Driving discovery through powerful partnerships
We believe collaboration is the catalyst for meaningful change. By working closely with industry leaders, not-for-profit organisations, investors and academic partners, we accelerate biomedical breakthroughs that shape a healthier, more equitable future.
Together, we can turn discovery into impact.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to advancing knowledge, innovation, and practices that promote holistic health and well-being.
Technology licensing and partnering opportunities
We have a rich pipeline of technologies ready to partner via Griffith Enterprise—the University’s dedicated office for commercial partnerships. Such technologies include:
- vaccine candidates for malaria (Phase I), streptococcus A (Phase 1) and babesia (preclinical)
- diagnostics for cancer (clinical) and liver fibrosis
- novel therapeutics for Group A strep and STSS (preclinical)
- cell therapies for spinal injury (Phase 1)
Visit Griffith Enterprise to explore our full range of technologies, connect and find out more.
Partnering for impact
Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do.
Our dedicated team of research and business development professionals works closely with researchers and partners to tailor solutions, professionally manage projects and maximise outcomes.
Whether you’re exploring co-development opportunities or seeking competitively priced contract research, we offer a flexible and responsive approach to partnering.
From early-stage discovery and development to commercialisation, we’re here to help bring your ideas to life.
Get in touch
Connect with the IBG Business Development Team to explore how we can work together.
Driving collaborative health innovations
The Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics works with local, national, and international organisations to improve health and well-being outcomes. Committed to addressing complex health challenges and delivering meaningful global and local impact, especially for disadvantaged communities, the Institute maintains ongoing multi-year collaborations across diverse networks.
World-first phase 1B clinical trial with human challenge for vaccine to prevent Strep A and Rheumatic Heart Disease
Griffith University’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics is leading a world-first Phase 1B dose-ranging clinical trial with human challenge test the efficacy of a vaccine targeting Strep A and rheumatic heart disease. This groundbreaking initiative, supported by a $5 million philanthropic donation from the International Leducq Foundation, involves vaccinating volunteers and then exposing them to a controlled dose of Strep A to assess the vaccine’s effectiveness. A Phase 1 trial has recently been successfully completed in Canada. Following the Phase 1B trial, the clinical evaluation will expand to Phase II studies involving hundreds of participants.
This project is an active collaboration with global health institutions—including the University of Alberta and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute—to improve human health and well-being. The vaccine has the potential to significantly reduce mortality from Strep A, which disproportionately affects Indigenous populations and low-income communities worldwide.
Project Partners/Collaborators:
- International Leducq Foundation (philanthropic funding partner),
- University of Alberta, Canada (clinical trial site)
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Melbourne (co-lead on human infection trial)
Project Timeline:
- Start Date: November 2023 (commencement of human clinical trials in Canada)
- Projected Finish Date: Phase II trials are schedule for 2027 following the Phase 1B dose ranging trial
Landmark international partnership to develop gonorrhoea vaccine
Griffith University’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics has entered a landmark co-development agreement with Swiss-based LimmaTech Biologics AG to create a world-first vaccine for gonorrhoea. This collaboration leverages Griffith’s discovery of promising gonococcal vaccine antigens and LimmaTech’s advanced platform technologies to address the urgent global health threat posed by antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhoea. The disease affects over 105 million people annually and is particularly harmful to women and Indigenous populations, with no current vaccine available. The project also contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mitigation, a priority for the WHO, CDC, and Australian Microbial Strategy.
Project Partners/Collaborators:
- LimmaTech Biologics AG (Swiss-based biopharmaceutical company and co-development partner)
Project Timeline:
- Start Date: October 2022 (signing of co-development agreement and licence option)
- Projected Finish Date: Ongoing (vaccine development and commercialisation phases underway)
Saliva-based diagnostic test for liver disease accelerated toward market
Griffith University’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics is pioneering a revolutionary saliva-based diagnostic test for liver fibrosis, led by Professor Chamindie Punyadeera. This non-invasive technology uses salivary biomarkers to detect liver fibrosis, a condition that can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. The project received a major boost when Professor Punyadeera was selected for the prestigious LuminaX HealthTech Accelerator Program, which supports digital health innovation and fast-tracks promising technologies toward market readiness. This initiative demonstrates active collaboration with local health innovation networks to improve diagnostic access and outcomes. The test offers a safer, more accessible alternative to liver biopsies, particularly benefiting older populations and those in rural or underserved communities.
Project Partners/Collaborators:
- LuminaX HealthTech Accelerator Program (delivered by Cohort Innovation Space)
- Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP) (innovation ecosystem supporting health research and technology)
- Griffith Enterprise (technology transfer and industry engagement)
Project Timeline:
- Start Date: January 2024 (development and validation phase)
- Milestone Date: June 2025 ( Finalist and Awardee in LuminaX Accelerator)
- Projected Finish Date: Ongoing (market readiness and commercialisation in progress)
Breakthrough discovery in malaria parasite invasion mechanism
Griffith University’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, in collaboration with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), has made a significant breakthrough in understanding how the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum invades human red blood cells. The study, published in Cell Reports, identified the sugar molecule sialic acid as a critical binding target for the parasite’s CyRPA protein, revealing a key mechanism in the parasite’s adaptation to humans. This discovery opens new avenues for blood-stage malaria vaccine development and antimalarial drug design. This research demonstrates an important collaboration with a global health institution to improve health and well-being outcomes, contributing to the fight against malaria—a disease that caused over 600,000 deaths in 2022—by advancing knowledge essential for developing effective vaccines and treatments.
