The purpose of this initiative is to fund groundbreaking research into innate immunity to develop novel targets for therapeutics for pathogens of pandemic potential. Innate immunity refers to the body’s first line of defense against invading pathogens. The partnership aims to develop a blueprint for therapeutics that trigger the body’s natural immune response into appropriate action to fight off infection. This is a revolutionary change from the more common focus on individual treatments for specific pathogens and aims to make pandemic therapeutics available in much shorter timeframes than currently possible.
Professor Sharon Lewin, Director of the Cumming Global Centre and of the Doherty Institute, said the partnership was a significant milestone. “This is the Cumming Global Centre’s first international research partnership and brings significant investment from both partners to advance the science behind therapeutic development for future pandemics,” said Professor Lewin. “This partnership taps into the University of Bonn’s world-leading expertise in the field of innate immunity, an important strategic priority for the Cumming Global Centre.”
The ImmunoSensation2 Cluster of Excellence, in cooperation with research groups at University Hospital Bonn (UKB), embodies the University of Bonn’s clustered expertise in the field of innate immunology. The Cluster was formed with the mission to better understand the immune system with regard to human health and disease.
University of Bonn Rector Professor Michael Hoch, praised the initiative, commenting: “Trusting collaborations are a core part of our strategy, especially with excellent partners worldwide who share our values. This allows us to work together, with our different perspectives, on scientific solutions to global challenges.” The University of Melbourne was an outstanding medical leader globally, especially in immunology, the Rector noted, while the Bonn immunology cluster was a leader in immune response research. “With the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics, we are taking our long-standing and very successful collaboration to a new level in order to research and ultimately combat common immunological diseases,” he continued.
The new partnership builds on a long-standing collaboration between the University of Bonn and the University of Melbourne. Spearheaded by Professor Christian Kurts in Bonn and Professor Sammy Bedoui in Melbourne, who will now be the coordinators of the Bonn-Cumming Host-Directed Pandemic Therapeutics Research Program, the two institutions established an International Research Training Group joint doctoral program in 2016, funded by the German Research Foundation, to foster global collaborations in immunology. The program has supported over 80 doctoral candidates to date.
University of Melbourne’s Vice Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell reiterated the importance of the partnership, and its contribution to the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics. “When we announced the establishment of the Cumming Global Centre in August 2022, I indicated that it would attract global collaborations and people, focused on breakthrough research to develop treatments that would aim to reduce the progression of diseases and ultimately save lives. Today’s partnership announcement is a proud moment that signifies that we are advancing the core purpose of the Centre through outstanding international collaborations.”
Dean of the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor Jane Gunn AO, welcomed the opportunity to enhance the collaboration. “We have built a meaningful relationship with the University of Bonn over the past decade. This latest partnership via the Cumming Global Centre is an exciting next step in our collaboration and we look forward to continuing our pioneering work together.”
Professor Bernd Weber, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bonn, is also looking forward to the unique collaboration. “The University of Melbourne and the life sciences there are among our most important strategic partners. By working together at the Cumming Global Centre, we are building on the outstanding development of recent years and further intensifying our partnership,” said Professor Weber.
The partnership was ratified in a signing ceremony at the University of Bonn now, with a senior delegation from the University of Melbourne in attendance.
Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics
Formed in 2022, the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics is a globally connected, mission-based research program designed to enable the rapid design and development of treatments against pathogens with pandemic potential. The Centre will be the world’s leading facility for the development of molecular platforms to better combat future pandemics. The Centre’s ambitious goals are to advance the scientific development of anti-pathogen therapeutics and transform pandemic management to save lives.
