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Successful clinical trial for re-engineered UQ vaccine

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The University of Queensland’s re-engineered clamp platform has produced a vaccine that is equally safe and virus-neutralising as an approved vaccine considered among the best in its class.

The pivotal proof-of-concept testing clears the way to progress the promising Clamp2 technology in a range of research programs.

Project leader, Associate Professor Keith Chappell, said the preliminary clinical trial results were an exciting reward for the team’s continued dedication and the community’s widespread support for the project.

“We compared second-generation clamp SARS-CoV-2 vaccine head-to-head with TGA-approved Nuvaxovid (Novavax), and the two were found to be functionally equivalent,” Dr Chappell said.

“The Clamp2 trial group showed a 2.5-fold boost in neutralising ‘titres’ and it was 2.1 in the Novavax group.

“The two vaccines produced highly comparable results, however while there were no new COVID infections among the Clamp2 volunteers, there have been three covid cases detected amongst Nuvaxovid recipients so far.”

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) has supported the team’s rapid response vaccine research for five years and last year committed up to AU$8.5 million to continue development for use in the global response to future disease outbreaks.

Dr In-Kyu Yoon, Director Programmes and Innovative Technology at CEPI said advancing vaccine platforms – like UQs molecular clamp technology – would be crucial for developing vaccines against new emerging infectious threats.

“CEPI is striving towards vaccines being developed within 100 days of a new virus emerging: a goal known as the 100 Days Mission. I look forward to the continued progress of this cutting-edge technology,” Dr Yoon said.

The technology is now entering a new phase with a company founded to develop the patented Molecular Clamp.

“UQ’s commercialisation company UniQuest has  licensed the technology to Vicebio, which is progressing its use against respiratory pathogens such as respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus and parainfluenza viruses,” Dr Chappell said.

Progress to a proof-of-concept human trial for the re-engineered molecular clamp has also been supported by the Queensland and Australian Governments and philanthropic partners.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland was leading the way in vaccine development and manufacturing.

“Advances in medical technology play a key role in bettering the health of Queenslanders throughout the state, and the Palaszczuk Government is committed to backing manufacturing here – made in Queensland by Queenslanders.”

Participants in both clinical trial groups will be monitored regularly for a period of 6 months.

The trial was conducted with CSL Seqirus’s proprietary MF59® adjuvant which was made available for inclusion with clamp2 vaccine.

Philanthropic partners include the Paul Ramsay Foundation, BHP Foundation, Newcrest, Glencore, RACQ and its members, A2 Milk, The Lott and Aurizon.

As part of UQ’s partnering agreement with CEPI, and in line with CEPI’s equitable access policy, UQ agrees that vaccine candidates produced using their platform technology will be available in an outbreak situation to populations at risk including in low-income and middle-income countries.

The UQ Rugby Benefit in New York City is back

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The UQ Rugby Benefit is best again this year!

This event is a great opportunity to network with fellow Australians, high level, C-Suite New York-based professionals and executives around the theme and spirit of rugby. Hosting a corporate table provides a touchpoint to engage US-based clients in a relaxed and sociable setting.

This year’s event is timed conveniently a few days just after the completion of the Rugby World Club final in Paris, and we’re celebrating all things Rugby World Cup. If you’re travelling to Paris for the World Cup, why not break up your journey home and stop by New York?

Our event will feature World Cup legends including David Nucifora, Performance Director, Irish Rugby Football Union, and former Australian Wallaby and World Cup Winner, with more speakers to be announced.

Join us for a 3-course dinner, beverage package, live auction and raffle with the chance to win fantastic rugby paraphernalia.

Date: Thursday 2 November 2023
Time: 6–10pm EDT
Location: Harvard Club of New York City, 25 West 44th St, New York, NY
Dress code: Business / cocktail attire.
Ticket prices:
  • General individual ticket: US$295
  • Corporate table: US$2,950
  • Platinum table: US$5,000
  • Captain’s table: US$10,000
The event will raise funds for The University of Queensland in America (TUQIA) , alongside UQ Rugby and Play Rugby USA to raise financial support for educational collaborations in the US, and to empower and inspire youth from under served communities to reach their full potential through the power of rugby.
Get your tickets to the Rugby Benefit here. If you have any questions about this event, please reach out to the Alumni and Community Engagement team at uqalumni@uq.edu.au

Waitt Foundation grants boost marine conservation in island nations

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Supported by Waitt Foundation grants, two University of Queensland research projects are aiming to support marine conservation efforts in climate-stricken island nations.

