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Medical and Science

New ophthalmic centre to partner on pharma and medtech clinical trials

Health Industry Hub | May 24, 2024 |

Medical: The Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Medical Research, the Hon Ben Carroll, has launched a cutting-edge ophthalmic clinical trial facility established by the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA).

The Cerulea Clinical Trials, supported by a $10 million investment from Breakthrough Victoria, aims to conduct trials for over 2500 Victorians annually over the next decade, creating 50 new jobs in the process. As a fully owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of CERA, Cerulea will focus on advanced therapeutics, including gene and cell therapies, biologics, and medical devices.

Cerulea will collaborate with global pharmaceutical and medtech companies and serve as the research base for scientists from CERA and the University of Melbourne’s Department of Surgery. The facility will test new therapies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, inherited retinal disease, and other rare genetic eye conditions.

Cerulea Clinical Trials CEO, Michelle Gallaher, emphasised the centre’s role in harnessing global investment in ophthalmic research to bring more clinical trials to Australia.

“There is a growing pipeline of discovery with new medicines and devices being developed around the world, and Cerulea Clinical Trials provides the perfect location to conduct these trials. Our aim is to build a specialist clinical trial centre that cements Victoria’s reputation as a world leader in preventing blindness and reducing the impact of vision loss. Cerulea aims to provide the best possible experience for patients, researchers, clinicians, and industry partners,” said Gallaher.

In the coming year, Cerulea plans to begin clinical trials on gene therapies for retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt’s disease. The facility will also enhance local research, ensuring that new eye treatments and devices developed in Australia are tested locally to benefit Australian patients first.

Professor Keith Martin, Chair of Cerulea Clinical Trials, Managing Director of CERA, and University of Melbourne Professor and Head of Ophthalmology, highlighted the importance of the new centre.

“Cerulea will support lab-based scientists in developing innovative treatments to prevent vision loss and restore sight. It will also benefit local eye care professionals by improving the quality of care they provide through access to emerging treatments in clinical trials,” stated Professor Martin.

Located at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in East Melbourne, the state-of-the-art centre features next-generation eye photography and imaging suites, vision lanes, as well as laser and treatment rooms. Additionally, Cerulea will expand access to the community by conducting trials through a growing network of suburban and regional eye clinics and a planned tele-trials service.

Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll commented “We’re backing life-changing research and therapy for eye disease, which is a testament to Victoria’s world-class medical research sector. This will be developed locally for the benefit of Victorians and patients around the world.”

Breakthrough Victoria CEO Grant Dooley added “Cerulea’s opening is exactly the outcome we wanted from Breakthrough Victoria’s investment – to accelerate and help commercialise existing world-class medical research in the state. This dedicated eye clinical trials centre will benefit local researchers and healthcare innovators in Victoria and provide patients with access to new eye treatments and technologies.”

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