Pathways to Progress: Enhancing Drug Discovery and Development in Melbourne

Great science alone doesn’t bring discoveries to market. It takes industry know-how, collaboration, and the right support.

Jumar Bioincubator and BioCurate have joined forces to host this full-day symposium, bringing together Melbourne's brightest biotech minds to drive the future of innovation.

This is more than just an event, it’s a powerful opportunity for professional development. Gain the expertise to navigate the drug discovery and development pipeline, from early-stage research to clinical translation and regulatory approval.

Through expert-led presentations, panel discussions, and networking, you'll:

• Learn how to translate research into real-world impact
  
• Upskill in tech transfer and commercialisation
  
• Understand what pharma industry wants to see in your innovative product to bring it to market
  
• Learn pitfalls and successful strategies from academic spin-outs
  
• Connect with researchers, startups, and industry leaders

Session Themes

- From Bench to Bedside, navigating the Drug Development Ecosystem

- Translational Development Plan: from Target Identification to Preclinical Development

- Drug Development and Path to Market: CMC, Clinical and Regulatory pathways, followed by industry-expert panel

- Commercialisation Strategies, followed by Investor panel 

- Lessons learned from Academic Spin-Out companies 

- Fireside Chat with Nina Webster

Combining academic brilliance with entrepreneurial success to achieve breakthrough in life sciences and bring a drug on the market

Speakers include:

Dr Andrew Nash, Chief Scientific Officer of CSL

Dr Nina Webster, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Dimerix Limited

Professor John Skerritt, Enterprise Professor in Health Research Impact at the University of Melbourne

A/Professor Tina Soulis, Independent Director at Cerulea Clinical Trials

Dr Kathy Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer of BioCurate

Investor Panel:

Dr John Kurek, Investment Director at Uniseed

Dr Kath Jackman, Investment Manager at Brandon Capital

Dr Siro Perez, Partner & Head of Life Sciences, APAC at IP Group

Michelle He, Investment Manager at Tin Alley Ventures

Dr Leigh Coultas, Portfolio and Operations Manager at WEHI Ventures

Academic Spin-Outs:

Dr Chris Langmead, Chief Executive Officer of Phrenix Therapeutics

Filippa Shub, Chief Operating Officer of Inosi Therapeutics

Dr Julie Monk, Operations Manager of Resseptor Therapeutics

Event details:

Date: Thursday 15 May
Time (AEDT):
8:30 am – 9:00 am: Guest arrival and registration
9:00 am – 9:15 am: Opening remarks
9:15 am – 5:00 pm: Symposium 
5:15 pm – 6:00 pm: Fireside chat with Nina Webster
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Networking, drinks
Venue: Jumar Bioincubator, 655 Elizabeth St, Melbourne 

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This symposium is sponsored by:

About the organisers:

Jointly formed by the University of Melbourne and Monash University, with support from the Victorian State Government, BioCurate identifies promising biomedical research discoveries and manages their translation into high-quality pre-clinical candidates for novel human therapeutics. With a team of experts who bring decades of scientific and commercial expertise, BioCurate provides a critical bridge between academia and industry to grow the Victorian and Australian biotech sector by increasing the number, quality, and rate of translation of new drug discoveries into medically sound and commercially attractive, investable projects.

Jumar Bioincubator provides early-stage and scaling biotech ventures with affordable lab and office space, practical support, and community activities to unlock the potential in early scientific discoveries. Jumar was established by CSL, WEHI and the University of Melbourne, with backing from innovation investor Breakthrough Victoria and operator Cicada Innovations. Our mission is to connect early-stage biotech ventures with the support they need to progress discoveries towards real-world treatments and therapies, build a critical mass of scientists with the knowledge and confidence to run successful biomedical ventures - and the power to influence and impact global health outcomes.

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NOTE: You may be photographed or videod while attending this event and your photo may be use for future marketing purposes by the organisers and their event collaboration partners: please approach the organiser if you have questions, concerns, or do not wish this to happen.