Message from the CEO

Welcome to MTPConnect’s eighth year of operation. Every year we build upon more connections and successes as we leverage funding to drive better commercialisation of new medical innovations and do more to create our future workforce. And this year will be no different.

Our Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) initiative for diabetes and cardiovascular disease has just opened its third funding round for projects that address the unmet health and medical needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We have been guided by the Lowitja Institute and members of the TTRA Indigenous Advisory Group in priority setting to ensure the funding will have the greatest impact. Join our information session on the 6 February to find out more and mark your calendar to submit applications by 28 April 2023.

Some great events are coming up in February. Our WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub will be holding its first Spotlight event on 23 February 2023 and partnering with WA AustCyber Innovation Hub to discuss the hot topic of cyber security – register to attend the afternoon event.

Our Adelaide Intermediary Program kicks off a new SA Insights Series featuring BioCina, which will be hosted at their Thebarton cGMP manufacturing facility on 16 February 2023 at 5:30pm. The ‘behind the scenes guided tour’ is already booked out, so make sure you register to join the fireside chat led by Stephanie Morris, Director of Innovation and Translation with our Adelaide team.

In March, we are taking part in an exciting event in Canberra aimed at linking biotech sector expertise with defence and national security priorities. The event will bring together members of the SABRE - Safeguarding Australia through Biotechnology Response and Engagement – alliance with a focus on biotech solutions for key national security and defence challenges. Our sector has much to offer so we’re calling on research and industry experts to join us for the half-day event. If you are a leader in biotechnology, human health, genomics, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, agriculture, advanced manufacturing or biosecurity, please register your interest in this special event, which follows the Science Meets Parliament 2023 conference, which MTPConnect is also supporting.

The MTPConnect Podcast is launching into its fifth season so look out for the first episode coming soon, featuring US-based digital health expert and venture capital advisor Lisa Suennen. Our podcast has attracted listeners in over 70 countries and we are excited to bring you more great stories from the movers and shakers in the sector.

We also published our 2022 Annual Report late last year, so if you missed it, take a look. It’s full of interesting snapshots of many of the 184 projects we are supporting through the $141 million we’ve so far invested into the sector. And as we kick off our eighth year, it also details how MTPConnect has contributed to $1.3 billion flowing into Australia’s MTP sector, for an overall economic impact of more than $5 billion.

Looking to the year ahead, we will be building our involvement in international activities with key international partners to help Australian companies tap into new markets and global supply chains. So I am delighted to welcome Tamlyn O’Connor to the team 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.  

Check out the events, opportunities and news below and we look forward to connecting with you this year.

Kind regards,

Stuart Dignam
Chief Executive Officer 

MTPConnect & Industry News

MTPConnect Opens $6M Round Targeting Projects to Benefit Indigenous Australians Living with Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
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. Join the Information Session on 6 February 2023, read the Round 3 guidelines, and apply on our website! Closes 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. Read more.

SA Insights Series 2023: In Conversation With BioCina
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. On 16 February 2023, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM ACDT. Register now 

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

The Prime Minister’s Prizes For Science Nominations Open
Nominations are now open for the 2023 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. The Prizes recognise accomplishments in scientific research, research-based innovation and science teaching. Help uncover the outstanding achievers in your community by nominating them today!   Nominations close at 5:00 pm AEDT, 9 February 2023. Learn more about the Prizes, and previous recipients.

AMR Awareness Australia Tour – March 2023
Join Australia's mission against superbugs with the Australian premiere of the internationally acclaimed documentary, Salt in my Soul, followed by an interactive discussion with US AMR influencer, Diane Shader Smith, CARB-X's Chief Scientist Richard Alm, and the Australian scientists, clinicians and policy makers at the coalface of antimicrobial resistance. The film is a posthumously published memoir-turned-documentary of Mallory Smith, through her battle with resistant infections as a cystic fibrosis patient. Events being organised by AAMRNet member Lixa will take place in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney in March – check the dates for your city and grab tickets at www.AMRAustralia.com. Other sponsors and supporters include Phage Australia, Health Security Systems Australia - a division of DMTC Ltd, Wrays | Intellectual Property and UQ Institute for Molecular Bioscience.

Healthcare Start-Ups Summit Pitchfest
In partnership with Zoom and ANDHealth, the Australian Healthcare Week 2023 (15-16 March, ICC Sydney) brings to you the AHW Startups Zone, offering an exclusive opportunity for early stage healthcare startups and entrepreneural clinicans to educate 6000+ health care & aged care professionals about your innovative business and the real problems you help to solve. Click here to find out more about how you can get involved at Australia’s largest health care expo.

