UniQuest

𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿’𝘀 𝗞𝗖𝗔 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀! The calibre and diversity of nominations from across Australia and New Zealand reflect the exceptional work our members are doing in driving research impact across our sector. The finalists for each category are: 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆-𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (sponsored by Griffith Hack) 🏅The Q-Si Project (UNSW) 🏅University of Adelaide and Iondrive partnership (University of Adelaide) 🏅Value Australia Project (UNSW) 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 (𝗛𝗔𝗦𝗦) 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 🏅Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation (RAMSR) (QUT (Queensland University of Technology) 🏅Skilled Companions (UNSW) 🏅Social Ventures Exchange (SVx) (University of Melbourne) 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗹 🏅DeCarice (UNSW) 🏅The D2 theranostic platform (University of Sydney) 🏅UQ & Phibion tailing storage facilities (TSFs) (UniQuest) 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻-𝗼𝘂𝘁 (sponsored by IP Group plc Australia) 🏅Emergence Ecotech (The University of Western Australia) 🏅HydGene Renewables (Macquarie University) 🏅Vicebio Ltd (UniQuest) 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 (sponsored by Madderns Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys) 🏅Finalists have been notified directly, and the winner will be announced on the night. ------------- Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry for this year’s KCA Australasian Research Commercialisation Awards, and congratulations to all the finalists! We look forward to announcing the winners at the KCA Annual Conference Gala Dinner in Adelaide on 15 October. Learn more about each of the finalists at https://lnkd.in/dkzywjMF

We are privileged to announce our latest investment into Optain Health, a healthcare technology company combining hardware and AI-enabled software to deliver real-time, non-invasive detection of eye and systemic conditions. Optain recently closed their oversubscribed US$26 million Series A round led by global investor Insight Partners. Optain leverages Australian research which has developed through support from the Aegis Digital Health Consortium, a collaboration of 11 leading regional U.S. health systems to co-develop AI-driven healthtech companies. “We’re proud to be translating world-class Australian science into real-world impact,” said Dr. Zachary Tan, President of Optain. Zachary Tan Jeff Dunkel Informed Ventures LUMIO Capital Meridian Ventures UniQuest

CUREator has awarded $1.23 million in top-up funding to six high-performing biotech projects across its Preclinical and Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance streams. Congratulations to Kraken Coding, xCystence Bio, Frontier Inflammasome Therapeutics, RAGE Biotech, Cincera Therapeutics Pty Ltd, Spritz-OM Top up funding is a a dynamic, performance-driven approach that ensures resources flow to the science that’s working, helping bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and investor readiness. Why does top-up funding matter? 🟦 Unlike traditional grants, CUREator’s model delivers funding in milestone-based tranches. 🟦 Projects that meet or exceed their goals can apply for additional support. 🟦 Funds from projects not meeting milestones are reallocated to those excelling. This round of top-up funding was made possible by: The Medical Research Future Fund (Preclinical stream), CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency (Minimising AMR stream) #CUREator #TopUpFunding #BioTech #HealthInnovation #MRFF #CSIRO #BrandonCapital #BrandonBioCatalyst #AntimicrobialResistance #PreclinicalResearch #InnovationForImpact

Brisbane-based biotech Vaxxas, developer of a needle-free vaccine delivery system, has secured an $89.2 million cash injection comprising debt and equity in one of the largest financing rounds for a private biotech company in Australia this year. https://lnkd.in/ezwY5Ctc

Queensland biotech Lucia Bio has topped up its Seed round with an additional $2 million to take the total raised to $3m. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gVB7vmxv

It is wonderful to see Seven Network reporting on the research of TRI-based Dr Abbas Shafiee and Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani from The University of Queensland UQ Frazer Institute. The two researchers lead a team using stem cells to create a replica of human skin, complete with blood vessels, hair follicles, layers of tissue and immune cells. The skin model shows promise in transforming skin graft transplants, wound healing and research into skin disorders. View the video on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gT-wTcBz 7NEWS Australia

Lucia Bio has raised AU$3M of Seed investment, including through additional support from the UniQuest Extension Fund and a new strategic investment from Uniseed. This funding will accelerate the development of our two lead spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) inhibitors, QED-701 and QED-121, into the initial phases of formal clinical trial-enabling development. Our Syk inhibitors deliver the potency, selectivity and drug-like properties needed to fully realise the clinical potential of targeting this critical node in the human immune system. Building on pioneering drug discovery from the team at #QEDDI, a business unit of The University of Queensland's commercialisation company UniQuest, we are advancing towards innovative treatment options for neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative conditions and autoimmune indications, and will investigate the potential of this mechanism of action in certain haematological malignancies. This milestone maintains our momentum and will strengthen the data pack for both our Syk inhibitors as we look to complete a future Series A financing aimed at ultimately establishing robust clinical proof of concept across key indications. Full release here: https://lnkd.in/eeKWbN83 #biotech #fundraising #neuroinflammation #autoimmune