In Case You Missed It: Here's what the MTPConnect team has been up to in October
11 November 2019
Pictured (L-R): QUT Executive Director Professor Lyn Griffiths, ANDHealth CEO Bronwyn Le Grice, UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss, Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea, Minister Industry, Science and Technology Hon. Karen Andrews MP at the Translational Research Institute in Brisbane. Photo by: Glenn Hunt.
MTPConnect Queensland Office Launch & Minister’s Day
Earlier this month, MTPConnect, in partnership with the Translational Research Institute (TRI), hosted Hon. Karen Andrews MP, the Minister Industry, Science and Technology. The Minister officially opened our Queensland office, located at the TRI and launched the new IMNIS mentoring program set to roll out in regional Queensland.
The Minister was also able to engage with some innovative Queensland-based MTP projects which we are supporting and participate in a panel discussion: Boosting Industry Engagement and Commercial Collaboration Through Mentoring. The panel was chaired by MTPConnect chair Sue MacLeman and the Minster was joined on the panel by Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea, Bronwyn Le Grice, Professor Lyn Griffiths and Dr Dean Moss. For more on the story, check out our wrap-up.
Australian delegation heads to BioJapan
Dan participated in the Australian delegation to BioJapan, Asia’s premier event for the biotech sector, presenting on Australia's expertise in clinical trials. We were once again pleased to work with Austrade, CSIRO and the Victorian Government to showcase the capabilities of Australian biotech and pharma companies, particularly in the areas of personalised and regenerative medicine.
HLTH Conference
In October, we worked with ANDHealth to support a strong Australian presence at the HLTH conference in Nevada, USA. Digital Health was also on the agenda, and the event brings together established digital health payers, providers, employers, and pharma services, as well as a range of disruptive start-ups.
Bridge Program Symposium
The MTPConnect team attended the Bridge Program Symposium in Melbourne, where the consortium members gathered as well as the participants from across Australia. Over three days, the participants heard from international speakers discussing the pharmaceutical sector and members of the consortia on key issues and trends in Australian pharma.
BioMedTech Horizons Round 3 Opens
We opened expressions of interest for Round 3 last month. Please visit the BMTH page for information on guidelines, how to apply and for the focus areas. Applications close 16 December 2019.
Biomedical Translation Bridge Program Round 2 Info Session
To coincide with the 2019 AusBiotech Conference we held a sold-out Information Session in Melbourne, about applying for Round 2 BTB funding. Our BTB partners, BioCurate, UniQuest, MDPP and the Bridge and BridgeTech programs were also on hand to provide tips for making applications. Our next Information Session about how to apply for funding is in Perth in December at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. Register here.
BMTH Value-Add Day
MTPConnect brought together our 11 funded projects from BioMedTech Horizons (from Round One) for a program packed full of interesting topics relevant to the transition of Australian medical technology innovation. We would like to thank the participants from our projects for joining us on the day and for sharing the progress of your innovations. We heard that you all enjoyed the time spent networking with each other.
The agenda included presentations by:
- Rob McInnes (Rob McInnes IP Advisory) – R&D and IP-deal making in biomedtech
- Alex Nikro (Department of Health) – Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Update
- Jiamin Aw (APR Intern) – Accessing PhD talent to boost your project
- Luke Hurst, Danielle Rajendram and Patrick Deegan (Asialink Business) – Emerging markets and realising growth opportunities
- Avi Rebera (TGA) – TGA’s SME Assist program
- Kristi Geddes and Susan Kantor (Minter Ellison) – Protecting personal information – cyber security
- Oded Vanham (MDPP), Michelle Richards (TRI), Dr Jenny Whiting (Microscopy Australia), Joel Spotswood (BridgeTech Program) and Dr Tillmann Boehme (TRICEP) – Growth Centre Projects speed dating
AusBiotech Conference Activities
Panel on Regenerative Medicine – Advances and Opportunities in Australia
Dr Dan Grant spoke on the panel about the advances and opportunities in Australian regenerative medicine, with Dr Melissa Little (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute), Paul Anderson (Orthocell), A/Prof Dominic Wall (Cell Therapies Pty Ltd), Dr Hiroya Muranishi (Takeda Pharmaceutical) and chaired by Dr Dawn Driscoll (Cell Therapies). The discussion focused on the future and potential of Australian regenerative medicine. Australia’s part in the global sector could be worth $6 billion in revenue & create 6,000 new jobs by 2035. Dan and Melissa are a part of the Stem Cells Mission Expert Advisory Panel.
Sue MacLeman wins the AusBiotech and Johnson & Johnson Innovation Industry Leadership Award
Congratulations to our Chair, Sue, who was presented the prestigious Industry Leadership Award for more than 30 years of outstanding contributions to the medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical (MTP) sector. Read more on our story, click here.
Panel discussion on US & Australia life science partnerships – trade and investment collaborations
After the Awards presentations, Dr Dan Grant joined a stellar panel, which included, Dr Chris Nave (Brandon Capital Partners), Dr Tom Luby (Texas Medical Center), Erica Kneipp (The Australian National University) and chaired by Dr Lisa Haile (DLA Piper) – discussing the strengths and weaknesses in US and Australia on gender equity in management teams and boardrooms, investment potential of the two countries, the importance of establishing connections globally as well as regionally and so much more.
Sector Supported Events
This was a big month for supporting the sector through some amazing events, including the RACMA Conference in Adelaide, which explored the role of robotics and Artificial Intelligence in healthcare and medical administration, ACTA’s International Clinical Trial Conference, UWA's BioInnovation Symposium in Perth, Connecting Doctors & HealthTech with MedTech Actuator and Artesian Ventures, partnering with fellow Growth Centres, AustCyber, METSIgnited, FIAL, AMGC and NERA for CSIRO’s Dat61+ Live event and we presented the medtech/pharma award at the AusTech Competition Finals in Melbourne.
New Staff Addition – Caroline Duell
MTPConnect welcomed a new addition to our team, Caroline Duell, who has been appointed Director Communications and Events, and is based in our head office in Melbourne.