| | | | Welcome to the second edition of the UniQuest newsletter for 2024 - a collaborative initiative of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) and UniQuest, The University of Queensland's commercialisation company.
A highlight this quarter was the acquisition of Ortelia, a UQ-founded start-up from the School of Communication and Arts, by Swiss company Culture Software Group.
In other news, start-up OncoStrike Biopharma is soon to begin clinical trials for its theranostic treatment for bladder cancer, in part thanks to a significant grant from the CUREator scheme, through the Medical Research Future
Fund.
We're excited to have secured a partnership with emerging US-based biopharmaceutical company Endosome to develop a potential improved treatment for cancer immunotherapy from Associate Professor Fiona Simpson and her team at the Frazer Institute.
We trust you enjoy this edition. | | |
Professor Mark Blows
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Research & Innovation) |
| | Dr Dean Moss
CEO, UniQuest Pty Ltd | | | Newsletter in Brief - Bladder
cancer hope: UQ start-up OncoStrike Biopharma to start clinical trials.
- Ortelia exits: UQ gallery start-up acquired by Swiss company.
- Welcome: Anne-Marie Birkill joins the UniQuest Board.
- CSIRO OnPrime: UQ team takes out prize for promising PFAS sorbent tech.
- Know-how: More than 103 attend our first 2024 commercialisation workshop.
- Hot takes: New Endosome partnership and the QEVC launches.
- Mooving with the times: UniQuest attends Beef Week in Rockhampton.
- BIO24 bonanza: Spruiking UQ research on the global biotech stage.
- Who Are We: Meet UniQuest's
Dr Grace Dolan.
| | | | | | OncoStrike Biopharma, a start-up founded on technology developed by Mater Research and University of Queensland Honorary Professor John Hooper (pictured) received a $950,500 CUREator grant through the MRFF. | | |
Technology shines a light on better bladder cancer detection
A new diagnostic and treatment approach for bladder cancer will undergo a clinical trial in Queensland.
OncoStrike Biopharma, a start-up founded on technology developed by Mater Research and University of Queensland Honorary Professor John Hooper has received a $950,500 CUREator grant through the Medical Research Future Fund's Early-Stage Translation and Commercialisation Support funding.
The new technology is a theranostic, combining diagnostic imaging with targeted treatment, and could provide new hope for the 570,000 people who are diagnosed with bladder cancer worldwide every year.
“Positive results from the bladder cancer imaging trial could lead to new trials and treatments for bladder and other cancers,"
Professor Hooper said. | | | | | International stage beckons for Brisbane gallery start-upA UQ-founded start-up that builds exhibition design software for art galleries, museums and theatres has been acquired by Swiss company Culture Software Group.
Ortelia Curator is software used by creative professionals worldwide to create 2D and 3D interactive exhibitions spaces, originating from research led by Emeritus Professor Joanne Tompkins from UQ's School of Communication and Arts.
It was established in 2009 as a start-up
company by UniQuest.
Read more. | | |
| | Experienced venture capitalist joins UniQuest BoardUniQuest appointed experienced venture capitalist, innovation and entrepreneurship advisor Anne-Marie Birkill to its board of directors.
Ms Birkill brings more than 25 years of experience in executive leadership, product development and commercialisation, mentorship, capital raising and exits to the
role and is passionate about growing Australia's knowledge-based economy.
Ms Birkill said she looked forward to joining the team.
Read more.
| | |
 CSIRO OnPrime gong for team behind UQ PFAS sorbent tech
Shoutout to UQ
Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology team leads Cheng Zhang, Zicheng Su and Xiao Tan (pictured with OnPrime facilitators Michael Bye and Andy Lamb) on winning the Facilitator’s prize at the CSIRO ON Prime program event in Brisbane last month.
The team have developed a new sorbent that is 10x more efficient and 5x more cost-effective at removing PFAS chemicals from water than conventional technologies.
After speaking to many companies in the industry, they now understand so much more about the application of their technology and the importance of extracting short chain PFAS from liquid wastes and wastewater.
The prize money will help the team build a pilot plant to test their technology in real-life situations.
UniQuest has been working closely with the team to
protect and commercialise the technology.
Contact Jane Evans for more info and watch this space!
Calls for the next ONPrime on ON Accelerate intakes are now open.
* Image credit CSIRO and Diprose Media
| | | 
Workshop hits new heights at the Brisbane Convention Centre
The UQ Research Commercialisation workshop was held for the first time at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in May. Our IP Commercialisation team welcomed 103 researchers and higher degree research students - our highest attendance at a workshop, post-COVID.
Our workshop program is designed to step attendees through the commercialisation process, with sessions on protecting intellectual property, choosing the best commercial pathway and sourcing funds for commercialisation.
Here's what attendees had to say
about this year's event:
"All the presentations were very informative, however, it was the speaker's enthusiasm that helped me to understand the content of their presentation better," said Sampada Shelar from the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering.
"Being able to listen to and share our questions, providing everyone an opportunity to actively participate was the best way to integrate all knowledge acquired during the whole workshop," said Merce Salla Martrett from the Protein Expression Facility.
Register for our next workshop in October 2024. | |
| Hot takes - Endosome partnership: The US-based early-stage biopharmaceutical company has partnered with UniQuest to develop innovative methods for improved cancer immunotherapy using technology developed by UQ Frazer Institute's Associate Professor Fiona Simpson and her team. Read more here.
