Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics

Developing new therapeutics to transform future pandemic management and to save lives

The Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics was established at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) in 2022 thanks to the historic founding donation of AU$250 million from Melbourne-based philanthropist Mr Geoffrey Cumming, supported by a AU$75 million cornerstone commitment from the State Government of Victoria.

The Cumming Global Centre’s mission is to enable the rapid design of new pandemic treatments that can be delivered to the clinic at far greater speeds than current technologies allow. Such an immediate response, ideally within weeks or months of an outbreak, has the potential to prevent the progression of infections to severe disease and, ultimately, save lives.

Transformative philanthropic funding enables innovative global research programs

Bringing world-leading scientific and medical experts together with brilliant young researchers, the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics works in collaboration with more than 150 medical researchers across 30+ institutions globally to advance the science behind therapeutics development.

The Centre’s mission is to provide long-term funding for innovative research programs and inspire others to join its ambitious pursuit to grow a global AU$1.5 billion research centre.

Since the Centre was established in 2022, it has invested significantly in scientific projects aligned to its mission. This includes $22 million in funding committed to 32 Foundation Grants projects, and more than $50 million invested in the Bonn-Cumming Host-Directed Pandemic Therapeutics Research Program, funding groundbreaking research into early immunity to develop novel therapeutic targets.