Sector Snapshot

• Congratulations to those in our sector who received Australia Day Honours for their contribution to the Australian health and medical sector - including TTRA awardees, Professor Clara Chow (Director of ASHRA) and Professor Gemma Figtree (President Australian Cardiovascular Alliance and TTRA Round 2 awardee),  Distinguished Professor Lyn Griffiths (Director of Bridge and BridgeTech Programs) and Professor Melissa Little (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Chair of the expert advisory panel for the Australian Stem Cell Therapies Mission). See the full honours list
• The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) will fund Australian medtech manufacturer Vaxxas to advance the development of its high-density microarray patch for mRNA vaccines. Their partnership agreement will help to advance the development of Vaxxas’ needle-free vaccine-patch delivery technology in a project that could end the need for frozen storage of mRNA vaccines.
• Congratulations to BMTH-awardee, Synchron, who has published a paper in JAMA Neurology this month, reporting on long term (12 month) data in the first four Stentrode™ implants - a software interface - on BCI participants in The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne. Part of BMTH funding supported the clinical trial and development of the device
• Congratulations to VivaZome who were awarded an Australian Government Round 13 CRC-P grant of $3M in support of the 3-year project “Customised exosomes – the future of regenerative medicine”. Joining VivaZome iare five exceptional Australian project partners – La Trobe University, The University of Queensland, Australian National University, Cytiva and SeerPharma
• ANFF-C Gate 2 funding has been awarded to Latrobe University’s Prof. Brian Abbey to commercialise the multi-award-winning NanoMslide technology
• Congratulations to Australian medical technology company LBT Innovations Limited, who has partnered with AstraZeneca and Thermo Fisher to speed up the development of its APAS AI software platform for microbial testing in the pharmaceutical sector
• Neuromersiv's Ulysses VR-based upper limb therapy software has now been successfully registered with Australia's TGA and UK Medicine & Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency (MHRA) allowing it to be commercially placed in both markets for stroke and acquired brain injury rehabilitation applications. Their technologies have received funding from MTPConnect's Biomedtech Horizon (BMTH) program
• GlyTherix, an Australian immuno-oncology, and Danish biotech company, Adcendo, announced an agreement for development of an antibody drug conjugate. GlyTherix CEO, Dr Brad Walsh, was a recent guest of the MTPConnect Podcast
• Dimerix, a biopharmaceutical company with late-stage clinical assets in inflammatory diseases, has announced that the US FDA has confirmed inclusion of paediatric patients in its Action3 study of DMX-200 for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
• Read the BTB Impact Report  summarising the progress and impact of 21 projects that have now completed MTPConnect's BTB program
• Read the MTPConnect 2022 Annual Report 
• Read the MTPConnect report commissioned by the TGA on 'Cell, Gene and Tissue Regulatory Framework in Australia: Stakeholder Perspectives', developed in collaboration with Evohealth
• Take a look at MTPConnect's 2022 Sector Competitiveness Plan

Sector Opportunities

• Nominate scientists and innovators for The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science - Science Prizes before 9 February 2023. 

• ​​​​​Applications for NSW Health's Medical Devices Fund, a competitive technology development and commercialisation program, for round 11 are now open. Applications close 3 April 2023

• CARB-X has announced new funding rounds for three product themes: Oral therapeutics, Vaccines for neonatal sepsis and Gonorrhea products. Watch the 40 min video to find out more! Submit EOIs from 17 April to 1 May 2023 

• Round 15 of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) is now open supporting collaborative, cutting-edge research projects in priority areas. With $6M available, Australian researchers can apply for grants of up to $1 million for projects. Applications close 15 March 2023

• CRC-P Round 14 funding is now open for short-term, industry-led research collaborations. Open to all industry sectors, with a focus on supporting projects in line with Government priorities, including the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) priority areas  and the Science and Research priorities. Applications close 2 March 2023 - find out more at the information session on 7 February 2023.

• Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) grants – Round 24 is now open, with funding for medium to long-term, industry-led research collaborations. View the website for various closing dates and join the info session on 8 February 2023

• NSW Health's Early-Mid Career (EMC) Grants Round 5 has opened focusing on microbiomics, to support the development of a pipeline of researchers ready to excel and produce innovative research in this field. Applications close 15 February 2023

• NSW Health's PhD Program Round 5: Biotechnology Industry Partnerships is now open. The Program supports the recruitment of PhD candidates to undertake innovative research projects in biotechnology in conjunction with an industry partner. Applications close 15 February 2023

• JPIAMR is launching an international call for projects within the framework of the ERA-NET JPIAMR-ACTION. The call  for development of innovative strategies, tools, technologies, and methods for diagnostics and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance involves 23 funders from 19 countries with a call budget of €19.1M. Pre-proposals due by 7 March 2023, full proposals due by 4 July 2023.