UQ Associate Professor Daniel Dunn, Director of UQ’s Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, said many countries in the developing world face disproportionate and devastating consequences of climate change and are the least equipped to deal with it.

“There is an increasing need for conservation planning support in many island nations as the push to protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030 gathers momentum,” Dr Dunn said.

“Many of these island nations are already feeling the devastating impacts of climate change and it’s vital we address this issue robustly and develop approaches in partnership with them.

“For our project, we’re engaging with island nations to conserve oceans by empowering them with tools to collaborate with our researchers, namely through the use of our reporting app, Shiny.

Associate Professor Daniel Dunn. Image: Supplied
Associate Professor Daniel Dunn. Image: Supplied

“This app reduces reporting complexity and will empower researchers in these island locations with tools to undertake analyses themselves.”

Together with the Waitt Institute and the University of California, Santa Barbara, the team will also host a week-long workshop with island nation stakeholders to bring everyone together and develop consensus around an efficient and robust approach to addressing climate change.

“To meet the growing demand for ocean conservation efforts and to scale up planning efforts, practitioners need transferable skills,” Dr Dunn said.

“Specifically, the workshop will consider mechanisms for integrating different climate models, scenarios, and metrics into Waitt’s conservation prioritisation planning software.

“The agreed approach will be included in the Shiny app, ultimately changing the way researchers and conservationists in island nations go about collecting and applying important conservation data moving forward.”

Another project is headed by UQ’s Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema and will help assess the impact and recovery of Tonga’s coral reefs, following 2022’s devastating

Dr Roelfsema and the project team showcase dateline imagery. Image: Dr Chris Roelfsema
Dr Roelfsema and the project team showcase dateline imagery. Image: Dr Chris Roelfsema

submarine volcano eruption.

Dr Roelfsema said a collaborative field component would provide detailed field-based assessments of coral, invertebrate, and fish abundance in selected priority areas by using underwater, or benthic, mapping.

“The Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) and Ministry of Fisheries (MoF) established a need to assess impact and recovery of the reefs in the various priority and risk areas for aquaculture,” he said.

“The aim of our project is to support VEPA and the Tonga Fisheries Department team by creating a series of maps of the bottom of the surrounding ocean from before, directly following, and a year after the tsunami.

“We will help assess the impact and recovery of selected coral reefs, share local knowledge, and provide field training and geographic information system support.

“This project will support our understanding of the nearshore recovery process and could be foundational for natural disaster recovery in similar geographies.”

Before and after shot of Mango Island following the 2022 tsunami. Image: Planet Ltd
Before and after shot of Mango Island following the 2022 tsunami. Image: Planet Ltd

Executive Director of the Waitt Institute, Dr Kathryn Mengerink, said the projects would play an important role in supporting the Waitt Foundation’s body of work in the global oceanic conservation space.

“The Waitt Foundation and Waitt Institute support work related to ocean conservation that is in harmony with local environmental, social, and economic needs,” Dr Mengerink said.

“The Foundation supports individuals, organisations, and institutions at a variety of scales, from specific place-based projects to broader global programs, that benefit the ocean and the people that depend on it.

“Both of these projects are a perfect fit for these criteria and will have positive impacts on a region in dire need of continued support.”

Dr Mengerink is closely overseeing the project in Tonga and is excited by its potential to evaluate large-scale impacts on nearshore Tongan reefs in a non-invasive way.

“This is critically important after the eruption and tsunami last year, which caused widespread damage that may take decades to fully recover from,” Dr Mengerink said.

World-first bushfire hazard detection system aiming to save lives, property and environment

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A world-first real-time bushfire hazard detection and warning system using artificial intelligence (AI) is under development thanks to a new partnership between The University of Queensland and Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm.

