytical assays, and contribute to setting industry benchmarks for EV product quality.
By positioning industry-based researchers like Dr Johnston at the intersection of academic and industry expertise, Industry Fellowships enable promising new avenues for research translation, commercial development, and deliver measurable real-world impact.
“I sincerely appreciate the opportunity this ARC Fellowship has provided me. I am extremely grateful to have the support of both VivaZome Therapeutics as an industry partner and La Trobe University. This collaborative partnership will allow me to enhance my academic and commercialisation experience in a well-supported environment, and to contribute to the translation of VivaZome’s EV therapeutics into the clinic,” says Dr Johnston.
The success of such ARC initiatives also relies heavily on strong leadership and active engagement by industry partners.
Led by Xenia Sango, CEO and Managing Director, VivaZome Therapeutics’ commitment to supporting academic partnerships reinforces the company’s position as an innovator in its field, actively contributing to the translation of research into meaningful health outcomes.
“We are incredibly proud of Dr Johnston’s achievement and thrilled to support her as she advances our shared goals. The Fellowship supports her development as a scientific leader and brings vital expertise into the company as we progress innovative therapies towards clinical trials.”
As Australia continues to invest in research and innovation, programs like the Early Career Industry Fellowships remain essential for building national capability, fostering new talent, and establishing long-lasting partnerships between academia and industry.
Dr Johnston’s Fellowship stands as a compelling example of how these initiatives can seed future discoveries and deliver meaningful outcomes for industry, healthcare, and the broader community.
Early Career Industry Fellowships snapshot:
The scheme offers up to 50 fellowships each year, providing salary support for up to three years and up to $150,000 in project funding. Its goal is to enable early-career researchers to gain valuable experience across both academic and industry settings, building essential collaboration skills and contributing to research that has clear translational and commercial potential. Fellows are expected to spend significant time in both environments, deepening their understanding of industry needs while bringing academic expertise to address complex issues.
The initiative is designed to support researchers from both industry and academic backgrounds - for instance, postdoctoral fellows aiming to gain industry experience, as well as career researchers from industry seeking to re-engage with the university sector by tackling industry-relevant challenges.
Fellows are expected to conduct research across both university and industry environments.
Explore more: Early Career Industry Fellowships | Australian Research Council
