In Case You Missed It: Here's what the MTPConnect team has been up to this week
22 February 2019
Pictured: MTPConnect CEO Dr Dan Grant with Minister for Health Hon. Greg Hunt MP at the launch of the Department of Health &MRFF's Biomedical Translation Bridge Program at the Canberra Innovation Network.
Dr Dan Grant - CEO
Biomedical Translation Bridge Program
On Monday, the Minister for Health Greg Hunt MP, launched the Medical Research Future Fund’s Biomedical Translation Bridge Program at the Canberra Innovation Network. The program will be operated by MTPConnect in partnership with BioCurate, UniQuest and the Medical Device Partnering Program, with specialist support from the Bridge Program through QUT. Dan was on hand for the launch, along with BioCurate’s Dr Glenn Begley, Dr Mark Ashton from UniQuest, Professor Karen Reynolds from MDPP and Professor Lyn Griffiths from the Bridge Program. A special shout out to Dr Omar Zuaiter and his team from EmuDent who demonstrated their micro-robotic dental health technology for the Minister.
Clinical Trials
Dan attended the Clinical Trials Governance Framework Consultation workshop on Thursday. This initiative aims to strengthen governance arrangements for clinical trials in Australia and support the delivery of safe and high-quality care for patients and consumers. The proposed National Clinical Trials Governance Framework also supports the integration of clinical trial service provision into routine hospital care by providing a consistent national framework for clinical governance.
This week Dan and Alfredo took part in the first episode of our new Podcast Series, available wherever you get your podcasts – Apple Podcast, Spotify and Stitcher. They discussed the CRC-P grant application process and further details of the new BTB program. Even the Minister for Health makes an appearance. In the coming weeks, we’ll continue connecting with the people and issues that make our sector tick.
Dr Sandhya Tewari - GM International & Government
Opportunities in India
Sandhya attended a boardroom discussion with Peter Varghese AO on the India Economic Strategy organised by Asialinks Business. The India Economic Strategy has a bold target of two times the current trade and ten times the current investment, which has recently been endorsed by the Prime Minister. A key focus of the strategy is on greater engagement with India’s health sector. Leaders from different sectors shared their thoughts on the implications and forward actions for the success of this strategy.
Engaging for Impact
Sandhya also attended the Engaging for Impact event organised by RMIT University. With the themes of Melbourne 8 Million, empowering health, ethical innovation and industry transformation and collaborative shared futures, the event also enabled discussions on some critical issues and opportunities around these themes.
Dr Alfredo Martinez-Coll - GM Stakeholder Engagement
NSW Health and Medical Research Forum
Alfredo visited NSW Health's Statewide Biobank - the largest of its kind in Australia - as a part of the NSW Health and Medical Research Forum. The forum is the first in a series of free quarterly events for 2019 that have been designed to inform industry and researchers of NSW Health’s statewide research assets and strengths, as well as provide opportunities to network and collaborate. The focus of this forum will be on data and digital enabled research.
MedTech Conference
Planning is starting to come together for the third consecutive MTPConnect-led Australian delegation to the MedTech Conference, being held this year in Boston from 23-25 September. We’re already in discussion with our networks here and in the US to explore possible activities for delegates joining us on this mission. We’ll keep you updated on developments.
Elizabeth Stares - Director Major Projects
Tackling barriers holding back export businesses
Elizabeth continues her work on the new Trade Barriers Registry website, which is due to be launched soon. This is a collaborative project of the Industry Growth Centres Initiative to develop a central database of tariff and non-tariff barriers which can make exporting more difficult. These will then be collated and progressed within individual Growth Centres and relevant government agencies so that our exporters are better prepared than ever to connect with international markets and enter internal supply chains.
A/Prof Kevin Pfleger - Director Stakeholder Engagement WA
APRIntern
Kevin attended a great session with APRIntern in WA. This is an excellent program that facilitates three to five month industry internships for PhD students across the country.
Preparations for
next month’s MTPConnect-supported Healthcare
Immersive Technologies Symposium are progressing well. Attendees will
hear about the current
state of play in the sector from WA Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Klinken,
the CEO of Linear Dr Michael Winlo and Joce Young, the CEO of the Royal
Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation.