From Medical Research to Impact

Have you ever wondered how medical research discoveries can move beyond the lab and find their way into the clinic, industry or broader community impact?

Great medical research has the potential to change lives, but turning discoveries into real-world outcomes is not always straightforward. This session will introduce practical ways to think about research impact, identify translation opportunities, and understand the early steps involved in developing ideas beyond the academic setting.

Participants will also hear from the ANU Commercialisation team, who will provide an introduction to intellectual property and commercialisation pathways, including key considerations for researchers at different stages of the translation journey.

A highlight of the workshop will be a fireside chat with Tim Hirst, Chairman and CEO of GPN Vaccines, who will share his lived experience in commercialising medical research, including the development of a universal vaccine for pneumococcal diseases. Tim brings extensive experience across life sciences, university innovation, venture capital and early-stage company development, offering valuable insight into the realities of translating research into impact.

This workshop is a valuable opportunity to learn and build network in commercialisation and entrepreneurship. It will be particularly relevant for researchers who are curious about how their work could lead to patient benefit, new technologies, start-up opportunities or broader health and social impact.

This workshop is run by The John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU, in collaboration with the Canberra Innovation Network. It is designed for researchers, HDR candidates and early-career researchers who are interested in understanding how medical research can progress towards commercialisation.