Mirugen, an innovative biotech start-up born out of the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), has been awarded a $1.92 million grant from CUREator+, a national initiative funded by the Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). This funding program, delivered by Brandon BioCatalyst and ANDHealth, is designed to accelerate the translation of preclinical and early clinical research into impactful medical solutions.
CUREator is a national biotechnology incubator by Brandon BioCatalyst that supports Australian biomedical research and innovation development funded by the Medical Research Future Fund and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. ANDHealth is Australia’s only organisation specialising in commercialising evidence-based digital health technologies.
Mirugen is pioneering a novel treatment that leverages the regenerative capacity of the retina’s stem cells to repair and reverse damage to photoreceptors—the light-sensing cells crucial for vision. This groundbreaking therapy could offer hope to more than 190 million people globally who suffer from vision-threatening conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt’s disease, and age-related macular degeneration. These conditions currently lack effective treatments and, more importantly, any means to restore lost vision.
“The CUREator + funding will enable my team to conduct essential pre-clinical experiments to accelerate the development of our new gene therapy candidate,” said Associate Professor Raymond Wong, Mirugen co-founder and Head of Cellular Reprogramming Research at CERA. “Mirugen is on the cusp of translating our research into a possible therapy that could transform lives by restoring vision, so this funding comes at a crucial time as it will help us generate the data needed to attract the investors we need to help us progress into the clinic.”
Mirugen’s approach involves injecting engineered viruses into the eye to deliver reprogramming genes directly into retinal cells. These genes activate dormant stem cells within the retina, stimulating them to develop into new photoreceptors that replace damaged or lost cells. Early preclinical studies have shown encouraging results, paving the way for further development.
Mirugen will operate from CERA’s genetic engineering laboratories, situated in a collaborative research ecosystem that includes experts from the University of Melbourne, the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, and CERA’s clinical trials subsidiary, Cerulea Clinical Trials. This environment ensures Mirugen has access to cutting-edge resources and interdisciplinary expertise as it moves closer to clinical applications.
The funding from CUREator+ not only underscores the potential of Mirugen’s gene therapy but also aligns with the broader mission of MRFF to foster medical innovation in Australia.
With its innovative gene therapy approach, Mirugen represents hope for those with incurable blindness. “Our ultimate aim is to get our treatment to patients and create a brighter future for people living with incurable blindness,” said Associate Professor Wong.
As Mirugen advances its research, the world anticipates a potential breakthrough that could redefine the landscape of eye care and regenerative medicine.