The inaugural Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics Annual Symposium has drawn to a close, having delivered on its goal to bring together the leading scientists from around the globe to share learnings and strengthen collaboration opportunities.
The Cumming Global Centre was established in 2022 to advance the science behind therapeutics for pathogens of pandemic potential. To do this, the Centre aims to bring together diverse global expertise to develop novel platform technologies using a ‘plug and play’ approach.
In the two years since commencement, the Centre has invested significantly in scientific projects aligned with our mission. This includes $22 million in funding committed to 32 Foundation Grant projects, and more than $50 million invested in the Bonn-Cumming Host-Directed Pandemic Therapeutics Research Program, funding groundbreaking research into early immunity to develop novel therapeutic targets.
The Symposium provided an opportunity for all project leads to present their work in person to the Centre’s Interim Scientific Advisory Board, a team of nine global eminent experts who provide independent advice crucial to the success of the Cumming Global Centre. It also provided Chief Investigators a platform to connect directly with the Centre’s biggest supporters, including Mr Geoffrey Cumming and representatives from our major supporting partner, the Victorian Government.
Exciting times lie ahead for the Cumming Global Centre. Each of the leading scientists who presented their work over the three days are well on the way to developing innovative technologies in six strategic scientific areas aligned to the Centre’s mission: antibodies, broad spectrum small molecules, enabling capabilities, immune modulation, novel targets and RNA targeting and delivery modalities.
“This is our first face-to-face annual Symposium and we hope to do it each year. We are at the early days of the Centre having funded a number of projects now, and this event was an opportunity to both reflect on our progress to date, and plan for the future,” said Melbourne Laureate Professor Sharon Lewin, Cumming Global Centre Director.
“The symposium has been a fantastic opportunity to connect with other Foundation Grants recipients and hear about the work they’re doing across a variety of pathogens of pandemic potential, while learning new techniques from each other,” said CSIRO’s Professor Glenn Marsh, Cumming Global Centre Foundation Grant recipient.
“It was great to see everyone coming together for this event and listening to all the scientists as they told us more about the work they’re doing – it’s so exciting,” said Professor Diana Finzi, Basic Sciences Program Director, Division of AIDS, National Institutes of Health (US), and member of the Cumming Global Centre Interim Scientific Advisory Board member.
“What will happen here over the coming decades will be terrific and I am confident we will all look back with pride – thank you to everyone involved,” concluded Mr Geoffrey Cumming, businessman and philanthropist, and Cumming Global Centre Founding Donor.
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