• Have your say in shaping the design of the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund. It will provide finance for projects that diversify and transform Australia’s industry and economy. Submissions close 3 February 2023

• ATSE has launched IMNIS Ignite, a new postgraduate internship program connecting industry-ready IMNIS Engage alumni with industry-based internships at host organisations. Register your interest

• The NSW government and Cicada Innovations are providing nationwide access to free online commercialisation training, 'NSW Deep Tech Commercialisation Program: Foundations'. Register!

• The successful and long-running Minimum Viable Product (MVP) grant has been expanded. MVP Ventures is one of a suite of initiatives funded by the NSW Government under the Future Economy Fund’s Commercialisation Pathways Program, to drive commercialisation success in NSW. Applications close 1 December 2026

• The Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer's NSW Biosciences Fund (BioSF) is now open for round one! The Biosciences Fund (BioSF) is a $40 million (providing up to $10 million each year) competitive technology development and commercialisation grant program, which sits under the Commercialisation Pathways Program. Applications close 20 March 2023

• Round 4 ARIIA Grants Program is now open! Seeking applications from organisations who have a project that will contribute to the betterment of the aged care sector through improved service delivery, adoption of technology and quality of care, and can address one of ARIIA’s aged care sector priorities. Applications close 17 February 2023

• Expressions of interest are now open for the UNSW's SynBio 10x accelerator for 2023 - for any SynBio start-up in Australia that harnesses entrepreneurial experience and R&D capabilities to accelerate SynBio or Biotech product development and commercialisation

• Get nominating for the BioMelbourne Network Women in Leadership Awards.  The awards acknowledge leadership and commitment to drive change and impact in the health industry. Nominations close 15 February 2023.

• Do you have a great idea for a medical or assistive device and need R&D assistance? Connect with MDPP - supported by REDI

• Subscribe to gemaker's Monthly Insights newsletter for researchers, inventors and innovative businesses

• List your medtech organisation on MDPP's online Capability Directory

• Report a Trade Barrier through the Trade Barriers Register

REDI Skills Gap Training and Development Programs on Offer

MTPConnect’s Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) Initiative, launched in 2020, now boasts 20 industry partners and supports more than 40 training programs to plug the capacity, capability and experience gaps identified in the MTPConnect REDI Skills Gaps Analysis Reports. The programs listed below, are also featured in a courses brochure and online. 

Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chain

• SeerPharma Quality Management System (QMS) Primer – Is a wholly online, self-paced course providing an overview of quality management systems, their benefits and what you need to consider before implementation. Now until 28 February 2023 (virtual)

•  SeerPharma ISO 9001:2015 Workshop – Online (4-8 March 2023)

• SeerPharma ISO 13485:2016 Workshop –  Melbourne (20-23 February 2023),  Sydney (13-14 February 2023), Online (27, 28, 30, 31 March 2023)

• SeerPharma GLP Workshop –  Online (20-22 March 2023)

• Centre for Biopharmaceutical Excellence (CBE) GMP training courses:

• REDI Supported Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Training, GMP Uplift CBE’s GMP Uplift Programs have launched, and our first cohorts of participants are getting ready to finish and graduate. Register now.
  
  Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Uplift – Essential Program: a 5-day equivalent training program for new entrants into GMP related roles for those involved in human health.  More about the Essentials program.
  
  CBE’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Uplift – Advanced Program: a wholly online series of self-paced learning courses coupled with facilitated webinars from CBE subject matter experts. Read more about the  Advanced Program.

Business Operations

• Life Sciences WA - Investment Series – open to all investors seeking to increase their knowledge of this growing sector. Register your interest

Clinical Trials

• ARCS Foundations Bootcamp - Essentials of clinical trial design for non-clinical trial specialists) - Medical Devices or Medicines. Designed for Australian MTP start-ups and SMEs developing medical devices or medicines. These bootcamps will provide practical education on incorporating regulatory and reimbursement needs for both domestic and international markets into the development plans to facilitate potential earlier market access of medical devices and medicines. Register your interest. Melbourne (2-9 February 2023),  Brisbane (2-10 March 2023)
• ARCS Grow Program (CRA training program). Register your interest
• The PRAXIS Australia Clinical Trials Coordinator (CTC) Internship Program aims to equip new CTCs with the skills needed in Australia’s clinical trials landscape through leading-edge training. Interns will receive a stipend to assist with living expenses for the duration of the program. Apply via PRAXIS Australia website

Health Data and Cybersecurity

• intelliHQ AI in Healthcare Training Program  – Course 1 & Course 2 Register your interest!

Product Development and Commercialisation Skills

• Biointelect - The Venturer training program – one day program designed for those looking to leverage external funding to accelerate commercialisation of their solution or technology Happening in Adelaide (14 Feb), Melbourne (9th March), Perth (23 March), Sydney (6 April), Brisbane (20 April)
• The Bridge Program 2023 – Suited to mid-career professionals from a pharmaceutical biotech background looking to expand their commercialisation knowledge and networks. (Applications close 28 February 2023)
• BRIGHT Ideate and Innovate workshops from ANDHealth coming soon! Keep an eye out for details and registration information
• MedTech Accelerator program is designed to provide start-ups and entrepreneurs in the medical technology industry with the resources and support they need to bring their innovative products and services to market. Apply by 3 March 2023 and be part of the cutting-edge community of MedTech innovators and leaders.

