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

11 October 2021

Pictured (L-R):  The MTPConnect WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub's Director Stakeholder Engagement WA Dr Tracey Wilkinson, the Deputy Premier of Western Australia The Hon. Roger Cook MLA, and UWA Director Biomedical Innovation Professor Kevin Pfleger at the WA BioSymposium 2021.

Funding injection of $5.2 million for new diabetes and cardiovascular disease research through MTPConnect

The Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, announced $5.2 million of funding for seven diabetes and cardiovascular disease research projects through MTPConnect’s Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) initiative.  The initiative is supporting new research approaches to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and their related complications.

TTRA Opens $6M Funding Opportunity for Round Two Research Projects

Round 2 Expressions of interest are now open for TTRA Research Projects  to provide funding of between $200,000 - $750,000 to help eligible organisations develop innovative preventative, diagnostic, therapeutic and/or disease management products/solutions for 5 new Priority Areas associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. An Information Session webinar will be held on Tuesday 12 October for further information. Applications close 4 November 2021.

$4M Boost for Australian Medtech Research Commercialisation

The Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, announced $4 million in funding for five highly promising medical technology projects across Australia. The funding - which has attracted an additional $5.1 million in industry contributions - comes from the fourth round of the BioMedTech Horizons (BMTH) program, an initiative of the Medical Research Future Fund operated by MTPConnect. This round focused predominantly on the development of pre-commercial prototypes that are entering human clinical trials.

MTPConnect supports WA Biosymposium 2021

MTPConnect supported the Western Australian BioSymposium 2021 hosted by Life Sciences WA in Perth in September. The event provided industry and investors with intimate online access to promising WA life sciences research projects nearing translation and gave entrepreneurs, clinicians and researchers the chance to receive vital feedback and learn about industry sector requirements. The Deputy Premier of Western Australia; Minister for Health; Medical Research, State Development, Jobs and Trade; and Science The Hon. Roger Cook MLA joined the Sundowner event where delegates and presenters gathered.

MTPConnect supports AusBiotech 2021 Conference

In October, MTPConnect will be attending the #AusBiotech 2021 conference themed “Engage, your way”, to be held on 25-29 October in an online and on-demand format. Our Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr Dan Grant will be chairing the panel session “Catalysing regenerative medicine in Australia” on 26 October. Register today! 

IMNIS Industry Mentoring Goes Global with REDI Support

The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) has launched a dynamic new international mentoring program designed to nurture Australia’s future leaders in science, technology, engineering and maths to engage with industry globally. Meet the first five mentees & mentors of IMNIS International, supported by our REDI initiative!

IMNIS REDI Connect Program Selects New Mentees

Ten outstanding REDI Connect PhD students in the job growth areas of regenerative medicine, gene and cell therapy and digital health technologies will be mentored by high-calibre experts to develop their career pathways. Read more about how the group is advancing medical research in new fields of endeavour at IMNIS website

BridgeTech Program Applications Open

The BridgeTech Program is an award-winning professional development program for effectively navigating the medtech commercialisation pathway. It offers specific training on the scientific, legal, financial, clinical, regulatory and reimbursement components of medtech commercialisation, complemented by a series of events, activities and seminars. MTPConnect supports The BridgeTech Program through our Biomedical Translation Bridge Program (BTB) funded by the Australian Government's Medical Research Future Fund. Applications for 2022 are now open - apply by 1 November 2021.

Podcast Meets with Synchron and Explores GSK’s Graduate Researcher Program

New episodes of our popular ‘The MTPConnect Podcast’ we celebrate with Australian company Synchron who has developed a breakthrough medical device to help people with paralysis communicate by controlling digital devices with their thoughts without the need for open brain surgery. The series also connects with the REDI-supported GSK Australia Graduate Researcher Program to see how it is building Industry capabilities and career foundations of Australian researchers.

WA Spotlight on OncoRes Medical

MTPConnect’s Director Stakeholder Engagement WA Dr Tracey Wilkinson was joined by OncoRes Medical’s Chief Operating Officer Dr Simon Graindorge for the September Spotlight event. They discussed OncoRes Medical’s recent breakthrough device designation from the FDA, tips on building a growing medtech company from Perth and what the team has learnt from participating in competitions and accelerator programs.

REDI Case Study: Driving entrepreneurship education to solve global health challenges

MTPConnect’s Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) initiative is supporting Health 10x: a health pre-accelerator and accelerator program run in partnership by The George Institute for Global Health and the University of New South Wales. Medtech start-up MUVi was one of five companies selected to take part and the company shares the highlights of being involved, through this case study.

Regenerative Medicine Catalyst launches two reports

Two important reports were launched by the Regenerative Medicine Catalyst, which is supported by a consortium of seven partners led by AusBiotech, with matched funding through MTPConnect’s Growth Centre Project Fund Program.  The reports benchmark clinical trials and manufacturing landscapes against which to map, build and strengthen our clinical trials and sovereign GMP manufacturing position over time - read more about Australia’s potential to grow the regenerative medicine sector.