Molecular Clamp wins top AFR award for Research Commercialisation

The University of Queensland has won the 2026 Australian Financial Review's Higher Education Awards for Research Commercialisation for UQ’s Molecular Clamp technology.

The technology was developed by Professor Keith Chappell, Emeritus Professor Paul Young and Professor Daniel Watterson in the labs of AIBN and UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences to create vaccines against life-threatening respiratory viral infections.

UQ’s commercialisation company UniQuest established the spinout Vicebio to translate UQ’s Molecular Clamp technology from the lab to the world stage.

Largest IP acquisition

Sanofi acquired Vicebio for a US$1.15 billion deal, the largest acquisition involving intellectual property originating from an Australian university.

AIBN’s Director Professor Kristofer Thurecht said AFR’s Research Commercialisation Award recognises the power of university research coupled with UniQuest’s expertise at helping researchers take their discoveries beyond the laboratory and into the market.

“Now in in the hands of Sanofi, this vaccine stabilising technology has the potential to improve and save lives around the world and positions Australia as a credible source of world class biotechnology innovation.”

Creating vaccines 

The Molecular Clamp technology gained worldwide attention in early 2020 when the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) asked UQ to develop a potential vaccine for COVID-19.

The technology stabilises viral proteins in their native shape, enabling the immune system to recognise and respond to them more effectively.

The AFR Higher Education Awards celebrate excellence across the university sector, recognising individuals and projects who are at the forefront of creating impactful change for Australians by driving innovative research, economic growth and positive community outcomes.

Dr Dean Moss, CEO of UniQuest, said the award shows what can be accomplished when you combine quality research with a sophisticated commercialisation strategy.

“The IP commercialisation that culminated in this deal was more than a decade in the making.” he said.

“It highlights what can be achieved with resilience, excellence in research, innovative commercialisation, investment in intellectual property, experienced management and access to ‘patient’ capital.”

The deal also demonstrates the broader potential for this approach to strengthen research commercialisation in Australia to bring about significant public good.

Teaching and learning recognition

AIBN’s Associate Professor Joy Wolfram was also nominated in the Teaching and Learning Excellence category of the AFR Awards through her joint appointment with UQ’s Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology.

Her team’s redesign of an undergraduate biology course introduced a hands-on brewing component that increased student performance by 32 per cent and career interest by 70 per cent.

Last year, UQ’s Biosustainability Hub won the Industry Engagement Award with Professor Esteban Marcellin accepting the honour.