A trans-Tasman partnership project is making good progress on developing a rheumatic fever vaccine.
In September 2014 the governments of New Zealand and Australia each committed initial funding of NZ$1.5 million over 18 months to support research to identify potential vaccines for Group A Streptococcus infection, which can cause rheumatic fever.
The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and the HRC were given responsibility for overseeing this initiative.
University of Auckland Professor John Fraser, the lead New Zealand investigator for the CANVAS (Coalition to advance vaccines against Group A Streptococcus) project, was interviewed on Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme this morning about the progress being made. He said the team have identified three potential vaccine candidates, including one which looks very promising and will hopefully be ready for clinical trials at the end of this year.
Listen to Professor John Fraser on Morning Report.