Events​

• 1 February 2023 - BNE | German-Australian Medtech Cooperations in Queensland, German-Australian Chamber of Industry (Herston, QLD)
• 6 February 2023 - TTRA Information Session - Funding call for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Research Projects Round 3, MTPConnect (Online)
• 6 February 2023 - BioTechGate Partnering Series  (Online)
• 7 February 2023 - 2023 mRNA Lecture Series - Lecture 1, mRNA & BioMelbourne Network (join waitlist)  (Melbourne)
• 7 February 2023  - CRC-P Round 14 Information Session, Cooperative Research Australia (online)
• 8 February 2023 -  CRC Round 24 Information Session, Cooperative Research Australia (online)
• 14 - 16 February 2023 - STEMfest, Techgirls movement (Sydney)
• 15 February 2023 - Cancer cells on the move: 3D bioprinting and tracking cell movement, Inventia Life Science (Online)
• 16 February 2023 - SA Insights Series with BioCina: Leading competitive biomanufacturing solutions, MTPConnect Adelaide Intermediary Program (Thebarton, SA)
• 17 February 2023 - ACADI Monthly Seminar Series: Investigating Diabetes Care in the Hospital, The Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI) (Online)
• 23 February 2023 - WA MTP Sector Spotlight Series: Cyber Security, MTPConnect (Nedlands, WA)
• 7 - 9 March 2023 - Science Meets Parliament 2023, Science and Technology Australia (Canberra) (online)
• 15-16 March 2023 - Australian Healthcare Week 2023, (Sydney)
• 16 March 2023 - AHW Startups Zone and Pitchfest, (Sydney)
• 21 March 2023 - 2023 mRNA Lecture Series - Lecture 2, mRNA & BioMelbourne Network (Melbourne)
• 22 March 2023 - Science Meets Parliament On The Hill at Parliament House and National Press Club Address, Science and Technology Australia (Canberra) 
• 23 March 2023 - Building the SABRE biosecurity Alliance, Science Meets Parliament (Canberra)
• 2 May 2023 - 2023 mRNA Lecture Series - Lecture 3, mRNA & BioMelbourne Network (Melbourne)
• 10 - 12 May 2023 - BioKorea 2023 (Seoul, South Korea)
• 24-25 May 2023 - AusMedtech 2023, AusBiotech (Adelaide) 
• 6 June 2023 - 2023 mRNA Lecture Series - Lecture 4, mRNA & BioMelbourne Network (Melbourne)
• 5 - 8 June 2023 - BIO International Convention, Biotechnology Innovation Org (Boston, USA)
• 6 - 7 June 2023 - Digital Health Festival (Melbourne)
• 6 - 8 June 2023 - ARCS Annual Conference 2023 - Abstracts open, ARCS (Sydney)
• 27 - 30 July 2023 - BIOAsia - Taiwan (Taiwan)
• 9 - 11 October 2023 - The MedTech Conference (Anaheim, USA)
• 30 October 2023 - AusBioInvest 2023, AusBiotech (Melbourne)
• 30 - 31 October 2023 - MTAA MedTech23 Annual Conference, Medical Technology Association of Australia (Sydney) 
• 1 - 3 November 2023 - AusBiotech 2023, AusBiotech (Brisbane) 

To see what industry events are coming up in 2023, visit our events page.

Case Study Showcase - WA: How ‘What the Doctor Said’ Helps Patients After An Emergency Department Visit

It’s early morning and your child is sick with fever. You rush them to the hospital’s emergency department (ED). You’re tired, stressed, and overwhelmed. When your doctor tries to explain what’s happened to your child and how you can best take care of them when they go home, the words go in one exhausted ear and out the other. Until it’s the next morning, and you’re trying to recall, “Wait, what was it the doctor said?”

While working in a busy ED, Dr Sarah Doyle witnessed this situation facing patients and their families every day. It’s a challenge for clinicians to write thorough, personalised home care instructions in language accessible for patients of all backgrounds, especially when you add the extra time pressure of ED care.

Read more about how the What the Doctor Said platform is allowing doctors to create  personalised mobile-accessible home care instructions for their patients.

Sector Profile: Resolutum Global

Resolutum Global is a biometrics CRO based in Melbourne, Australia. They specialize in early phase clinical trials and provide support from protocol development to clinical study report writing using purpose-built systems and processes and provides solutions for data collection, analysis and reporting in clinical trials.

Learn more in our Sector Directory.  

List your organisation on the MTPConnect Sector Directory.