REDI: Announcing New Targeted Training to Boost Medical Product Commercialisation

12 May 2022

Continuing the REDI initiative’s commitment to addressing workforce skills gaps, five consortia have been awarded contracts through Round Three of the Contestable program to deliver training and education programs – ARCS Australia Consortium, PRAXIS Australia Consortium, IntelliHQ Consortium, Centre for Biopharmaceutical Excellence Consortium and Wrays Consortium.

A range of new training programs aim to address priority workforce skills gaps identified in MTPConnect’s Skills Gap reports, including the clinical trials sector, big data analytics and AI technologies, Good Manufacturing Practices and biomedical commercialisation competencies.

MTPConnect CEO, Mr Stuart Dignam, says bringing five high profile consortia to the REDI initiative boosts efforts to address workforce skills gaps.

“We are excited to welcome five high profile consortia to the REDI initiative which are collaborating to deliver world class training and skills programs to support the development of our talented MTP sector workforce around Australia. The consortia are collaborating with industry in the deployment of these programs which maximises the impact of this investment,” Mr Dignam said.

About the REDI Round Three Training Providers

1. ARCS Australia Consortium: ARCS GROW Program

ARCS Grow Program addresses the well documented shortage of Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) in the clinical research sector and involves a CRA “traineeship” program a CRA Supervisor Train-the-trainer program and a competency framework for CRAs.

CEO ARCS Australia, Dr Shanny Dyer, said: “It is well documented that there are skills gaps and workforce shortages for the sector, with companies telling us that they need more and better qualified CRAs. With this REDI funding, we are particularly excited we can put in place a competency framework for the profession which is one of the recommendations from a recent ARCS summit.”

ARCS Australia is a national, membership-based organisation focused on the development and growth of the MTP sector. ARCS provides education, career pathways, professional development and advocacy. ARCS is partnering with a consortium of highly experienced organisations, who have extensive networks and experience in delivering training. Consortium Partners include PRAXIS Australia, BeiGene Australia, Novotech, Southern Star Research and Mobius Medical.

2. PRAXIS Australia Consortium: The Clinical Trials Coordinator (CTC) Internship Program

This highly selective program offers an immersive, flexible, competency-based training model that will support 15 interns over a 10-month timeframe, commencing in January 2023 and will include host organisations from across metropolitan and regional Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

CEO, PRAXIS Australia, Ms Sally Armstrong, said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with our partners on this pivotal program that will help build the capacity and capability of the clinical trials workforce in Australia.”

PRAXIS Australia is a leading education and training provider that help builds the capability and capacity of the clinical trials, research and ethics sectors. The CTC internship program will be undertaken by a consortium of 7 strategically aligned partners who work across the Australian clinical trials ecosystem, and includes representation from research, academia, peak industry bodies, health care, and education and training sectors. PRAXIS Australia and consortium partners include: ARCS Australia (ARCS), The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), The University Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), The George Institute for Global Health(TGI), Maridulu Budyari Gumal SPHERE and Sydney Health Partners (SHP).

3. IntelliHQ Consortium: National Big Data Analytics and AI training program for Australian Healthcare Leaders, Clinicians, Nurses, Researchers and Scientists:

This training program will expand the big data analysis and AI awareness and skills of healthcare leaders, clinicians, nurses and researchers through engaging and interactive training programs that culminate in  and a medical datathon.

General Manager, IntelliHQ, Dr Stephanie Chaousis, said: “The integration of big data analytics and AI into healthcare is imperative to support the world-class health system of Australia. These digital technologies are already in use in other sectors, but there is a gap between the development of AI technology and its translation into the healthcare system and to the patient bedside. We aim to inspire confidence in the participants of their ability to understand AI and in their use of AI-enabled tools to enhance their day-to-day practice.”

IntelliHQ is a not for profit dedicated to supporting the adoption and translation of next generation AI technologies into Australia’s healthcare system. IntelliHQ and consortium partners (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Gradient Institute, Cohort Innovation Spaces, ANDHealth, Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society, The Queensland AI Hub, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Services, Datarwe, Data Synergies, Servian, St Vincents Hospital Melbourne, The Alfred, UniSA, Bond University & Griffith University) are passionate about upskilling the healthcare and research workforce in big data analytics and AI and supporting the development and implementation of innovative AI technologies to the patient bedside.

4. Centre for Biopharmaceutical Excellence (CBE) Consortium: GMP Uplift Programs

CBE GMP Uplift Programs will provide participants a real-world perspective on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), designed to enable the interpretation and application of GMP in practice. The Programs are for new entrants up to senior experienced professionals, feature leading subject matter experts who will share real-world experiences, and will be delivered nationally.

Director, CBE, Mr Steve Williams, said: “We are very pleased to be part of the REDI initiative grant awards program. CBE and its consortia are excited to uplift GMP-training and standards within the MTP industry in Australia and have created a national program that will provide participants with a practical learning experience. We recognise that COVID has created different learning environment needs and our programs will be flexible in virtual online, virtual facilitated and facilitated face to face formats to cater for this.”

CBE brings strong technical credentials, from consulting and GMP related enterprise training and will lead the Consortium; accompanied by ARCS Australia, Merck Life Sciences Australia and draw on CBE Pure Solutions, Translational Research Institute -TRI) and UTS Biologics Innovation Facility -BIF facilities for hands-on training.

5. Wrays Consortium: The Commercialisation Framework Supporting Biomedical Outcomes

Wrays will create a comprehensive skills-based competency framework across the different stages of the MTP value chain. This will be built on deep experience and expertise across all aspects of the process, to provide a resource for early-stage companies and SMEs to develop, access and/or manage the range of skill sets, while recognising the differences in development pathways required for:

• Therapeutics (which can encompass small molecules, biologics, other); and

• Medical technologies (including devices, software and diagnostics).

CEO, Wrays, Mr Robert Pierce, said: “Wrays is delighted, along with our partners, to be part of this unique consortium. We look forward to sharing our respective skillsets and experiences to commercialise globally successful MTP projects over many years, with emerging talent across Australia.”

Wrays is one of the largest independent intellectual property specialist firms in Australia – bringing together the right combination of experts to protect, grow and defend IP assets locally and globally. Wrays and consortium partners (Yuuwa Capital, QRC Solutions and Biodesign/University of Western Australia) each bring their separate knowledge and experience, which together provides unrivalled depth in training and the commercialisation of therapeutic products.

For more information: The provision of REDI Training and Education programs