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

09 February 2023

TTRA Opens $6M Indigenous Funding Round
MTPConnect’s Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) program has opened a new funding round to support diabetes and cardiovascular disease research projects that address the unmet health and medical needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural, remote, regional, and urban centres. An information session webinar was held on 6 February 2023 and this is now available as a video on-demand via our website. Applications close 28 April 2023.

‘Australia Open for Business’ at Biotech Showcase in San Francisco
Our CEO Stuart Dignam joined colleagues from across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region at the Biotech Showcase, an investor conference for innovators, held in parallel with the J.P. Morgan Health Conference in San Francisco, US. Stuart was part of the panel session, ‘Innovation in the Asia Pacific Region: Great Science, Great Research, Great Possibilities’. He was joined by Art Pappas, Managing Partner, Pappas Capital; Zili Li, Vice-President, Head of Asia Pacific Division, Janssen Research & Development LLC; Jung Tae Park, Vice Chairman, Korea Biomedicine Industry Association; and Professor Sze-Wee Tan, Assistant Chief Executive, Innovation & Enterprise Group, Agency for Science & Technology Research (A*STAR).

Calling All Innovators for the WA Challenge
The Government of Western Australia has launched The Challenge, a global call for a medical research and innovation solution to reimagine health service delivery in the Pilbara region of WA. The best solution will win a $5M prize, supported by keystone partners Rio Tino, BHP and the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund. Submissions are encouraged from industry, private sector, public sector agencies, universities, research institutes or collaborations from around the world. The WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub is holding

SA Insights Series 2023: In Conversation with BioCina
This month, the Adelaide Intermediary Program announced its first SA Insights event for 2023. Discover the evolution of a multi-product SA-based CDMO delivering manufacturing solutions to biopharmas worldwide with our Stephanie Morris, Director of Innovation & Translation, Adelaide Intermediary Program, in a fireside chat with BioCina CEO, Ian Wisenberg, and Vice President and General Manager Michael Tsaconas at their operating site. Register for the event on 16 February 2023, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM ACDT.

Cyber Security Kicks Off the First WA Spotlight For 2023
WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub announced its first WA MTP Sector Spotlight event for 2023, which will be delivered in partnership with the WA AustCyber Innovation Hub focusing on the hot topic of cyber security. Register for this event which will be held at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands on Thursday 23 February 2023 4:30 pm-6:00 pm AWST.

MTPConnect Lends Its Support for SABRE Alliance Event Following Science Meets Parliament
We are taking part in an exciting SABRE Alliance event in Canberra on Thursday 23 March, following Science Meets Parliament 2023 conference. And we are calling on research and industry experts to join us for a half-day focusing on biotech solutions for national security issues. Our Chair Sue MacLeman will be speaking on the opening panel to set the scene for the day’s discussions. Expressions of interest to participate in the event can be submitted via this site.

Welcoming New Members to the MTPConnect Team
We welcomed two new members to the MTPConnect fold in January. Tamlyn O’Conner joins us as International Markets and Engagement Manager, based in Brisbane. Tamlyn joins us from Johnson & Johnson’s Innovation Partnering Office in Queensland and will help coordinate MTPConnect’s international engagement activities. And in Adelaide, Parth Gohil joins the Adelaide Intermediary Team, taking up a 3-month internship.