Researchers at Griffith University in Brisbane have joined the race to create a vaccine for the coronavirus using a method that could see a vaccine rolled out in weeks once it’s approved.

Scientists at the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD) are about to start mouse model trials of four vaccine candidates they have developed.

Professor Bernd Rehm, the principal research leader at GRIDD, said the technology used to develop the vaccine candidates used a synthetic version of the virus, which meant it could be replicated easily and quickly.

Professor Bernd Rehm from Griffith University says they have developed four vaccine candidates ready for animal testing

"We essentially have these microscopic factories assembling these virus-like particles presenting the virus components," Professor Rehm said.