POWERING INNOVATION: insights from emerging biotech entrepreneurs
Are you interested in commercialising your research but unsure where to begin? Curious about becoming a biomedical or med-tech entrepreneur? Join four researchers and founders from Jumar Bioincubator and The University of Melbourne's Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences as they explore the various stages of the health entrepreneurship journey.
Be inspired as they share their beginnings, how they navigated opportunities and uncertainties, and reveal what drives their success. They will discuss their transition from bench-top science to industry, insights they wish they'd had before starting their ventures, and the innovative biotech products they are developing. Following the presentations, attendees can participate in two breakout sessions for deeper engagement and focused discussions with the speakers. The event will conclude with a networking session.
DATE
03/09/24
TIME
3.00PM - 4.30PM
SCIENCE GALLERY MELBOURNE
WHERE
MEET THE PANEL
Professor Laura Downie, is a Dame Kate Campbell Fellow for Research Excellence in the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at the University of Melbourne. She heads the Anterior Eye, Clinical Trials and Research Translation Unit, and is the inaugural Director of the Melbourne Cochrane Centre for Evidence-Based Vision Care, one of nine such centres globally recognised for leading the translation of research into practice. She has achieved international recognition for research excellence and innovation, including for leading the development of a transformative dry eye diagnostic microtechnology, ADMiER.
Dr Tami Yap is a Senior Lecturer in Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology, Melbourne Dental School. She is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. Her translative research focus is on early detection of oral cancer and oral mucosal disease and is partnering with industry to develop software to better predict oral cancer risk. Tami is part of multidisciplinary Dermatology teams at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Oral Mucosal Clinic at the Skin and Cancer Foundation of Victoria.
Dr Amanda Woon is the COO of biotech spinout, Proxima Bio and Venture Scientist at WEHI Ventures. Most recently, she was the Head of R&D at Oxford based-biotech start-up, Exogene, and prior to that, she developed biologics-based immunotherapies at “unicorn” biotech, Immunocore. Aside from her strategy, operations, management and drug development expertise, she also has over 10 years' experience at the bench with a PhD in Biochemistry and a wide array of skills in protein engineering, molecular biology, cell biology, proteomics and immunology.
Dr David Bibby, CEO of Pacalis Therapeutics. Initially trained as a pharmacist, David holds a PhD in pharmaceutical science and has 20+ years of experience within the biotech/pharma industry across the EU, USA and Australia. David also has a strong background in both early stage and clinical drug development in multiple therapeutic settings. He is currently the CEO of Pacalis Therapeutics, where their focus lies in developing a targeted agonist specifically designed for the serotonin receptor, with the aim of revolutionising the treatment of mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD.
