Welcome to the final 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.

It is always exciting to take stock of the year that was and celebrate the incredible partnerships that came to fruition in 2024. Just this week we announced founding new UQ start-up company Ceretas to advance ultrasound therapy from the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI). Congratulations to all involved. It follows on from the announcement last week that NuNerve, a UQ-start-up based on two decades of research from QBI, has achieved success in human clinical trials, bringing fresh hope to people with motor neurone disease.

In November, UniQuest celebrated its 30th Research Commercialisation Workshop. This is our annual event, or bi-annual lately, and is a highlight of the calendar, giving UQ researchers and students a taste of how to bring their research to market. If you haven't been to one, don't miss out in 2025!

We trust you enjoy this edition and wish you a very safe and happy holiday season.

The team behind Ceretas: Sam Wetzler, Ryan Laws, John Keep, Professor Stuart Crozier, Dr Rachel de las Heras, Dr Tony Keating, Dr Jae Song, Dr Gerhard Leinenga, Professor Jürgen Götz, Matthew Pelekanos and Gina Richter-Stretton.

The therapeutic ultrasound technology developed by Professor Jürgen Götz from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute will be progressed towards clinical use by Ceretas, which aims to validate the system to treat Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

The technology uses targeted pressure waves from sound to activate the brain’s ability to increase neuronal signalling and clear pathological proteins that accumulate in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

“The therapy increases neuronal signalling and thereby restores memory and cognition by enhancing communication between brain cells,” Professor Götz said.

“But it also targets and clears the build-up of the proteins toxic amyloid and tau by activating the brain’s intrinsic clearance mechanism.”

Emeritus Professor Andrew Boyd and Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlett say the drug candidate has the potential to provide a new therapeutic option for patients with MND by slowing disease progression and improving gross and fine motor skills.

Hot takes

• Cancer salve: A topical cream to help prevent and treat skin cancers in organ transplant patients is a step closer to development by UQ's Associate Professor James Wells.

• Joining forces: QEDDI has partnered with BioCurate to develop a new treatment for neuropathic pain with potential to be a safer alternative to opioids.

• Capital effort: UQ's $32 million venture capital fund, managed by UniQuest, is designed to provide capital, support and connections for tech-based UQ-linked companies founded by students, staff and alumni, Read about investee GreaseBoss' experience with the UEF here.

• AMAG acquired: Traffic safety start-up Advanced Mobility Analytics Group, formed in 2020 to develop IP from UQ, the University of British Columbia and Queensland University of Technology, has been acquired by Transoft Solutions.

• Commercialisation know-how: Applications are open to researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, clinicians, venture capitalists and legal practitioners who want to gain skills bringing medicines to market through The Bridge Program. Entries close 31 January 2025.

Dr Anthony Raphael

Director - Commercialisation - Life Sciences

Initially from academia, Dr Anthony Raphael did his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at UQ, where he was first exposed to the commercial side of research through patent applications that were licensed into UQ spin-out company Vaxxas.

"It was during these formative years that I was first introduced to the UniQuest team and the importance of commercialisation for translating research," he said.

Following his PhD, Anthony did his postdoctoral studies at UQ - Princess Alexandra Hospital campus where his work on micro-devices for drug delivery and diagnostics led to another two start-up companies. He was awarded the prestigious NHMRC CJ Martin Early Career Fellowship resulting in postdoc positions jointly at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where his research pivoted to advanced imaging and regenerative medicine.

"I really enjoy having the opportunity to adapt to diverse research disciplines. Looking back, I believe these experiences, combined with early exposure to commercialisation, sparked my interest in pursuing a career in technology transfer," he said.

After returning from the US, Anthony worked as a consultant for a US-based medical imaging company where he provided expert insight on clinical implementation and workflow before joining UniQuest in 2018.

"I am passionate about research that has translational impact, so it was a natural transition to move from the lab to UniQuest, where I could be at the forefront of helping great UQ research move from an academic to a commercial environment," he said.

With his broad research experience, Anthony works across multiple disciplines. However, his focus over the past two years has been promoting the strong translational science at Queensland Brain Institute.

Contact Anthony.

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.