Expanding the reach of CAR T-cell therapy

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At Peter Mac’s Centre of Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy (CoE CIT), scientists and clinicians work side by side to turn breakthrough discoveries into real, life-saving treatments.

The Challenge

Turning cutting-edge science into treatments that patients can access is both complex and costly. Peter Mac’s CoE CIT brings every stage of this process under one roof, from early research and product development, to clinical trials and patient care.

They use a fast-to-fail model to quickly identify which cell therapies have the best chance of success and focus resources where they will make the greatest impact. A major goal is to expand CAR-T cell therapy, which is currently used mainly for blood cancers, to treat solid tumours. Solid tumours are the most common form of cancer. However, developing and delivering these treatments often requires funding beyond what traditional channels provide.

Project Overview

Our support is helping CoE CIT expand access to CAR-T cell therapy. This personalised treatment is made from a patient’s own immune cells, which are reprogrammed to attack cancer. It offers a targeted, and in some cases, potentially curative option.

Australia’s first TGA-licensed CAR-T cell manufacturing facility for clinical trials, Cell Therapies Pty Ltd, based at Peter Mac, is central to this effort. It speeds up clinical trials and strengthens Australia’s position in next-generation cancer therapies. With Hearts & Minds funding, the CoE CIT can increase manufacturing capacity and accelerate the delivery of these treatments to more patients.

With continued investment, the CoE CIT aims to:

• Extend CAR-T cell therapy to more cancer types, including solid tumours
• Make these treatments more widely available for patients who need them most
• Transform cancer care with therapies that improve survival and quality of life
• Boost Australia’s biotech sector by developing, manufacturing, and commercialising homegrown innovations, keeping talent and technology here

Hearts & Minds’ partnership with Peter Mac is more than funding research. It is about fast-tracking new therapies that bring real hope to people facing cancer today and into the future. By supporting this project, we are helping to shape the future of cancer treatment and delivering meaningful impact for both patients and shareholders.

Funding support from Hearts and Minds Investments, as nominated by Core Fund Manager, Munro Partners.

This content was last updated in August 2025, for further information, visit the Centre of Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.