Queensland ‘vaccine patch’ inventor wins science prize

A Queensland researcher has been awarded one of Australia's highest science honours for inventing the Nanopatch - a needle-free vaccine delivery device.

Professor Mark Kendall was named the recipient of the $25,000 CSL Young Florey Medal at Parliament House in Canberra last night.

"It is very humbling and a great honour to receive this award," Prof. Kendall said.

The Nanopatch, which could see doctors throw away vaccine needles after 160 years, is a small square of silicon with 20,000 microscopic spikes that deliver vaccines directly to the skin's immune cells.

Professor Alan Rowan, Director of the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, said the device will improve the health of millions of people worldwide.

Prof. Rowan said the need to keep vaccines chilled had made vaccination schemes logistically challenging in remote and disadvantaged areas.

"Vaccines coated onto the Nanopatch do not need to be kept cold, and may require less vaccine for effective immunization when compared to traditional needle and syringe methods," he said.

As well as not needing refrigeration, the Nanopatch is painless, requires a fraction of the usual dose and eliminates needle phobia.

Human clinical trials are underway in Brisbane, and the World Health Organization is planning a polio vaccine trial in Cuba in 2017.