The state government has made a multi-million-dollar investment in a new eye clinical trial centre.
Minister for Industry and Innovation Ben Carroll said Breakthrough Victoria will invest $10 million towards a new eye clinical trials centre at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital to help boost the number of clinical trials for world-first treatments for eye disease.
The new centre, which will be embedded within the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), will also enable further research into areas such as gene and cell therapy – allowing patients to access treatments that may still be years away from being available to the public.
Establishing the new clinical trials centre will give around 2000 patients access to new therapies over the next 10 years – and create around 50 new jobs.
Construction of the centre is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Breakthrough Victoria CEO Grant Dooley said the organisation invests in companies to support the commercialisation of new technologies that will benefit Victoria. Recent investments include FLAIM Systems, Quantum Brilliance, Samsara Eco and Smart Paddock.
“In establishing a new eye clinical trials centre, we are commercialising our state’s expertise in global markets by providing clinical trials that benefit Victorians through early access to treatments that could one day cure blindness,” Mr Dooley said.
CERA managing director Professor Keith Martin said “The new centre will position Victoria as the go-to location for international clinical trials of innovative treatments to prevent blindness, restore sight and transform the lives of people living with incurable eye conditions.”
Victoria’s health technology sector is one of our fastest growing industries, generating $2.5 billion in exports in 2022. The commercial sector has around 31,000 workers, while a further 20,000 people are employed in research.
