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

08 May 2021

AAMRNet submission to parliamentary inquiry

Dr Dan Grant, representing MTPConnect & AAMRNet, appeared before a parliamentary inquiry to highlight the challenges posed to human health by increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the lack of new antimicrobials coming through the research and development pipeline. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport is inquiring into the approval processes for new drugs and novel medical technologies in Australia. Read more on the submission which called AMR ‘today’s silent pandemic’.

Guest of the Chair Opens

MTPConnect is seeking the next Guest of the Chair to take up a 12-month appointment.

The Guest of The Chair initiative supports the development of Board-ready leaders in the sector, providing an opportunity to join MTPConnect Board meetings and activities to gain experience with the aim of broadening understanding and knowledge of how boards operate, including corporate and not-for-profit governance. Applications close on 15 May.

The 100th Episode of the MTPConnect Podcast Shares Inflazome Success Story

To celebrate the release of the 100th episode of the MTPConnect podcast, a two-part special was created to highlight the story behind Queensland start-up Inflazome, the scientists behind the discovery and the Roche deal that will hopefully commercialise new treatments for inflammation-related diseases. MTPConnect’s Director of Media and Communications Caroline Duell spoke with the co-inventor of the IP behind Inflazome, Professor Kate Schroder who is head of the Inflammasome Laboratory and Director of the Centre for Inflammation and Disease Research at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB). Professor Ian Henderson, the Director of the IMB, joined the discussion. Listen here.

‘Collaboration and Skills Summit: How to maximise virtual partnering meetings!’

With the rise in online events and meetings, MTPConnect organised a Skills Summit for the April seminar series webinar, exploring how start-ups can partner effectively at virtual conferences when seeking new strategic partnerships for funding or collaboration. A panel of industry experts - Johnson & Johnson Innovation’s Kathy Connell, Brandon Capital’s Helga Mikkelsen, SpeeDx’s Colin Denver and Dimerix Limited’s Dr Nina Webster - shared practical advice and first-hand case studies with 90 participants from all areas of the sector.

Supporting the South Australian Innovation Challenge

MTPConnect has thrown its support behind the South Australian Innovation Challenge, an initiative bringing together innovators, researchers and businesses to develop cutting-edge products in the health, ageing and disability sectors, to create early market advantage and growth opportunities for South Australian businesses. With $1 million committed from the Government of South Australia, the Challenge aims to propel economic growth in South Australia. Successful applicants will be announced later in 2021.

2021 Australian Technologies Competition

The 2021 Australian Technologies Competition is open for applications, calling for scaleups with global potential to showcase technology that solves the challenges of our times – health, supply chains, food security, climate change, energy, emergencies and more. MTPConnect is once again supporting this national competition and late-stage accelerator that celebrates the achievements of Australian start-ups and small companies in all areas of innovation. To find out more about the experience, the MTPConnect Podcast caught up with last year’s winner, Electrogenics Laboratories based in NSW. The company won the ‘Australian Technology Company of the Year’ and also took out the ‘Medtech and Pharma Award’, for developing MOSkin, the world’s most advanced and cost-effective medical radiation sensor technology, which was originally created at University of Wollongong. Entries are open until 24 May.

AI platform improving health outcomes for patients with chronic illness in rural South Australia

A digital platform that uses artificial intelligence for chronic disease clinical decision support is bringing a new model of care to cardiac patients in rural areas with support from our Growth Centre Project Fund. South Australia's iCCnet (Integrated Cardiovascular Clinical Network SA) has deployed a telehealth home-monitoring program throughout remote and rural parts of the state for those living with cardiovascular conditions and other chronic illnesses. Read our latest case study

BTB News: Dimerix Prepares to Join COVID-19 Pneumonia Study Across Europe

In October 2020, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Dimerix was awarded BTB funding to support development and clinical evaluation of DMX-200, a new treatment for respiratory complications resulting from COVID-19. The drug candidate was selected for inclusion in the global REMAP CAP study for patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19.

In April, the company announced it was ready to commence the REMAP-CAP clinical trial study, with finished product to support the study available and ready for recruitment throughout Europe.

BTB News: Starpharma’s VIRALEZE Spray Lands in UK

With support from MTPConnect’s BTB program, Melbourne-based biotech Starpharma has launched its antiviral nasal spray VIRALEZE™ into the UK via a large national pharmacy chain to support COVID-19 efforts. The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported that Starpharma is the first ASX-listed company to bring a COVID-19 preventative product to the global retail market.

Invitation to new report launch: ‘Clinical Trials in Australia’

To mark International Clinical Trials Day in May we’ll be launching an important new report on Australia’s clinical trials ecosystem. The report will be unveiled at a special fact-to-face event featuring sector experts at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre prior to the start of ACTA’s Clinical Trials 2021: National Tribute and Award Ceremony. Register to join the celebrations on Thursday 20 May at 3:00pm AEST in Melbourne or sign-up for the live webcast.