Led by UQ’s Professor Hamish McGowan, from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, the project plans to use AI to trace the movement of embers and deliver real-time nowcasts of extreme bushfire hazards.

“The goal of our work is ultimately to save lives, property and the environment by providing increased accuracy in forecasting bushfire movements and alerting community members and emergency responders before they spread,” Professor McGowan said.

The $1.374 million grant from Google.org will enable UQ researchers to work on a new and robust capability to identify and forewarn locations up to 30 kilometres downwind from the fire front that may come under attack from embers – sometimes in areas previously perceived as safe.

In addition to philanthropic funding from Google.org, Google employees will have the opportunity to volunteer their time to help with this project.

Google Australia Engineering Site Lead Daniel Nadasi said UQ was charting new territory in bushfire detection.

“Google.org is thrilled to provide support to the UQ team to help tackle this important issue,” he said.

“The project will benefit Australia by identifying new AI solutions to detect bushfire activity – early on and in real-time – with a goal to safeguard at-risk communities, flora and fauna.

“Initiatives like this will help build a strong and more resilient digital future for Australia.”

It has been just over two years since Australia’s Black Summer bushfires burnt an estimated 186,000 square kilometres of land.

The impacts were devastating, with at least 33 people losing their lives, and fires destroying more than 6000 buildings, as well as killing or displacing an estimated three billion animals.

“We know that the effects of climate change are causing more extreme weather events including bushfires across the world and we are committed to helping find solutions that can lessen the impact,” Professor McGowan said.

The fallout of the 2019-20 bushfire season also saw smoke-related health costs climb to $1.95 billion.

There were 429 smoke-related premature deaths in addition to 3230 hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory disorders and 1523 emergency attendances for asthma.

Image above left: Professor Hamish McGowan. Credit: David Kelly.

Media: Genevieve Worrell; g.worrell@uq.edu.au; +61 408 432 213; UQ Media and Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, +61 (0)429 056 139.

World-first lung cancer screening facility increases chance of cure

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A semi-trailer will be converted into the world’s first mobile lung cancer screening facility to help boost early detection and increase survival rates in rural and remote Queensland where access to specialists is limited.

The truck will be fitted with the latest technology, integrating imaging, breath and blood biomarker screening, as part of a $2 million Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) grant.

University of Queensland researcher and Prince Charles Hospital thoracic physician, Professor Kwun Fong, said lung cancer had high potential for cure, at 67 per cent, if detected early.

“Unfortunately, two thirds of patients present with advanced disease, when five-year survival is less than four per cent,” Professor Fong said.

“Lung cancer also has a greater proportional impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people in regional and rural areas, and those in lower socioeconomic environments.”

The ACRF Lung Cancer Screening Centre of Excellence (LUSCE) mobile facility, as it’s known, will target Australians living in rural, remote and Indigenous communities with limited access to lung cancer screening facilities.

Professor Fong said the ACRF LUSCE mobile facility will help increase early lung cancer detection at a stage when a cure is possible.

“Early-stage lung cancer can normally be cured with surgery and radiation therapy, but most lung cancers are typically diagnosed late when curative treatments are not able to be offered.

“With lung cancer screening technology accessible to all, we can save lives,” Professor Fong said.

The Australian Cancer Research Foundation has funded innovative cancer research across Australia over the past 37 years.

ACRF Chief Executive Officer, Kerry Strydom, said this world-first mobile lung screening research program aimed to reduce disparity in lung cancer outcomes experienced by Australians living in remote and regional communities.

“We believe this is an important element of ACRF’s grant portfolio and we are proud to enable this pilot study to provide more equitable access to effective screening technology for all Australians,” Ms Strydom said.

“This may well form the basis of a national lung cancer screening program in due course.“

The ACRF LUSCE mobile facility is expected to begin its maiden journey across Queensland in mid-late 2022.

Media: Professor Kwun Fong, k.fong@uq.edu.au; UQ Communication, med.media@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 5118, +61 438 760 838.

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