![Dr Andy Poumbourios pictured next to a thermometer illustration that has percentage measurements on it and '$200,000' written at the top](/media/wb4lbra5/tty-spring-2023-covid-fundraiser.jpg)
A heartfelt thank you for your support!
A huge thank you to everyone who donated to our mid-year appeal, raising funds in support of the development of the ground-breaking Burnet-engineered universal COVID vaccine. Our goal was to raise $200,000 to support validation studies, and we are thrilled to say that we reached that goal – which is fantastic! Thank you very much.
“Thanks to everyone for their incredibly generous support,” said Dr. Andy Poumbourios. “I can now get cracking in the lab on validation studies. Just last week, we met with our collaborators to design and plan the next set of experiments. That means that your donations have turned into actual hands-on research in the lab in literally weeks! Your support really is transforming our research here at Burnet, and for that, I thank you all.”
Validation studies on the Burnet-engineered universal COVID vaccine candidate will take three to four months, and we aim to be finished by the end of 2023. Your generosity is making a real impact on our mission, and we are immensely grateful for your support.
![](/media/zqwpp24i/jerry-marlene.jpg)
Donor profile: inspired to give
A special thanks also to Dr. Jerry Koliha and Ms. Marlene Krelle, who threw their support behind the appeal, and agreed to match all gifts up to $10,000.
Matched giving lets you, our supporters, know that others are standing alongside you in support of a project. It also adds value to your own gift, by making it go twice as far and have twice the impact.
“Marlene and I are thrilled to have been involved,” said Jerry. “And we’d like to thank all the other supporters of Burnet who came on board alongside us to get the next phase of Andy’s research underway.”
A universal COVID vaccine has the power to not only ease the burden of COVID on families here in Australia, but also has the potential to change the face of COVID vaccination in low-and middle-income countries around the world.