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

11 July 2023

Spotlighting Australia’s Life Science Innovations at BIO 2023

With the BIO conference done and dusted for another year, take a look at a few of the activities in Boston organised to showcase Australia’s fast-growing life sciences sector to drive collaborations, partnerships and investments. We coordinated some special events working closely with Austrade, CSIRO, the governments of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia and AusBiotech to make this happen. And with a powerful Team Australia focus and a 430-strong delegation from Australia, BIO2023 was literally the biggest and best to date!

MTPConnect Tours Sanofi’s Vaccine Centre of Excellence in Boston

During BIO 2023, MTPConnect Chair Hon Jaala Pulford and CEO Stuart Dignam met with the Sanofi’s Global Head of Research and Development Vaccines, Jean-François Toussaint and their team in Boston for a tour of the cutting-edge mRNA vaccine facility and an update on R&D plans for the Translational Science Hub in Queensland. The unique global research and development network will initially focus on the evaluation of a new generation of mRNA vaccines and the development of a world-first chlamydia vaccine.

MTAA Report Reveals Value of MedTech in Australia

The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) recently released the Value of Medtech Report to showcase the value of medical technology in Australia along the whole value chain, from idea to patient. The report was launched by the Minister for Health and Aged Care Hon Mark Butler at the Medtech on the Hill event at Parliament House, Canberra in early June and MTPConnect CEO Stuart Dignam and MTPConnect Director Stakeholder Engagement NSW and VIC Dr Duncan Macinnis were in attendance. The report is a major economic study prepared by Nous Group with support from MTPConnect. Download it now!

New Podcast Episodes

Check out this month's new episodes which feature medical innovations being supported by MTPConnect’s Clinical Translation and Commercialisation Medtech Program. Find out how Navi Medical’s breakthrough smart catheter is delivering better care for critically ill children. And we talk about diversity and human augmentation with ARIA Research who will soon be trialling their breakthrough bionic vision system delivering a sense of vision via sound (echolocation) for people who are blind or have low vision.

REDI News: New Bridge and BridgeTech Industry Fellowships Announced

Twenty leading pharmaceutical and medtech researchers from around Australia have been awarded short-term industry placements to further their commercialisation skills via the fourth round of the Bridge and BridgeTech Industry Fellowships Program, facilitated by QUT and supported by MTPConnect's REDI initiative. Find out who the fellowship recipients are!

Australian Technologies Competition Announces Semi Finalists

Congratulations to the 32 semi finalists shortlisted in the ATC2023 - including the following five companies in the Medtech and Pharma category, which is sponsored by MTPConnect - Personify Care, Nutromics, Fluger, ARIA Research and Alcolizer Technology. As part of the Competition, semi-finalists are invited to an exclusive two-day International Growth Masterclass and Networking Program held in Sydney in July, before the second round of judging takes place. Follow the competition here...

Medical Entrepreneurs Join Together

Are you a clinician wanting to transform healthcare through innovation - join the Australian Society for Medical Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Founded by Dr Brandon Carp and backed by a committee of 'medical entrepreneurs' with diverse skills and backgrounds, it's a home created for doctors & other healthcare professionals to connect with medical entrepreneurs & innovators. Check out all the details on their website, follow on LinkedIn and join as a member for free! MTPConnect's REDI initiative is providing set up support and seed funding to ASME.

WA MTP Sector Spotlight Series July: Purpose Ventures

Do you want insights into what makes a venture fund tick? Are you a founder looking for an investor? Our next Perth-based event on 19 July will feature Derek Gerrard and Kylie Gerrard, co-founders and directors of Purpose Ventures. Hosted by the WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, this is an opportunity to learn about WA’s newest venture fund – which has raised nearly $40M from WA investors – and what investments it is looking to make with founders & startups. Register now!

SA Insights Series July: Featuring GPN Vaccines

Join Jo Close, Director of the Adelaide Intermediary Program, as she hosts MTPConnect's SA Insights Series for July. Jo will be chatting on the couch with GPN Vaccines Chairman and CEO, Dr Tim Hurst, and Director of Research Operations, Dr Eve Kennedy. GPN Vaccines is leading the race to develop the world's first broad spectrum streptococcal vaccine. Find out about how local technology, manufacturing and clinical trials are addressing a major global challenge. Register now!

June Case Study - Innovative device set to improve treatment for Parkinson’s disease

In collaboration with the Bionics Institute and international partners, DBS Technologies is developing advanced techniques to harness unique brain signals to advance electroceutical therapies across a broad range of neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease. The company was awarded $1 million in matched funding from MTPConnect’s Biomedical Translation Bridge (BTB) program (an MRFF initiative) to develop an innovative deep brain stimulation device called ASTUTE: Adaptive Stimulation Technique Upgrading Therapeutic Efficacy. Through the program, the company was supported by venture partner, the Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP), to help it produce the first prototype ASTUTE system for initial clinical trials, and pave the way for better treatment outcomes for people with Parkinson’s disease. Read more about this project!

CTCM Program Update

Dr Andionne (Didi) Parlade has been appointed Project Manager with our Clinical Translation and Commercialisation Medtech (CTCM) program to support post-award activities. Congratulations Didi. And CTCM Senior Program Manager Michelle Lam will be commencing parental leave on Monday 12 June, returning to work in early 2024. We wish Michelle all the very best for this new chapter with her family.

Career Opportunity with MTPConnect's Adelaide Intermediary Program

Join our dynamic Adelaide Intermediary Program team as the Administration and Events Officer and help us connect and empower South Australia’s health & medical innovation ecosystem. Find out more on our website and apply by 14 July 2023.