In Case You Missed It: Here's What The MTPConnect Team Has Been Up To in November

08 December 2020

Pictured (L-R): MTPConnect Director Communications & Events Caroline Duell, GSK Australia’s Director of Regulatory Affairs for Australia and New Zealand Dr Carolyn Tucek-Szabo and Head of Human Resources for Australia & New Zealand David Fitz-Gerald, and MTPConnect’s Senior Director Stakeholder Engagement Dr Rebecca Tunstall in the virtual podcast studio.

New Report Reveals Workforce Skills Priorities for a Future Ready Workforce

This month we released the MTPConnect REDI Program Skills Gap Analysis Interim Report - the first of three medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector workforce reports we’re delivering as part of the Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) program. In partnership with L.E.K. Consulting, we engaged widely across the sector to identify areas of workforce shortage, strength and competitive advantage.

Call for Proposals Opens for REDI Contestable Program

Based on the gaps identified in the MTPConnect REDI Program Skills Gap Analysis Interim Report around clinical development, research translation and commercialisation, MTPConnect launched the REDI Contestable program of new education and training initiatives to close some of the priority skills gaps. This focus is expected to unlock significant value for the MTP sector within the next 12–18 months, as the sector takes advantage of the post-pandemic growth opportunities. Applications close 15 December 2020.

GSK Australia Joins REDI

We welcomed a new REDI partner, GSK Australia, who’ve established a new industry placement program for PhD graduates. The program’s objective is to facilitate the cross pollination of scientific, academic research expertise with real-world experiences in a research-intensive pharmaceutical company.

‘Show Me the Money’: Tips for Writing Successful Commercialisation Applications

If you’re interested in securing commercialisation funding, check out our November Seminar Series webinar ‘Show Me the Money: Tips for Preparing Successful Commercialisation Funding Applications’. The session is available as an episode of the MTPConnect podcast series or as a video on-demand. We heard from experts in the field of reviewing and writing funding applications, including gemaker Communications Specialist Rebecca Colless, BioComm Squared CEO Dr Andy Gearing, UWA Director Biomedical Innovation Professor Kevin Pfleger and MTPConnect MD & CEO Dr Dan Gran. The event was hosted by MTPConnect's Director Stakeholder Engagement WA Dr Tracey Wilkinson.

Accelerating Research in Genomics

MTPConnect has backed the establishment of Australia’s first industry-led Industry Genomics Network Alliance (InGeNA), a consortium of 13 founding members led by the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH). We’ve established InGeNA as part of our Growth Centre project fund, to unlock the potential of Australia’s genomics and precision medicine sector to improve health outcomes for all Australians and build a stronger and more diverse industry that can contribute internationally.

Keynote Session at MTAA Cyber Security Forum

MTPConnect sponsored the MTAA’s Cyber Security Forum, where our MD & CEO Dr Dan Grant delivered a keynote address promoting awareness about the cyber security issues affecting the medical technology sector and medical devices. With digital evolution transforming our sector, cyber security needs to be at the heart of everything we do because lives depend on it. You can hear the presentation on our MTPConnect podcast.

Sector Supported Events

We continue to support collaboration throughout the sector with various sponsorships and virtual events. In addition to the MTAA Cyber Security Forum, we also sponsored a panel session at the ACTA Summit on ‘Post COVID: New Approaches to Practice’. Through our REDI initiative we supported the MDPP Alumni Showcase and the ANDHealth Digital Health Masterclass. Our Chair Sue MacLeman presented at the launch of the 2021 BioMelbourne Network Women in Leadership Awards and our Director Stakeholder Engagement QLD Andrew Bowskill presented at the Life Sciences Innovation Export Hub Bootcamp. The MTPConnect WA Hub sponsored the WA Bioengineering Society panel ‘Innovation in Medicine’, the WA Medical Datathon and a panel session at WestTechFest 2020.

Sharing Australian MTP Stories Through Our Podcast

Through our podcast series this month, we shared important stories about efforts to develop Australia’s MTP sector workforce, catching up with our REDI program partners; MDPP and GSK Australia and tackled Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) with the team from Outbreak, talked to disability tech experts and released our November Seminar Series webinar.

Staff Announcements

Our team has grown again this month, with Dr Mana Liao joining us as Director of the TTRA program based in Sydney and Dr Amelia Vom as BTB Project Manager based in Melbourne.