The $8 million Bio Innovation Hub, funded by the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund (VHESIF), was officially opened by Victorian Government Minister Colin Brooks, representing the Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney, and La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell at La Trobe’s Melbourne campus in Bundoora.

The purpose-built facility will support the development of world-leading biotechnology and agri-technology businesses. It includes PC2 wet laboratories, joining just a handful of the sought-after labs in the state, and world-class equipment to help businesses commercialise their research discoveries.

Minister Brooks said, “This new hub at La Trobe University will empower students to gain invaluable industry knowledge and experience – preparing them to contribute to Victoria's thriving $40 billion biotech sector."

Startups and small to medium-sized biotechnology and agri-technology enterprises will have the opportunity to become tenants in the bespoke facilities located within the University’s Research and Innovation Precinct, a key platform of La Trobe’s University City of the Future.

The first occupants of the Hub include La Trobe spin-out AlleSense, regenerative and preventative medicine company Aeterna Health, and VivaZome Therapeutics Pty Ltd.

VivaZome’s focus is on developing and commercialising customised Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), tiny ‘sacs’ that have the potential to transport key medical supplies to targeted parts of the body. They specialise in targeted treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and stroke.