- Vaccine hub: The Queensland Emory Vaccine Centre will be a major hub for vaccine discovery and development at UQ. Read more here.
| | | | Claire keeps an ear to the ground for Ag-inspiration at Beef Week bonanzaUniQuest's Senior
Associate, Commercialisation (Agriculture and Food Sciences), Claire Nock went to Queensland's beef capital, Rockhampton, for Beef Week in May. Given that Claire works closely with UQ's Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, it was a not-to-be-missed opportunity. Claire spills the
molasses (!?) below:
"It was a 6.30am start and a two-hour bus ride out of Rockhampton to ‘Mystery Park’, a family-owned 10,000-ha breeding and backgrounding operation. There was mingling and introductions over morning tea with classical music playing from the veranda of the old Queenslander, where a string quartet from the Queensland Symphony Orchestra sat. We heard from the McArthur family about their business and how it evolved to become a best-practice operation with a strong focus on sustainable land management. In the paddock, looking over a small mob of mixed-breed cattle, we learnt how the McArthur’s were using set stocking rates, improved pastures and cell and time-controlled grazing to capitalise on seasonal plant growth and maximise yield. Ainsley McArthur
also shared what digital agritech tools were being used to organise back-end of operations, including Black Box Co (breeding decisions), Maia Grazing (pasture management), FarmBot (water-trough monitoring) and OptiWeigh (portable self-weigh-in device and app). It was invaluable to hear about the technologies and practices adopted and valued by producers, and to hear which on-farm problems were identified as high priority and in need of solutions.
"Key themes that emerged were sustainable land management, ESG compliance, biodiversity and natural capital reporting, the goal of carbon neutrality, and how the Australian beef industry would respond to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (taking effect December 2024). There was clear message from industry leaders about the urgent need to collaborate with other groups in the supply chain (e.g. regulators and major retailers) to
define and clarify the requirements on beef producers around these topics. Insights on high priority agenda for industry were invaluable.
"The event was also a great opportunity to meet with some of the UQ researchers in a more informal setting, and inevitably yielded creative discussion around existing and new projects. Of course, there were steaks for (just about every!) dinner. And yes, they were the best I’ve ever had!" | | | | |
Back row (L to R): UQ's Lucy Merritt, UniQuest's Dr Craig Belcher, UQ's Prof Mark Blaskovich, Prof Alan Rowan, Dr
Rachel de las Heras, UniQuest's Dr David Markwell, Dr Andrew Harvey, Dr Tamsin Terry and UQ's Prof Trent Munro.
Front row (L-R) Novartis' Michelle Gregory, Sanofi's Dr Michelle Williams, Commissioner Viki Forrest, UQ's Shannon Willoughby, UniQuest's Dr Idalia Ridley, Laura Kearney and Dr Yvonne Booth. | | UniQuest gives UQ research top billing at BIO2024 in San Diego
Our team supported the UQ delegation at BIO24 and worked hard to showcase the incredible work of UQ researchers on the global stage, blitzing through more than 70 partnering meetings to highlight cutting-edge translational research and discoveries.
The event is the annual cornerstone biotechnology conference and brought more than 19,500 international biotechnology and pharma leaders together from June 3-6, providing an opportunity to delve into current and trending topics affecting the biotech sector.
For the second year in a row, UQ hosted an industry dinner during the conference to bring together key industry and government stakeholders to hear about UQ's research capabilities and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
At the dinner, Professor Trent Munro, Senior Group Leader, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), spoke about building an integrated translational ecosystem, and Shannon Willoughby, UQ's Executive Director, Strategic Government and Industry Partnerships, chaired an engaging panel discussion on scientific discoveries in Queensland driving global biomedical innovation and commercialisation opportunities.
The panel featured Commissioner Viki Forrest, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas, Trade and Investment Queensland; Dr Michelle Williams, Strategic Partnerships Lead, Vaccines, Sanofi Australia and
New Zealand; Michelle Gregory - Government Relations and Public Policy Manager, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia and Professor Alan Rowan, Director, UQ's AIBN, and discussed areas for expansion, citing the success of government-industry-university partnerships in progressing international biomedical advancements.
The UniQuest team showcased the innovative research developed by UQ researchers to a host of national and international industry partners, strengthening the university's reputation for translational research and boosting the visibility of UQ research capabilities on a global platform.
Attending 70 partnering meetings between them, the team will be working through the numerous opportunities that have arisen over the next few months and using the insights gleaned to bolster the competitive edge of UQ research and potentially yield new partnerships and
avenues of commercialisation.
Congratulations to the UQ Strategic Government and Industry Partnerships team and the rest of the UQ delegation on a successful event. | | | | |
| Investor - UniQuest Extension Fund. After studying at the University of Queensland and completing a Bachelor's Degree and PhD in the School of Chemical Engineering, Grace has enjoyed a career in research commercialisation and early-stage venture capital.
Grace has worked directly or in partnership with several leading universities and their technology transfer offices to translate Australia's intellectual capabilities into commercial outcomes.
In 2017, Grace joined UniQuest in the IP Commercialisation team and focused on technologies from the physical sciences. In 2022, Grace took on the role of Investment Manager with Significant Capital Ventures, investing in early-stage companies and university spinouts.
Grace said she was proud of the breadth of experience gained from her start in academic and industry-funded research,
through to commercialisation, and more recently in Venture Capital and the broader innovation ecosystem.
"I'm very lucky to have a job that I find so interesting it often doesn't feel like work," she said.
"I love trying to stay up-to-date with bleeding edge technologies, industry problems and macroeconomic trends. I'm forever researching these topics to keep learning."
Outside of work, Grace is busy with a young and active family and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
Grace has recently rejoined UniQuest as an investor with the $32 million UniQuest
Extension Fund.
Contact Dr Grace Dolan. | | | | | UniQuest acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which The University of Queensland and UniQuest are situated.
We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. We recognise their valuable contributions to Australian and global society. | | |
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