Off Script is brought to you by the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics. Episode SummaryAustralia has a history of punching above its weight in medical research – from the cervical cancer vaccine to the bionic ear. Now we’re on the brink of our next breakthrough: pandemic therapeutics. Go behind the scenes with the politicians backing this moonshot and the scientists making it happen in Melbourne’s world-class biomedical precinct.What You'll Learn:The political perspective - Why Health Minister Mark Butler sees pandemic preparedness as both a health imperative and a matter of national securityVictoria's billion-dollar bet - How the Victorian Government's $1 billion investment over 10 years is positioning Melbourne as a global biotech powerhouse.Manufacturing sovereignty - The game-changing Moderna facility that will produce 100 million vaccine doses annually, securing Australia's pandemic independence.Regional leadership - How Australia's new capabilities will support our Pacific neighbours and establish us as a middle power in global health.Lab life revealed - Go inside the Doherty Institute's cutting-edge laboratories where CRISPR technology and flow cytometry are accelerating discoveries. Gender matters: Male and female immune systems respond dramatically differently to threats - yet we typically treat them identically.Featured ExpertsThe Hon. Mark Butler MP - Federal Health Minister explaining why therapeutics are crucial for hospital system resilience and pandemic preparedness.The Hon. Danny Pearson MP - Victorian Medical Research Minister on why Melbourne is attracting global talent and the economic power of medical breakthroughsProfessor Laura McKay - Doherty Institute immunologist sharing her journey from aspiring artist to virus hunter and the collaborative magic of Melbourne's research precinct.What’s Coming NextEpisode 3 dives deep into the cutting-edge technology being developed in these very labs. From AI-powered drug discovery to revolutionary therapeutic platforms, discover how Australian scientists are racing to solve the therapeutic development timeline.The future of pandemic preparedness is being built right here in Melbourne. Don't miss the next episode of what could be the most important scientific story of our time.Off Script is hosted by Dr. Matt Agnew and produced by the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics, part of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

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