In Case You Missed It: Here's What The MTPConnect Team Has Been Up To in February
08 March 2021
Pictured: MTPConnect Director Stakeholder Engagement WA Dr Tracey Wilkinson with Orthocell Chair Stewart Washer at the inaugural WA MTP Sector Spotlight Series at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Perth.
Major Funding Boost for Australian Manufacturing
This month the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, The Hon. Karen Andrews MP announced that funding is available for Medical Products manufacturing under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) on a co-investment basis, with grant sizes starting from $1 million in two streams – Translation and Integration. Applications close on 29 March 2021. The Minister also released the Medical Products roadmap which builds on existing sector plans and government policies, including MTPConnect’s Sector Competitiveness Plan. It’s an opportunity for our sector to step-up and secure funding to boost unique manufacturing capabilities.
Rolling out the TTRA Programs
MTPConnect closed the first round of TTRA Research Projects funding ($18 million to be allocated with $6 million available in this round) for expressions of interest. Two new Research Centres ($20 million to be allocated) EOIs close 15 March 2021.
WA Shines in First Sector Spotlight Series
The MTPConnect WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub hosted its first MTP Sector Spotlight Series with a sell-out crowd turning up to hear from Orthocell Chair Stewart Washer (pictured above). MTPConnect’s monthly breakfast event is held at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and aims to connect the sector to opportunities and the experiences of WA organisations developing health and medical innovations.
Funding Boost for Cardiovascular Device Clinical Trials
Through our Industry Growth Centre Project Fund Program we were pleased to announce funding support for a new effort to boost Australia’s involvement in clinical trials for research into cardiovascular devices. The Cardiovascular Device Clinical Trials Collaborative Project is led by the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA) with funding from leading industry partners including the Charles Perkins Centre - The University of Sydney and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
BTB News: Starpharma Nasal Spray Registered in Europe Supports COVID-19 Response
With development and commercialisation funding support provided by MTPConnect, Starpharma (ASX: SPL, OTCQX: SPHRY) announced this month, it had received confirmation that its VIRALEZE™ antiviral nasal spray for protection against COVID-19 has been successfully registered for sale in Europe, including in the UK. Starpharma received $1 million in funding in 2020 through MTPConnect’s Biomedical Translation Bridge (BTB) program for the development of the antiviral nasal spray, which has been shown in laboratory studies to inactivate a broad spectrum of respiratory viruses, including more than 99.9% of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Download the ‘Adaptive Regulation for Digital Health’ Report
For companies developing digital health technologies regulated as medical devices, check out our latest report ‘Adaptive Regulation for Digital Health’. This report examines how digital health industry stakeholders are engaging with the Australian therapeutic goods regulatory framework, using case studies to highlight the rapid and diverse development pathways for digital medical devices in Australia. And since new TGA rules came into effect in February 2021 relating to the regulation of software-based medical devices, the report is critical reading for start-ups and innovators developing digital health technologies.
How Ellume Health’s COVID-19 Test Broke into the US Market
In a recent podcast episode, we spoke to Founder and CEO Dr Sean Parsons from Brisbane-based Ellume Health for the full story behind developing the first COVID-19 Home Test to receive US Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorisation. Ellume has signed a $US300 million (AU$385 million) million deal with the US Government to supply the over-the-counter diagnostic - and ramping-up Australian manufacturing will be critical to meeting demand. To find out listen to the full interview here.
Showcasing Innovation Through the MTPConnect Podcast
Our weekly podcast series has featured the stories of Ellume Health, the MedTeCCH network out of Newcastle NSW, regenerative medicine company Orthocell and the February Seminar Series Webinar on Round 11 of CRC-P Grants.
Case Study: Connecting the Australian Medical Devices Sector to Fast-Track New Technology
What began as an ideas incubator for the South Australian medtech sector has expanded nationally - setting a new benchmark for the translation of medical device technology in Australia. Read more about the award-winning Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) in our latest case study.