Two Monash University projects using mRNA delivery to improve treatments for people with muscular dystrophy or metabolic liver disease in infants have received more than $360,000 through the mRNA Victoria Research Acceleration Fund.

The grants are part of $2 million in funding announced by the Victorian Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford.

Monash Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS) Dean Professor Christina Mitchell, Dr Meagan McGrath and Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Studies’ Professor Colin Pouton have received $266,000 for research into the development of a lipopeptide-based nanoparticle RNA delivery system for the treatment of muscular dystrophy or acquired musculoskeletal conditions.

The research, in partnership with Alfred Health, will include pre-clinical testing and if successful, will enable the team to seek industry support to progress the new treatment to clinical trials to potentially improve health outcomes for children born with muscular dystrophy, a disease that impacts 1 in 20,000 children.

Professor Pouton has also received $99,000 for research being conducted with the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) into combining mRNA delivery with viral gene delivery to treat metabolic liver disease in infants and children using in vivo gene editing. He said it was an exciting time for mRNA technology and its potential to transcend a broad range of medical applications.

Monash is home to Australia's largest network of RNA and mRNA researchers.