MP Vector Clinical Research launches in Australia in major debut at AusBioTech 2026

Five highly experienced industry leaders have come together to create a specialised, agile and tailored approach to clinical development in Australia and APAC

A new Australia-based clinical research organisation, MP Vector Clinical Research PTY Limited (MP Vector), is now in operation and preparing to make its major industry debut at AusBiotech International Conference 2026 – Australia’s largest life sciences conference and part of Australia’s Biggest Week in Biotech.

Taking place at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Queensland, from 21–23 October 2026, the conference brings together the Australian and international life sciences community to connect, collaborate and explore the innovations shaping the future of the sector.

For MP Vector, there could hardly be a more fitting stage on which to introduce a new approach to clinical development in Australia. Rather than seeking to own every capability in-house, the model is built around best practice, identifying and accessing the most appropriate local experts and vendors for each study. MP Vector carefully cultivates a project with specifically chosen partners, which remain with the study from inception to close out.

Australia is playing an increasingly important role in global clinical development. Its strong research infrastructure, experienced investigators, recruitment capability and pragmatic clinical research environment make it an attractive location for companies looking to advance innovative treatments.

But recognising the opportunity and realising it are two different things.

For international Biotech and Pharmaceutical companies, successful clinical development in Australia depends on trusted local knowledge, the right scientific and operational expertise, strong relationships and people who understand how to turn global ambition into effective local delivery.

That is the opportunity behind MP Vector.

The company has been founded by Melissa Melton, Jon Melton, Dr Esther Elliott, Oonagh Gallagher and Sarah Hall – five highly experienced leaders whose complementary expertise spans global CRO leadership, Pharmaceutical and Biotech companies, clinical operations, regulatory consulting, translational medicine, study strategy and hands-on clinical trial delivery across Phases I–IV.

Together, they share a belief that there is room for a more specialised, agile, hands-on and genuinely tailored way of supporting companies conducting clinical research in Australia and, increasingly, across APAC.

Five Experienced Leaders. One Shared Purpose.

While MP Vector is a new company, the experience, relationships and clinical research expertise behind it are well established.

For Melissa and Jon Melton, the creation of MP Vector represents the next step in a journey that has been developing for more than a decade.

Through multiple award-winning Momentum Pharma, the New Era Clinical Research Organisation they co-founded in 2013 in the UK, worked in Australia for more than 12 years, investing in relationships with Sponsors, sites, regulators, legal experts and other clinical research stakeholders and listening to what companies seeking to work in Australia need.

MP Vector creates a dedicated Australian organisation through which that experience can now be combined with the local scientific, regulatory and operational expertise of Brisbane-based Dr Esther Elliott and Sydney-based Oonagh Gallagher and Sarah Hall.

The five directors bring experience from different sides of the clinical research landscape.

The company may be new; the experience, relationships and commitment behind it are anything but.

Melissa Melton, Founding Director of MP Vector and Co-Founder and CEO of Momentum Pharma, said:

The launch of MP Vector Clinical Research is a natural evolution for our companies. We have been working in Australia through Momentum Pharma for over 12 years, specifically investing in time and relationships by collaborating with sponsors, sites, regulators, legal experts and other clinical-research stakeholders. Yet, we were not able to deliver the complete solution to our clients, as we could not be the local sponsor/representative. This is the critical aspect that is missing for many US, EU and UK pharmaceuticals who do not have their own Australian entity and with MP Vector, we are fulfilling this missing piece of the puzzle. We waited for a long time to launch MP Vector – we wanted to be certain we had the right team members to join us, who were all 100% on the same page about the true mission of this unique new Australian-based CRO. Launching the company in October, along with Esther Elliott, Sarah Hall, Oonagh Gallagher and of course, Jon Melton, is our way of becoming a ‘vector’ for our clients. AUS is becoming more strategically important for global clinical trials. There’s a particularly attractive clinical-trial environment: strong research infrastructure, experienced investigators, good recruitment capability and relatively agile start-up processes. MP Vector will be key in assisting our Sponsors to build a bridge into this great country and bring important trials into this core delivery market.

