Centre for Biologic Therapies

“The centre is an interface of innovation between research and industry and is an expansion of CSL’s already existing, strong partnership with WEHI.

It sets the foundations for significant growth in the Australian biologics discovery and development space and the translation of local antibody discovery into potential therapies for patients in Australia and around the world.”

Dr Michael Wilson, Vice President Research Australia, CSL

Based at WEHI, the centre aims to generate high-quality and clinic-ready antibody-based therapies to bring medicines, vaccines and treatments to patients sooner.

WEHI’s research expertise in immunology, cancer, inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases is paired with CSL’s world-class human antibody library and experience in biologic drug discovery and development. The centre works collaboratively with other WEHI facilities, providing multiple translational paths for WEHI researchers and promoting a dynamic environment for scientific exploration and innovation.

“This centre is nationally, and even internationally, significant. It fills a gap in the Australian biologics ecosystem and complements the National Drug Discovery Centre by offering multiple translational pathways for therapeutic and diagnostic discoveries.”

Professor Alan Cowman AC, Deputy Director, WEHI

Biologic medicines, also known as biologics, are a class of medications derived from living organisms or their components. Unlike traditional drugs synthesised chemically, biologics are made using biological processes in living cells, such as bacteria, yeast or mammalian cells.

These complex molecules are designed to target specific proteins, cells, or pathways involved in diseases like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory conditions.

Biologics offer tailored approaches for patients with diverse medical needs. Their potential to provide precise and effective treatments makes them a crucial component of modern medicine.

The centre aims to provide access to expert biologic discovery and optimisation capabilities, accelerating drug development into the clinic.

The primary goals revolve around generating innovative lead therapeutic candidates for the treatment of human diseases. This involves utilising CSL’s human antibody phage display library, along with WEHI’s nanobody platform, complemented by advanced antibody engineering and optimisation technologies.

The centre also offers training opportunities for Australia’s future biologics workforce, utilising innovative methodologies and developing platform technologies for therapeutic antibody discovery.

The centre’s most important objective is to have a positive impact on patient care.

The development of new biologic drugs can lead to improved treatment options, better health outcomes, and enhanced quality of life for patients suffering from various medical conditions.

Opportunities for health and research impact include:

• Accelerated biologics discovery: speeding up the discovery and development of new biologic drugs by combining WEHI’s expertise in biomedical research with CSL’s resources and experience in biopharmaceuticals.
• Innovative therapies: creating innovative biologic therapies for a wide range of diseases.
• Connecting academia and industry: the collaboration bridges the gap between academia and industry, exposing researchers to the practical aspects of an early-phase biologics discovery and development.
• Training opportunities: the centre provides a platform for training in the field of biologics discovery, preparing a workforce for impactful careers in both academia and industry.

Within a year of the centre’s launch, we successfully supported over 25 projects targeting human diseases across various therapeutic areas, including immunology, inflammation, infectious diseases, and oncology.

Our dedicated team of experienced researchers drives a robust pipeline early-phase antibody discovery for advancing human health.

Assoc Prof Jenny Vo – Centre Head
Alexia Saunders – Centre Coordinator
Dr Damien Drew – Senior Research Scientist
Dr Laura D’Andrea – Senior Research Scientist
Dr Jason Wu – Research Scientist
Dr Jonathan Siah – Research Scientist
Dr Peter Vukovic – Research Assistant
Jing Deng – Research Assistant
Catherine Chang – Research Assistant
Eliot Lu – Research Assistant
Roman Joszczyk – Data Entry Assistant

The Centre for Biologic Therapies is jointly funded by WEHI and CSL and was developed with generous philanthropic support from the John and Mary Thompson Estates.

For further information and inquiries please reach out to the Centre for Biologic Therapies team at CBT.info@wehi.edu.au.