A new Australian Research Council (ARC) research training center will conduct cutting-edge research in drug discovery and development, to continue training a new generation of industry-ready researchers.

ARC Acting Director General, Ms Judi Zielke, welcomes the official launch of the ARC Training Center for Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins for Drug Discovery (CCeMMP) at Monash University.

The training center is receive $4.8 million in funding over five years as part of ARC’s Industrial Transformation Research Program.

Cryo-electron microscopy – or Cryo-EM – is a specialized technique that captures images of proteins in their native state and visualizes them in 3D. Cryo-EM has revolutionized the ability to determine the 3D structure of proteins in cell membranes, opening up new potential for innovations in drug discovery and development.

“The new ARC Training Center, led by Professor Patrick Sexton, will train world-class, industry-ready graduates in Cryo-EM of membrane proteins vital for drug development,” said Ms Zielke.

“CCeMMP graduates and research will enable tomorrow’s industrial expansion in drug design, ensuring that Australia captures this new wave of discoveries in Cryo-EM being commercialized globally, driving the generation of new intellectual property and developing economic investment in Australian biotech.”

Monash University researchers will work with other universities, research organizations and key industry partners: the University of Melbourne; University of Wollongong; The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and collaborate with industry partners FB Rice Pty Ltd; Biocurate Pty Ltd; Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA; Catalyst Therapeutics Pty Ltd; Astrazeneca Pty Ltd; Dimerix Bioscience Pty Ltd; Servier IDRS France; Genentech Inc.; Astex Pharmaceuticals; Novo Nordisk A/S; Sanofi Aventis; Pfizer Inc, we; Clarivate Analytics UK Limited; and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH Co. KG.

“Building links between industry and academic researchers is a key part of the government’s focus on increasing the national and economic benefits of our world-class research,” said Zielke.

“The ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centers program has embodied this approach, fostering support for collaborative research activity between the higher education sector and industry, for innovative research-focused industries. on the end user that are vital to the future of Australia.”