WEHI and Moderna Launch Pioneering mRNA Partnership to Combat Autoimmune Diseases
Key Insights
WEHI (search) and Moderna have established Australia's first partnership focused on developing mRNA-based treatments for autoimmune diseases (search), affecting approximately 1 in 10 people globally.
The MATE (mRNA for Autoimmune Therapeutics of Excellence) program grants WEHI (search) researchers exclusive access to Moderna's advanced mRNA platform technology for accelerated therapeutic development.
The collaboration aims to develop treatments for high-need conditions including Graves' disease (search), lupus (search), coeliac disease (search), and inflammatory bowel diseases (search), while exploring immune system modulation approaches.
In a groundbreaking development for Australian medical research, WEHI (search) has partnered with biotechnology leader Moderna to accelerate the development of mRNA-based therapies for autoimmune diseases (search). This first-of-its-kind collaboration in Australia provides WEHI researchers with privileged access to Moderna's sophisticated mRNA platform technology.
The partnership, dubbed MATE (mRNA for Autoimmune Therapeutics of Excellence), emerges at a critical time when autoimmune diseases (search) affect approximately one in ten people globally. These conditions represent one of Australia's most significant chronic health challenges and stand as a leading cause of death among women under 65 in high-income countries.
Strategic Focus Areas and Research Priorities
The collaboration targets several high-priority autoimmune conditions where current treatments fall short. Key focus areas include Graves' disease (search), lupus (search), coeliac disease (search), and inflammatory bowel diseases (search), as well as severe allergies. Researchers will explore innovative approaches to "retrain" the immune system, developing treatments that could help the body tolerate specific trigger substances.
WEHI (search) Director Professor Ken Smith emphasized the transformative potential of this partnership: "mRNA medicines are truly transformative, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Moderna on this program to advance pre-clinical research working towards new treatments that could improve health for millions of people."
Leveraging Combined Expertise
The collaboration brings together WEHI (search)'s autoimmune research expertise with Moderna's proven track record in mRNA technology. Dr. Kate Jeffrey, Moderna's vice president and global head of immune therapeutics and genomic sciences, highlighted the strategic value of the partnership: "Partnering with a leading Australian institution like WEHI allows us to combine our expertise in mRNA science with their world-class research capabilities to redefine therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases."
Technology Platform and Research Capabilities
Moderna's mRNA platform, already well-known for its COVID-19 vaccine, represents over a decade of development and innovation. The scalable and flexible system will enable WEHI (search) researchers to expedite the development and testing of potential mRNA-based therapies in a research setting.
A key focus of the research will be understanding and controlling immune cell behavior, particularly B and T cells (search), using mRNA technology. The team aims to develop long-lasting treatments that could potentially transform the lives of the 1.4 million Australians living with autoimmune conditions.
This exclusive partnership marks a significant step forward in addressing the current lack of curative treatments for the approximately 80 known autoimmune conditions. Through shared resources and knowledge, the collaboration aims to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into practical therapeutic solutions for patients.