Project Partners/Collaborators:
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) (co-lead research partner)
Project Timeline:
- Start Date: Early 2023 (research collaboration and study initiation)
- Finish Date: April 2024 (publication of findings)
Advancing malaria vaccine research through global partnerships and innovation
Griffith University’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics is at the forefront of malaria vaccine innovation.
In December 2024, the Queensland Governor visited the Institute to recognise the achievements of the Malaria Vaccine Project team. This team has been developing the PlasProtecT vaccine in partnership with Rotary District 9640. It offers broad protection against multiple malaria strains and is poised to enter Phase 1 clinical trials in 2026. The vaccine targets the blood-stage of the parasite, responsible for the disease’s pathology and mortality, and has been endorsed by global experts as a promising solution to reduce malaria-related deaths, and thus promote human health and wellbeing.
The Institute is at the forefront of groundbreaking health and medical research, combating one of the world’s deadliest diseases.
Project Partners/Collaborators:
- Red Cross Lifeblood
- Sanaria Inc.
- Statens Serum Institut
- Monash University
- Burnet Institute
- Ehime University
- Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute (ADFMIDI)
- Rotary District 9640
Project Timeline:
- Start Date: Ongoing since 2015 (PlasProtecT vaccine development);
- Projected Finish Date: Ongoing. Phase 1 clinical trials for PlasProtecT are scheduled to begin in 2026
World-First clinical trial to treat chronic spinal cord injury
Griffith University has launched a world-first Phase 1 human clinical trial to treat chronic spinal cord injury using a revolutionary cell transplantation therapy. Led by Professor James St John at the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, the trial involves harvesting olfactory ensheathing cells from the patient’s nose to create a microscopic “nerve bridge” that is implanted at the injury site. This innovative approach is supported by intensive rehabilitation before and after transplantation to stimulate nerve regeneration and assess functional recovery. This project demonstrates active collaboration with state and national and philanthropic health institutions to improve health and well-being outcomes for people living with spinal cord injury. The trial represents a major step forward in regenerative medicine and offers hope for restoring independence and quality of life to individuals affected by paralysis.
Project Partners/Collaborators:
- Gold Coast University Hospital, Queensland Health (clinical trial site)
- Motor Accident Insurance Commission (major funder)
- Clem Jones Foundation (Queensland)
- Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
- Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
- Queensland Government
- Nicola and Andrew Forrest
- Brazil Family Foundation
- Terry and Rhonda White
Project Timeline:
- Start Date: October 2025 (commencement of Phase 1 clinical trial)
- Projected Finish Date: Ongoing (extensive trial activity includes a year of rehabilitation and follow-up after nerve bridge implantation)
Find out more Spinal cord injury nerve bridge transplantation trial
Current collaborations and success stories
At the Institute, our researchers are driving discoveries that are transforming health and wellbeing outcomes—locally and globally. From pioneering new vaccines and drug therapies to securing major national research grants, these success stories highlight the impact of our collaborations and the real-world benefits of our biomedical breakthroughs.
Explore a snapshot of recent achievements that reflect our commitment to innovation, partnership and a healthier future for all.
Saliva and plasma at the core of cancer detection and treatment
05 Dec 2025
Saliva and plasma could be crucial in detecting recurrences or relapses of head and neck cancers,...
Understanding how cells talk at the core of new health hub
03 Nov 2025
Understanding how cells communicate with each other to fuel diseases such as cancer is at the...
$2.5m NIH grant for malaria vaccine research
17 Sep 2025
Griffith University has been successful in securing a prestigious National Institute of Health...
De-mystifying common misconception about the prevalence of legionella bacteria
05 Sep 2025
There is a common misconception that legionella is only found in air conditioners and water towers,...
World-first clinical trial commences to treat spinal cord injury
14 Aug 2025
A Phase 1 human clinical trial to treat chronic spinal cord injury, the first of its kind in the...
Revolutionary saliva test for liver disease receives a boost
03 Jun 2025
A ground-breaking test to diagnose liver fibrosis has received a boost after lead researcher,...
Novel therapy being tested for treating rheumatic fever
26 Feb 2025
Painful monthly penicillin injections could be a thing of the past with Griffith University...
Governor of Queensland visit to Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics...
11 Dec 2024
Pictured left to right: Professor Michael Good AO, PDG Sandy Doumany OAM, Associate Professor...
Donations are a powerful form of partnership
When you support our research, you become part of a global effort to solve the world’s most urgent health challenges.
Ready to make it matter?
We’re not just solving problems—we’re asking better questions and finding smarter answers. If you’re ready to make a real impact, let’s connect and explore what we can achieve together.
Contact us
Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics
Griffith University
1 Parklands Dr
Southport QLD 4215
170 Kessels Rd
Nathan QLD 4111
