Introducing the Vaccine-ADD NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence
Vaccine-ADD, the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Vaccine Adjuvant Discovery and Development 2026-2031, is dedicated to enhancing human health and wellbeing in Australia and globally by improving the effectiveness, safety and accessibility of vaccines. By discovering and developing novel vaccine adjuvants, research being undertaken under the Vaccine-ADD program aims to expand vaccine options for diverse populations. The Centre of Research Excellence collaborates with partner institutions; locally, nationally and globally, to address current and emerging challenges in vaccine development. These challenges include the need to improve immune responses, reduce vaccine dose requirements, and overcome manufacturing, sustainability and formulation limitations.
Working across leading Australian universities, research institutes, industry and government partners, Vaccine-ADD is also committed to building long‑term capability in vaccine research to help accelerate responses to future health threats, including epidemics and pandemics. Through collaboration, innovation and translation, we strive to deliver next‑generation vaccine solutions that benefit communities worldwide.
Vision
Our vision is to improve human health and wellbeing in Australia and globally by discovering novel adjuvants to enhance vaccine efficacy and safety, to expand vaccine options for diverse populations, to address current and future consumer concerns about vaccine availability and barriers, and to build capability in vaccine research.
Vaccine-ADD objectives
Adjuvant discovery
Discovery and development of novel adjuvants to stimulate rapid and durable immune responses, enhancing vaccine effectiveness.
Research training
Providing outstanding research training and career development opportunities for students, early- and mid-career researchers.
Community engagement
Working with consumer and community partners to understand vaccine-related needs and contributing to public understanding of vaccine adjuvant research.
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.
What are vaccine adjuvants?
Adjuvants are an important part of many vaccines. An adjuvant is defined as an agent that is added to, or used in conjunction with, a vaccine antigen to augment or potentiate and possibly target the specific immune response to that antigen.
How do adjuvants help improve vaccines?
Adjuvants can provide advantages to vaccines, including stimulating rapid and durable immune responses, enhancing vaccine effectiveness. This can be of particular importance for poor vaccine responders, thereby reducing vaccine doses and/or minimising the need for booster immunisations.
Why do we need new vaccine adjuvants?
Currently there are fewer than ten adjuvants used in licensed human vaccines, and each has limitations. These limitations can include potential side effects and/or challenges around manufacturing, formulation, source sustainability, shelf life, population-specific responses or restrictive immunogenicity. Furthermore, the mechanisms of action of adjuvants are not well understood, limiting our ability to rapidly respond to health challenges like viral epidemics and pandemics and to protect at-risk populations with effective vaccines such as older people and those with weakened immune systems.
Team
Partner institutions
Media
Australian health partnerships to supercharge research
The Australian Government is backing Australian-led research to transform health outcomes.
Australian health partnerships to supercharge research
The Australian Government is backing Australian-led research to transform health outcomes.