Three Monash University projects have received $10.8 million from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to support research that improves understanding of COVID-19 and help develop new and enhanced treatments.

The Monash projects include a study into antibodies and cellular immune responses after infection or vaccination in healthy and vulnerable people, a coordinated multiplatform randomised trial for hospitalised patients with COVID-19, and pre-clinical testing of novel inhaled RNA therapies for stability, safety and effectiveness against COVID-19.

Monash University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AC said the funding supports projects that will make a real difference in progressing breakthroughs in the treatment of COVID-19.

The MRFF-funded projects are:

PROPHECY: Profiling immune response in paediatric and high-risk populations to SARS-CoV-2 - $6,330,000

A coordinated multiplatform randomised trial for hospitalised patients with COVID-19 - $3,997,914.20

Pre-clinical testing of novel inhaled RNA therapies for stability, safety and effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 to demonstrate proof of concept - $500,000