Queensland’s mission to accelerate vaccine development

Queensland is home to a cluster of agile, innovative and entrepreneurial businesses all focused on improving healthcare outcomes for Queenslanders.

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How long does a clinical trial take?

According to Melanie, the clinical trials lifecycle is complex, and it can take anywhere from 10 to 14 years before a new therapy or drug is available to the public.

‘Through Covid we learned a lot about how we can truncate that process,’ she said.

‘While we haven’t leveraged all those learnings as a sector, at the Translational Science Hub we really want to make sure that we translate those scientific learnings through the ecosystem faster so we can get treatment to patients earlier and change lives in the process.

‘The focus will be on accelerated start-up processes, so by the time we make a decision that we have a concept for a clinical trial, getting the first participant enrolled will be achieved much sooner.’

Where is Queensland headed with clinical trials?

Queensland is well placed to be the nation’s preferred location for clinical trials, according to Melanie.

‘We want to help support local supply chains and attract new businesses in order to build Queensland’s strengths and its reputation as the nation’s preferred location for clinical trial activity,’ she said.

But Melanie said that it’s not just about Sanofi; they want to include all industry groups, whether they be large or small.

‘We will work with the local clinical trials ecosystem to build a hub of service providers who will work with us closely to realise our ambitions and, at the same time, build skills and capabilities and promote jobs within the sector both locally and nationally,’ she said.

What sets Queensland apart?

After more than 25 years in the clinical trials sector in Australia, this is Melanie’s first role working directly in industry.

‘More than a decade ago, Queensland was leading the way from an innovation perspective in clinical trials and in therapeutic development and licensing,’ Melanie said.

‘This changed when we were usurped slightly by other states.

‘What drove me to come to Queensland 18 months ago was the resurgence of this sector. There is a real feeling of growth, a commitment to expansion – and it is truly buzzing and thriving. There is nothing better than working in Queensland in this sector, at this time.’

Can we expect more AI in clinical trials?

With artificial intelligence (AI) the newest buzz word, Melanie says that we can expect this ‘rapidly evolving space’ to also help fast track the clinical trials ecosystem.

‘We know that AI is being used to determine the best kinds of drug candidates, the best protocol designs and, at an operational level, it is being used to get the right information to the right groups of patients in the right way at the right time,’ she said.

Do we need more diversity and inclusivity in clinical trials?

Melanie said that the only answer is yes if we are to achieve equity in health care. "Australia is wonderfully diverse and it is an attractive place to do research. This presents an exciting opportunity for us to deliver research outcomes that are reflective of all communities and have the broadest and most equitable application.

"At Sanofi, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to be included in our research. That’s especially true for communities that are historically underrepresented in clinical research including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those from different cultural and language backgrounds."

Melanie explains, “our genetic makeup determines how we use and metabolise medicines and vaccines and their affect upon on our body. Including diverse populations in our clinical trials provides the very best chance at understanding their effectiveness and improving people’s lives."

Ready for the next challenge?

The former nurse and business leader says she has been incredibly fortunate to have experienced so much diversity in her career.

‘After I left nursing, I went on to develop strong business skills with two successful start-ups under my belt and operational leadership across a variety of settings, including academic and public health, and as a CEO in the non-for-profit sector,’ she said.

“I have also been heavily involved in human research ethics so I bring a non-traditional lens, which complements my colleagues at Sanofi whom have strong industry experience.

‘It’s this diversity of skills that is our greatest strength.”

And while she has seen so many changes, she is ready to embrace new challenges at the Translational Science Hub to achieve even greater outcomes.

‘I am someone who embraces challenge, thrives on it in fact,’ she affirmed.

‘Tell me it can’t be done and I’ll prove it can. Every experience is there to teach you something.’

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