Sanofi partnership to strengthen QLD’s biomedical manufacturing legacy, says Deputy Premier

Pharma News: In a major leap towards advancing biomedical research, Sanofi has unveiled a powerhouse team that is set to drive Queensland to the forefront of cutting-edge vaccine development. Sanofi announces the first wave of senior appointments to its Translational Science Hub (TSH), an initiative that promises to reshape the landscape of scientific collaboration.

The Translational Science Hub is an audacious $280 million partnership between Sanofi, Queensland Government, The University of Queensland, and Griffith University. This alliance is poised to transform Queensland into a global nexus of innovation, where world-class researchers join forces with Sanofi’s leading experts from the mRNA Centre of Excellence in France and the United States. Their shared mission? To develop the next generation of immunisations that will protect and save lives on an unprecedented scale.

Hon. Steven Miles MP, Queensland Deputy Premier, lauds this monumental achievement, highlighting the enduring investment by the Queensland Government in nurturing top-tier talent and world-class infrastructure.

“For more than 25 years the Queensland Government has been investing in highly-skilled people and the very best infrastructure, to ensure we are manufacturing world-class biomedical products. The Palaszczuk Government’s partnership with Sanofi is testament to that and I’m looking forward to building on this legacy and welcoming even more researchers, to further progress vaccine development and save more lives.”

Leading the new appointments is Melanie Gentgall, former CEO and Company Secretary of PRAXIS Australia. She brings a wealth of experience in research, research ethics, and clinical trials to her role as Head of Clinical Operations at the Translational Science Hub. Her track record of director-level positions focused on clinical trials at the University of the Sunshine Coast and the South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute positions her as a driving force behind the hub’s operations.

Jolien Reid takes the helm as Deputy Head of Clinical Operations. With nearly 15 years of experience in early and late phase vaccine research and development, including pivotal roles at AstraZeneca, she is a formidable addition to the TSH team, primed to contribute her expertise in establishing Vaccines and Immune Therapies Clinical Operations.

Other team members include Lorena Preciado-Llanes and Claudia Gonzalez appointed as Global Clinical Development Strategy Experts, former CSIRO leader Scott McNeil as TSH Project Lead, and Anna Arefyeva as TSH Project Coordinator.

Dr Iris Depaz, Country Medical Lead of Sanofi Australia and New Zealand, proudly welcomed the team to the Translational Science Hub, noting the pivotal role that this initiative plays in fostering female leadership and representation.

“These global positions, located in Queensland, are part of our desire to give opportunities to scientists and researchers located here so talent remains in Australia. I’m particularly pleased to see female talent filling our senior roles which reflects Sanofi’s ambition to ensure women and men are represented equally among our senior leaders,” she commented.

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