MEDIA RELEASE
21 August 2006
For immediate release
AUSTRALIAN TEAM WINS GRANT TO FIGHT BIRD FLU
Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, and Britain’s University of Bath have been awarded a K2.27 million grant (A$1 million) to develop drugs against bird flu.
CSIRO and the University of Bath will share the British Medical Research Council (MRC) grant over three years for their research into the pandemic flu.
The Australian team was the only international applicant awarded funds in this round of MRC grants.
The research will focus on developing an improved class of anti-virals for influenza viruses, including the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 (Bird Flu) influenza virus.
Dr Jennifer McKimm-Breschkin, of CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, said: “This is an exciting collaboration because the Australian and British research teams both have so much to bring to this project and our skills are perfectly complementary.”
The aim of the research is to develop a drug which is able to be administered orally and avoids drug-induced resistance in the virus.
Dr McKimm-Breschkin added: “We are aiming to produce a likely drug candidate within the three-year period.
“However, given the long period of time it takes to properly trial and evaluate a new anti-viral drug, it could be up to 15 years before we see the resulting treatment on the shelves.”
Australian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Michael Potts, said: “Australia has a tradition of scientific and innovative excellence and the Australian Government is committed to developing its international reputation for science, research and technology.”
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