Saving Australia’s koalas: a breakthrough vaccine for an endangered icon | UniSC

Professor Peter Timms, a globally recognised microbiologist, has developed a groundbreaking chlamydia vaccine to combat the rapid decline of koala populations.

Listed as endangered in eastern Australia in 2022, koalas face infection rates of up to 60 per cent in Queensland and New South Wales. This innovative vaccine directly targets the disease driving population collapse, offering a practical, scalable tool to reverse losses in high-risk regions.

Developed through decades of research, the vaccine achieved regulatory approval in June 2025 — the first of its kind for wild populations. Phase III trials demonstrated a 64 per cent reduction in deaths, alongside higher reproduction and survival rates.  

Beyond saving koalas, the project is generating vital data for global wildlife health and conservation, providing a science-based model for species protection and positioning Australia as a leader in wildlife disease management.

Entrant: Professor Peter Timms