In Case You Missed It: Here's what the MTPConnect team has been up to this week

15 March 2019

Pictured: MTPConnect CEO Dr Dan Grant with QUT Executive Director Prof Lyn Griffiths at the launch of the 2019 BridgeTech program in Brisbane. 

Dr Dan Grant – CEO

BridgeTech 2019 Launch

Dan is presenting today at the 2019 launch of the BridgeTech Program in Brisbane at QUT, as the BridgeTech program welcome it’s new cohort for the year. Additional guest speakers include QUT Associate Professor Anthony Shield and University of New England Associate Professor Graham Marshall. The MTPConnect team is proud to support the launch and wish all members of the new cohort good luck on the program!

Dr Sandhya Tewari – GM International & Government

Chinese Engagement

Sandhya met with investors from Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd. (MHSA) who are based in Hong Kong. MHSA was keen to understand the Australian start-up ecosystem and forge collaborative opportunities with the MTP sector. MHSA has set up an accelerator program and an investment fund with the VC arm of Tsinghus University in China.

Dr Alfredo Martinez-Coll – GM Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Engagement with iDE Group

Alfredo met with iDE Group’s CEO George Sidis and visited their premises. iDE is a medical device contract product development company akin to Planet Innovation, Design & Industry, Hydrix and more. They have scientists, engineers, software developers, and regulatory expertise. Their workshop has prototyping, and low volume manufacturing capabilities. iDE has recently launched it’s Building Better Futures for Health Challenge 2019, which will support innovative medtech ideas and the winner can score up to $30,000.

A/Prof Kevin Pfleger – Director Stakeholder Engagement WA

Launch of Respirion

Kevin attended the launch of Respirion, a spin-off company of Telethon Kids, at the Perth Children's Hospital. This is the first investment in Western Australia from the Biomedical Translation Fund. The Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MCRF) and Telethon Kids Institute have committed up to $20 million to Respirion and will fund an exciting project to develop a new treatment for patients with cystic fibrosis.

MTPConnect Podcast

This week’s episode broke the news of the Australian Government’s announcement of $150 million Stem Cell Mission funding for the launch of the MRFF Frontier application in stem cells – reNEW. The Mission will be co-chaired by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s Professor Melissa Little and The Australian National University’s Professor Mark Kendall.