Med Tech Talks Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Dr Megan Baldwin, Founder, Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of Opthea Limited. 

Opthea limited is a global biopharmaceutical company aspiring to become the leader of therapeutic innovation in retinal diseases. They have a world class team of ophthalmology experts working to develop breakthrough therapies for those who suffer from retinal disease.  

Megan has over 20 years of experience focusing on angiogenesis and therapeutic strategies for cancer and ophthalmic indications. With a PhD in medicine from the University of Melbourne, and having conducted her postdoctoral studies at Genentech, Megan joined Circadian Technologies Limited, now Opthea, in 2008 as Head of Preclinical R&D, and became Chief Executive in 2014. Today, she's a member of the Australian Institute for Company Directors, a board member of AusBiotech and serves on the boards of public and private companies.

In this episode you will hear about: 

• How Opthea is working to improve outcomes for patients with wet AMD. 
• Insight into Opthea’s strategy for attracting investment in its early-stage research and beyond  
• What Megan thinks Australia needs to do in order to support translation of Australian innovation 
• Megan’s advice for seeking mentorship and the importance of looking outside of your network. 

 Learn more about Opthea. 

 Read about Megan Baldwin.  

Updated version 05/08/22

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Bronwyn Le Grice, CEO and Managing Director of ANDHealth.

Bronwyn has over 20 years executive experience in health technology commercialisation, venture capital, capital raising and industry advocacy.  

In 2017, she founded ANDHealth – which is now one of Australia’s leading health technology commercialisation organisations.  

It’s flagship ANDHealth+ program has a successful track record in taking businesses to scale, with companies selected in the program raising over $150 million in dilutive and non-dilutive funding, creating 400+ jobs, undertaking 72 clinical studies and impacting over 700,000 patients over the past 6 years. 

In this episode, you will learn more about: 

• How digital health technology could shape the future of health care.
• Opportunities digital health provides to increase efficiency of care.
• Advice for digital health companies thinking of being part of an incubator or accelerator.
• Some of the key challenges faced by Australia in building  a world class digital health industry.

Discover more about ANDHealth.

Read about Bronwyn Le Grice

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In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Professor Andrew Wilks and Dr Chris Burns.

Professor Wilks and Dr Burns are two research leaders who were involved in the incredible breakthrough of the drug, Momelotinib, which has emerged as a treatment for myelofibrosis – a rare type of bone marrow cancer.

In this episode you will hear about:

• The journey of momelotinib from bench top to a commercial product
• Professor Wilks and Dr Burns' experience as entrepreneurs
• Where momelotinib is today and the legacy of the Australian research effort.

More information:

Learn more about Professor Andrew Wilks
 
Find out more about Dr Chris Burns

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In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Professor Moira O'Bryan, Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Melbourne.

Professor O'Bryan specialises in andrology and through her impressive research career, she has recently been given the prestigious role of a Dean at the Unversity of Melbourne which is ranked as the 14th best preforming university in the world per the QS rankings.

In this episode you will hear about:

• Moira's journey to becoming Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Melbourne
• Could the male contraceptive pill be a reality?
• Her thoughts on how the University of Melbourne can be a leader in innovation for Australia.

More information:

Learn more about Professor Moira O'Bryan.
Visit the University of Melbourne website.

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In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, we present a special keynote speech from Dr Andres Fouras, Founding CEO of 4DMedical, recorded at the Bionics Institute 2023 Innovation Lecture.

Dr Andreas Fouras and his team have developed a unique respiratory imaging system, which aims to change the outcome for patients with lung disease.
 
In 2012, Andreas founded 4DMedical to commercialise the technology, which is now an ASX listed company.

In his keynote, Andreas illustrates his entrepreneurial journey, speaks about the highly innovative technology at 4DMedical and shares some of his thoughts about innovation in Australia

Over 320 guests comprising med tech executives, researchers, clinicians, government staff and investors attended the Bionics Institute 2023 Innovation Lecture to explore how Australia can accurately measure innovation, boost the med tech ecosystem and strengthen connections.

More information:

Watch the Bionics Institute 2023 Innovation Lecture recording

Visit the 4DMedical website

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, we present a special keynote speech from Kylie Walker, CEO of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), recorded at the Bionics Institute 2023 Innovation Lecture.

As CEO of ATSE, Kylie specialises in connecting technologists, engineers and scientists with governments, business, media and society with skills built over many years in senior federal communication and advocacy roles in science, technology and health sectors.

In her keynote, Kylie talks about using metrics to unlock the potential of Australian research and development, and the impact measuring innovation could have for the med tech sector.

Over 320 guests comprising med tech executives, researchers, clinicians, government staff and investors attended the Innovation Lecture to explore how Australia can accurately measure innovation, boost the med tech ecosystem and strengthen connections.

More information:

Watch the Bionics Institute 2023 Innovation Lecture recording

Visit the ATSE website

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Professor Anne Kelso AO, CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). 

At NHMRC, Anne’s key focus areas have been the restructure of the organisation’s grant program, developments in NHMRC’s peer review processes, and progressing initiatives to improve gender equity in health and medical research.

This year, Anne will be stepping down as CEO of NHMRC after eight years. .

In this episode, you will hear about: 

• The role of the NHMRC in the Australian research ecosystem.
• Professor Kelso discussing some of the highlights of her career and the lessons she has learnt. 
• Some of the mentors she has had on her journey, including legendary Australian scientists Professor Sir Gustav Nossal AC and the late Professor Donald Metcalf AC.

Learn more about: 

• The NHMRC
• Professor Anne Kelso

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In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by one of Australia’s most successful med tech expats, Dr Jeremy Buzzard,  CEO of Enteralia Bioscience and co-founder of Induction Bio.  

Jeremy also notably was a partner at McKinsey and Co., where he led the firm’s global healthcare strategy and corporate finance practice.

Jeremy is on the record as being involved in more than 25 major transactions that were executed with an aggregate value of $56Bn USD.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• The missions of Enteralia Biosciences and Induction Bio
• Jeremy's reflections on his time at Harvard University and McKinsey and Co.
•  His thoughts on the key learnings Australia can take from the US med tech market to improve our innovation outcomes.  

Learn more about:

• Enteralia Biosciences 

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Storytelling is an important part of successful innovation and entrepreneurship.  

Corrie McLeod is a med tech innovation and communications expert who understands the power of effective storytelling from her experience as founder and publisher at InnovationAus.  

InnovationAus is an independent publication that reports on the impact of government policy on Australia’s technology sectors, including financial services, cyber security, manufacturing and med tech ecosystems. 

In this episode you will hear: 

• The mission of InnovationAus and how this platform aims to galvanise innovation in Australia. 
• The importance of storytelling in the med tech commercialisation journey  
• Corries thoughts on how Australia should use innovation to boost the economy.   

Learn more: 

-          Take a look at the InnovationAus website

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The “valley of death” is often seen as a barrier to innovation. 

Dr Emma Ball, Head of Illumina for Startups (Australia, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa), challenges this idea on this week’s episode of Med Tech Talks. 

Dr Ball helps create and grow start-ups in the field of genomics and is an angel investor.

In this episode: 

• Hear the mission of Illumina and Illumina for Startups
• Learn what an angel investor looks for in a startup.
• Hear Dr Ball’s thoughts on how Australia can improve its innovation culture. 

Learn more about: 

• llumina for Startups grants
• Illumina

Updated version 05/08/22