The MTPConnect Podcast

As the world’s largest Biotech convention, BIO 2022, gets underway in San Diego California after a 2 year hiatus due to pandemic restrictions, MTPConnect’s team is on the ground promoting Australian companies at the Australian Pavilion (led by AusBiotech) and attending various events and meetings. In this pacey compilation, MTPConnect CEO Stuart Dignam catches up with the Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC, WA’s Minister for Innovation, ICT and Medical Research on the WA Mission to the US. Stuart talks with ARIA Research CEO and Co-founder Robert Yearsley about the opportunities for connecting at BIO 2022 for their medtech venture. Argenica Therapeutics MD and CEO Dr Liz Dallimore from WA highlights opportunities to meet investors and potential partners as the company moves its novel drug candidate, a neuroprotective therapeutic, towards commercialisation. Distinguished Professor Lyn Griffiths from QUT and Director of the Bridge Program, is in San Diego with nine Australian pitch winners from the Bridge Program (which equips researchers and entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and networks needed to commercialise new pharmaceuticals) who are visiting multinational pharma companies. And finally, Stuart wraps up with a final word from Australia’s Ambassador to the USA, Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO, about Australia being open for business and in the sights of US industry.

It’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2021 and we are shining a light on Australia’s expertise and innovations to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and superbugs.

Joining our podcast host Caroline Duell is MTPConnect’s Director of Stakeholder Engagement for Queensland Andrew Bowskill, who is the co-chair of AAMRNet, Australia’s first industry led, multi-stakeholder Antimicrobial Resistance Network, established and operated by MTPConnect.

We hear from Dr Mark Blaskovich, Associate Professor, The University of Queensland; Director, Centre for Superbug Solutions at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and co-founder of the Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (CO-ADD) at The University of Queensland.

And Dr Alysha Elliott, IMB Research Officer and part of the Cooper Group involved in translation of research for antibacterial drug discovery who leads the CO-ADD microbial team in screening compounds from all over the world to search for the next new antibiotic.

Find out more about CO-ADD's global screening initiative, the challenges of antimicrobial drug discovery, why AMR is a global health threat and how support from CARB-X and other collaborative efforts like the SPARK data sharing initiative is helping to further critical research into finding new antimicrobials, fighting the threat of AMR and the rise of superbugs. This is the first of four episodes specially programmed to coincide with WAAW!

In this episode we take you to our recent Collaboration and Skills Summit where we brought together a panel of industry experts to share their tips and experiences on how to maximise virtual partnering success at biotech conferences and meetings.

You will hear from Dr Nina Webster, the Managing Director & CEO of Dimerix Limited who shares the highs and lows of forming relationships and doing deals online in the age of COVID-19.

If you are seeking new strategic partnerships for funding or collaboration this episode is for you.

The Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) initiative for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, supported by the Medical Research Future Fund, is providing a new integrated research program to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (D&CVD) in Australia. The TTRA is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the second round of the Research Projects opportunity to fund eligible organisations in developing innovative digital health solutions, medical devices, therapeutics and behavioural interventions for D&CVD. This Information Session webinar provides valuable information about the funding application process, priority research areas & includes a Question & Answer segment. Applications close 25 November 2021 (deadline extended)!

Hear from MTPConnect’s team:

Managing Director & CEO - Dr Dan Grant, Senior Director TTRA Program - Lauren Kelly, Director TTRA Program - Dr Mana Liao and Project Manager TTRA Program - Dr Erin McAllum.

You will also hear from our TTRA program partners who will provide mentoring and commercialisation advice to applicants and those receiving funding:

ANDHealth's Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder - Grace Lethlean, MDPP's National Program Manager - Olivia White and UniQuest's Project Manager, TTRA Program - Dr Leigh Ford.

Australian company Synchron has developed a brain chip called the Stentrode that helps people with paralysis communicate by controlling digital devices with their thoughts. The groundbreaking medical device is implanted into the motor cortex without open brain surgery. It has been trialed successfully with several Australian patients and is the first device to be approved by the FDA for a US clinical trial starting later this year. The project is making headlines around the world and is funded through MTPConnect’s BioMedTech Horizons program, an MRFF initiative. We catch up with the founders - Associate Professor Thomas Oxley, Synchron’s Chief Executive Officer, Vascular and Interventional Neurologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, and co-head of the Vascular Bionics Laboratory at the University of Melbourne, Australia and Associate Professor Nicholas Opie, Synchron’s Chief Technology Officer and co-head of the Vascular Bionics Laboratory at the University of Melbourne, Australia. www.synchron.com