Associate Professor Sumaira Hasnain and Jetra Therapeutics Pty Ltd have won the 2022 UniQuest Commercialisation Award.
Dr Hasnain and her team at Mater Research/TRI are researching treatments for chronic inflammatory conditions like Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and respiratory viral infections, which affect thousands of Australians every year.
Start-up company Jetra Therapeutics was founded on intellectual property developed by Dr Hasnain and her team. The company is developing a treatment with the potential to reverse liver damage caused by Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and has secured funding from investors IP Group.
Dr Hasnain said the award is recognition for the translational work she heads at Mater/TRI.
“This has resulted in a UQ start-up company through which I’m leading the translation of a therapeutic for fatty liver disease.
“It recognises the work done by me and my immunopathology group, especially Dr Kuan Yau Wong and Mr Haressh Sajiir who’ve been key to this work,” Dr Hasnain said.
UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss said the award recognises the achievements and commitment of UQ researchers who have created impact through the commercialisation of intellectual property from UQ research.
“This award also acknowledges the respective industry partners who help to bring UQ research to the world and showcases the therapeutic commercial opportunities emerging from Australia’s best collaborative institutions.
“I congratulate Dr Hasnain and her team on this award.”
Media: UniQuest, Esther Haskell, e.haskell@uniquest.com.au, +61 (0)409 767 199.