Developing a COVID-19 Variant Proof ‘Super Vax'

As new COVID-19 variants are detected in Australia and a wave of COVID cases spike again, researchers at the University of Sydney have teamed up with an international consortium to develop a low-cost variant proof COVID-19 vaccine with the help of US $19.3 million funding from The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. To tell us more about the project, we are joined by Lead Investigator Professor Jamie Triccas from the University of Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases and the Charles Perkins Centre.After spending his career researching new vaccines and treatments for tuberculosis, the world’s most deadly infectious disease, Professor Triccas has pivoted his knowledge of the body’s immune responses to new vaccines, to play a part in Australia’s scientific efforts to counter SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Professor Triccas details the benefits of collaborating with international partners - Bharat Biotech International (India) and ExcellGene SA (Switzerland) and how the vaccine, if successful, could  contribute to the long-term control of the virus and pave the way for vaccine development for other pathogens. Joining us on the podcast is Duncan Macinnis, MTPConnect’s Director of Stakeholder Engagement NSW and ACT.