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

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15 July 2022

Pictured: CEO Stuart Dignam and Sue MacLeman proudly showcasing the Australian MTP sector at the the Australian Pavilion at Bio 2022.

MTPConnect Supports the Australian Pavilion at BIO 2022 San Diego
The MTPConnect team of Sue MacLeman, CEO Stuart Dignam and Dr Tracey Wilkinson were in San Diego supporting Australian companies at key events and meetings during the Biotechnology Innovation Organisation (BIO) International Convention. MTPConnect joined AusBiotech as co-exhibitor of the Australian pavilion along with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. Our WA team, led by Dr Tracey Wilkinson worked closely with the WA government to support the Western Australian life sciences mission to the United States led by Minister Dawson and WA Chief Scientist Professor Peter Klinken – which included visits to Stryker, Microsoft, University of Arizona’s Simulation Technology Centre and the Spark program at Stanford University.

Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) Showcase
Jo Close, our Director of the Adelaide Intermediary Program (and co-founder of the MDPP) and Deputy Premier Dr Susan Close MP spoke at the MDPP Showcase event at Lot 14’s Stone & Chalk, celebrating the MDPP’s 14th birthday with their Director Professor Karen Reynolds and leaders in the medical device sector.

The REDI Fellowship Program Receives CSIRO Support
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has added its support for our popular and successful REDI Fellowship program by contributing $1 million in a move that will help to create more opportunities for industry engagement, support development of a culture of innovation and drive better commercialisation outcomes for our sector. The program is currently open to provide further grants of up to $250,000 to industry to secure a limited number of fellowships in the medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical (MTP) sector for priority medical research projects involving discovery, translation and commercialisation.

MTPConnect Supports the Australian Technologies Competition Healthtech Category
The Australian Technologies Competition, now in its 12th year, is an internationally recognised national awards and international growth support program for technology scaleups. It comprises a three-stage national competition for sector awards and Australian Technology Company of the Year, high calibre mentoring from successful technology entrepreneurs and senior corporate executives, an International Growth Masterclass and access to partner and investor connection events. MTPConnect is again sponsoring the Healthtech category in partnership with the Department of Science and Industry.

Science Meets Parliament National Gala in Canberra
As part of our sponsorship, MTPConnect Chair Sue MacLeman attended the Science and Technology Australia’s Science Meets Parliament national gala dinner event in Canberra, where the new Minister for Industry and Science Hon Ed Husic MP, made his first public address. To coincide with the Canberra event, the Adelaide Intermediary Program’s Stephanie Morris and Adelaide BioMed City brought together Professor Peter Eastwood, Yvette Van Eenennaam, Greg Johansen and others from the health innovation sector to participate in a dinner held as a satellite event in Adelaide.

Podcasts Highlight BIO 2022 Special and TTRA-Awardee Nirtek
MTPConnect CEO Stuart Dignam hosted a special podcast episode from BIO 2022 in San Diego. He caught up with Australian organisations attending the world’s largest Biotech convention, including ARIA Research and Argenica Therapeautics. Stuart also spoke with Australia’s Ambassador to the USA, Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO about US/Australian collaborations. Another podcast episode featured TTRA-awardee Nirtek on developing the first intra-coronary guidewire device for the detection of unstable plaques to prevent heart attacks, and explains how the TTRA Program is providing valuable funding, and support through the Medical Device Partnering Program.

MTPConnect Supports NSW Innovation Week
Director Stakeholder Engagement NSW & ACT, Dr Duncan Macinnis represented MTPConnect at Innovation Week 2022 organised by the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) where he presented at the Clinical Trials Showcase.

Health Horizon LIVE Feeds Tracking BMTH and WA Innovations
Health Horizon Projects Tracker live feeds have been deployed on our website to keep track of medtech, pharmaceutical and digital health innovation projects. The progress of BioMedTech Horizons-funded (BMTH) projects and all Western Australia-based Life Sciences projects can now be tracked.

REDI Launches Investor Workshops Series

Our REDI initiative has launched three Investor Workshops to demystify investing in healthtech. The free in-person investor-only events will take place in July 2022 in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne.

Bridge Program Symposium

REDI Director Jarrod Belcher welcomed 2022 program participants, 2021 and 2020 alumni to the Bridge Program’s three-day symposium on the Gold Coast in Queensland, to take part in an exciting program of in-depth seminars and real-world case studies delivered by industry leaders, pitching and collaboration activities and networking events.

Case Study: Neurode Wave - changing the way ADHD is treated
Our June case study highlighted Sydney-based company Neurode, who is developing the Neurode Wave, a headset and app designed to improve cognitive performance and treat symptoms for the 1 in 20 Australians affected by ADHD.

Health Translation SA (HTSA) Spotlight Series

Adelaide Intermediary Program’s Jo Close joined speakers at the HSTA Spotlight Series to provide an overview and pathways to gain Medical Research Future Fund funding.

SA Insight Series Launches in South Australia

The Adelaide Intermediary Program launched the SA Insights Series in June with MTPConnect’s Jo Close in conversation with Bank Biome’s CEO Thomas Mitchell and Co-Founder and CMO Sam Costello, discussing the journey from clinician to start-up and the company’s progress.

Adelaide Intermediary Program at Adelaide BioMed City webinar
Jo Close spoke at the June Adelaide Biomed City webinar about how the Adelaide Intermediary Program can help drive health innovation projects.

WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub Spotlights DUG Technology

At WA’s monthly Spotlight event in Perth, DUG Technology’s Colin La Galia and Dr Stuart Midgley spoke with Dr Tracey Wilkinson about how to tap into high-powered computing capabilities and the future of green technology. The popular event is now organised as an in-person event with a virtual registration for those who cannot attend due to COVID restrictions.

Illumina Genomics Summit 2022
Chief Operating Office Lisa Dubé represented MTPConnect at the Illumina Genomics Summit 2022, hearing from genomics thought leaders on how genomics is having a meaningful impact, creating a path toward personalised medicine and inspiring hope worldwide as a key driver for human health. During the event, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s Director Professor Kathryn North acknowledged MTPConnect’s support to create the Industry Genomics Network Alliance InGeNA led by the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH).

ReNEW Launch at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
MTPConnect attended the launch of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Stem Cell Medicine, ReNEW, at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute with State Medical Research Minister Jaala Pulford alongside Murdoch Children’s Director Professor Kathryn

MTPConnect Welcomes New Team Members

In June we welcomed two new team members. Dr Dharmica Mistry was appointed Director of Diagnostics Industry Engagement, based in Sydney and will lead MTPConnect’s Diagnostic Testing Sovereign Capability and Supply Chain Resilience project. Jo Glew was appointed Project Officer, Diagnostics Industry Engagement, based in Perth and will be working with Dharmica.

Growing the Team at MTPConnect

As MTPConnect’s activities continue to expand, we promoted two opportunities to join the team with Project Manager roles in the Diagnostics Industry Engagement team and the REDI Program.