Jon Melton, Founding Director of MP Vector and Co-Founder and COO of Momentum Pharma, said:

Our expansion into Australia reflects our continued commitment to innovation, sustainable growth and delivering greater value for our clients. Establishing a local presence will enable us to support sponsors seeking to benefit from Australia’s creative, pragmatic and collaborative clinical research environment, while providing services shaped around their specific strategic and operational needs. With the extensive experience of our owner-director team, we are well positioned to support our clients’ growth not only in Australia, but across the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Dr Esther Elliott, BSc, GDipMLSc, GDipGenCouns, PhD, Founding Director of MP Vector said:

Launching MP Vector feels like a natural step to address an unmet need I’ve seen throughout my career by connecting science, clinical expertise and innovation through a more specialised, agile and tailored service model. As Australia and APAC continue to grow in importance to global clinical development, my goal is to accelerate innovation to market and ultimately deliver better outcomes for patients.

Oonagh Gallagher, BSc (Hons), RN, Founding Director of MP Vector said:

I’m incredibly proud to see this new venture come to life and to be working alongside such respected industry experts as Sarah Hall and Esther Elliott. What an exciting opportunity to bring a flexible, tailored and collaborative approach to Australian CRO market! By putting strong scientific and operational expertise, genuine partnership and the needs of our clients and patients at the heart of what we do, we aim to support the delivery of high-quality clinical research that ultimately contributes to better patient outcomes.

Sarah Hall, M.Mgt, M.HSc, B.Pharm., Founding Director of MP Vector said:

I am incredibly excited to be one of the founding directors of MP Vector, bringing to Australia a new model in CROs. Australia is becoming an increasingly significant player in the clinical research industry, especially in early phase trials, and MP Vector’s unique approach as a CRO enables it to offer completely tailored and flexible solutions to companies running trials in Australia. We all have extensive industry experience and are very hands on and are looking forward to working closely with all of our clients to provide the best possible solution for their clinical trial programmes in Australia.

New Company. Established Foundations..

The “MP” in MP Vector reflects the new company’s affiliation with Momentum Pharma, a multiple award-winning New Era Clinical Research Organisation dual headquartered in New Mexico, USA and London, United Kingdom.

Momentum Pharma was co-founded in 2013 by Melissa Melton, CEO, and Jon Melton, COO, to provide high calibre, dedicated and bespoke clinical trial solutions to Biotech and Pharmaceutical companies, as well as other Clinical Research Organisations.

Momentum Pharma is forging the New Era in clinical research through three core principles: Innovation in the science and service delivery; Collaboration to find the right partner for each study; and Trust through total transparency. It has become a trusted global partner, delivering flexible, high-quality ways of working across 47 countries and winning multiple awards, including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2022.

Momentum Pharma and MP Vector will continue to operate as distinct but affiliated organisations, working alongside one another and sharing expertise, resources and relationships where appropriate. For clients, that brings together dedicated Australian leadership and deep local and APAC expertise with established global clinical research experience, relationships and capability.

Making a Splash at Australia's Largest Life Sciences Conference.

MP Vector has deliberately chosen AusBiotech International Conference 2026 for its first major industry appearance.

Taking place from 21–23 October on the Gold Coast, the AusBiotech International Conference is Australia’s largest life sciences conference and forms part of the newly connected Australia’s Biggest Week in Biotech, which brings AusBiotech International Conference, AusMedtech and AusBiotech Invest together within one major week for the sector. It is designed to connect local expertise with Australian and international partners, accelerate innovation and impact, showcase organisations and ideas, and create opportunities for collaboration and business growth.

For a new clinical research organisation created to connect global innovation with Australian scientific, clinical and operational expertise, it is exactly where MP Vector wants to be.