BUILDING ON TRUST AND COLLABORATION TO ROADMAP NEXT PHASE OF AUSTRALIA’S VACCINE SUCCESS Conference returns to lead charge in strengthening the entire life cycle of vaccine development
With
Leah Goodman
Chief Executive Officer
Biointelect
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | September 2026
Trust, collaboration and a stronger vaccine ecosystem were the focus of the second Australian Vaccine Value Chain Conference, held in Sydney, September 2026 and hosted by life science consultancy Biointelect. More than 200 leaders from government, industry, academia, research, investment and the immunisation community attended, joined by international representatives including the International Vaccine Institute and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
The conference took place amid falling global immunisation rates, rising misinformation, shrinking funding and a resurgence of measles. In Australia, childhood immunisation rates have fallen by between 2.3 and 4.3 percentage points at standard age milestones each year since 2020. Discussions covered research funding, regional health security, sovereign manufacturing, data and capacity building, vaccine access, uptake resistance and pandemic preparedness. Delegates noted progress through the new Australian Centre for Disease Control and the updated National Immunisation Strategy, but experts say further action is needed.
In an interview with the Australian Health Journal, Biointelect CEO Leah Goodman said the mood had shifted since the inaugural 2024 conference, when nervousness was evident. This year, she said, attendees were “feeling that they had a role to play in the shaping of the Australian ecosystem.” She pointed to the first six companies announced in the Biointelect Venturer incubator, funded through the Medical Research Future Fund, as a sign of progress.
Goodman also stressed the importance of international cooperation, stating that “no country can build a resilient vaccine ecosystem alone.” A white paper will capture the discussions and set priorities for the next two years.
Source: Adapted from Biointelect media release (September 2026) and transcript
-
Sydney North Neighbourhood Health Hubs to approach health and welfare in holistic way
Many people struggle to access the right care at the right time, leading to gaps, delays, and confusion when navigating the health system. By fostering collaboration and integration, the Wellbeing Collaborative will support a primary care system that works better together, making it easier for individuals to receive early intervention and preventative care. By working together and in partnership, Sydney North Health Network aim to create more connected, accessible, and person-centred services that address key health challenges locally, including chronic illness, mental health, aged care, alcohol and other drugs (AOD), and suicide prevention.
-
Global Women’s Health report identifies concerning drop in Australian breast cancer screening
The Hologic Global Women’s Health Index is one of the largest global reports dedicated exclusively to women’s health and wellbeing. Now in its fifth year, the Index tracks women’s health across five dimensions , Preventive Care, Emotional Health, Opinions of Health and Safety, Basic Needs and Individual Health – across 144 countries and territories, covering 97 per cent of the global adult population.
-
Landmark brain shape study
For over a century, researchers have thought that the patterns of brain activity that define our experiences, hopes and dreams are determined by how different brain regions communicate with each other through a complex web of trillions of cellular connections.
Now, a Monash University Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health-led study has examined more than 10,000 different maps of human brain activity and found that the overall shape of a person’s brain exerts a far greater influence on how we think, feel and behave than its intricate neuronal connectivity.
