Glencore’s $725,000 UQ COVID-19 vaccine investment applauded by QRC

2119
Logo via Glencore Facebook page

The Queensland Resources Council has applauded Glencore’s $725,000 investment into the University of Queensland’s development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the funding was another example of the sector’s ‘people first’ response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Glencore’s commitment to the University of Queensland will help fund the Molecular Clamp project which has moved to a phase 1 clinical trial with 120 adult volunteers,” Mr Macfarlane said. 

The news follows the announcement on Monday that human participants would be receiving the first vaccine dose in the trial run, the first phase of which focuses on evaluating the safety and immune response of the vaccine in a group of healthy volunteers.

Adertisement

Mr Macfarlane added that Queensland’s resources sector was one of the first to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak by strictly adhering to the advice of the State’s Chief Health Officer. Further measures were also implemented to protect workers and the communities in which they operate.

“As the COVID-19 situation evolves here and around the world, it will be critical for our industry – like all Australians – to heed the advice from health authorities and do what we can to slow the spread of the virus.”

“It is also critical as an industry we continue to devote our full attention to implementing the processes and procedures in accordance with the latest advice.”

“QRC will continue to work on a full range of industry issues, but we cannot afford distractions from what is essential at this time – responding to the global pandemic that is COVID-19.”

Meanwhile a spokesperson for Glencore said in a statement that they are honoured to support the Australian medical sector’s efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19.

“The University of Queensland’s research is moving at great speed and, while there is a way to go before the vaccine can be considered a success, we are seeing some encouraging results. We hope our funding can make a meaningful contribution to these efforts and will be cheering the team on in the weeks and months ahead.”

Glencore’s funding comes from the company’s Community Support Fund which was set up earlier this year to assist communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Image credit: Glencore Facebook page