An ambitious venture between two pioneering Wellington research institutes has substantially boosted capability within the capital’s innovation industry. The collaboration between the internationally-renowned Malaghan Institute and the world-class IRL research enterprise was brokered by Victoria Link Ltd (Viclink) with the aim of creating a revolutionary cancer vaccine.

Victoria University’s Professor of Entrepreneurship Mark Ahn had identified the long-shot potential for IRL’s chemical adjuvant, PIM 2-ME, to significantly enhance the effectiveness of Malaghan’s cancer cell vaccine, creating a life-saving vaccine with worldwide commercialisation potential. But, when finally combined after six months of preparation and testing, the adjunct actually suppressed the vaccine.

Viclink Commercialisation Manager Sophie Dalziel says the turbo-boosted cancer vaccine hypothesis was sensible, based on the highest quality science, and had the potential to reap huge benefits, but all the parties involved knew they were committing resources to a long shot. Dalziel says the experiment may have failed but it’s clear the initial stages of the collaboration significantly boosted the level of expertise within Wellington’s innovation industry.

Viclink is a technology transfer company wholly owned by Victoria University. It draws on the research, innovation and talent for invention within the university’s academic staff and student body to develop investment opportunities. The entire project used only New Zealand suppliers.

Dalziel says Viclink’s partners, including a relatively new Hawke’s Bay company called Valley Animal Research Centre, developed best practise science, testing and funding management packages to deal with the commercialisation challenges on the cancer vaccine project and those international standards could now be implemented on other ventures.

Malaghan will continue to research its science around a vaccine that can recognise and eliminate cancer cells, and IRL will continue to develop potential uses for its immune adjuvant technology. Both organisations’ programmes have been strengthened through the product development process.