Medical Countermeasures (or MedCM) is part of the Health Security Systems Australia division of DMTC Limited. The MedCM Program has delivered successful industry-research collaborations that enhance Australia’s defence and national security capabilities.
Over the past five years, the program has progressed more than 20 collaborative vaccine, therapeutic and diagnostic projects against a range of Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) and infectious disease threats. ’s newest programs and builds on extensive research and preparatory work undertaken by government, industry and research agencies.
Utilising funding from CSIRO and from DST Group through its Next Generation Technologies Fund, DMTC’s leadership of the program involves harnessing Australia’s capabilities to develop leading-edge, advanced technologies and to direct and deploy skills into activities that support Australian defence, health and national security outcomes.
Medical Countermeasures (MedCMs) include vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for the protection of military and civilian personnel against Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) threats, emerging infectious diseases and pandemics.
The MedCM program has benefited from strong engagement with its Stakeholder Group, a senior whole-of-government advisory group with representatives from the Department of Defence; Department of Health; Department of Industry, Science and Resources; the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Federal Police. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this Stakeholder Group has had an even more significant role in directing and prioritising our collective response to the pandemic.
The program currently has ten active projects comprising two therapeutics, two vaccine candidates, four rapid diagnostics, and two manufacturing scale-up projects. This diversity in our project portfolio enables the program to contribute to addressing military and public health capability gaps and contribute to developing Australia’s sovereign resilience.
The program is seeking to bring together best-practice industrial expertise and relevant public sector and research agency inputs under DMTC’s proven model of collaboration and co-investment from all partners.
How to get involved
The annual program development cycle with its key timeframes is illustrated here. Further information can be sought by contacting DMTC on (03) 8840 5200 or by email to mcm.eoi@dmtc.com.au.
Achievements to date
Project submissions have been received from all over the country, collectively representing interest from over 150 prospective industry and research partner organisations.
The MedCM program is firmly focused on advancing technologies relevant to Australia’s national preparedness strategy, with application to both civil and military domains, in order to develop an effective in-country capability in Medical Countermeasures. Further detail on the national and international elements of the engagement and governance framework for the MedCM Program is available here.