Sydney, Australia – Biointelect, a leader in life sciences commercialisation, has been awarded a $32.9 million grant from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to help early-stage Australian companies innovate against infectious disease, specifically with vaccine and immune related therapies.
Infectious diseases are a major global health challenge. New flu and COVID strains emerge yearly, and diseases like HIV, TB, and bacterial infections are increasingly resistant to treatment. Investment in research to find novel ways to prevent and combat infections is essential but if this research is to impact people’s lives, it needs to be nurtured through the process of commercialisation.
“Thank you to the Australian Government for entrusting Biointelect to support our scientists to bring advancements in vaccines, vaccine-related technologies, and immunotherapies to benefit the health of all Australians,” said Leah Goodman, CEO Biointelect. “The value in a local incubator is that essential support to researchers will be provided here, in Australia, which means the innovation stays and doesn’t go offshore to commercialise, therefore maximising the value to this nation.”
Biointelect will establish a nation-wide virtual incubator, known as the Biointelect Venturer. The incubator will play an important role to help researchers and small to medium sized entities (SMEs), with high potential early-stage research, to thrive despite the barriers they will face to become investment ready.
“This grant demonstrates the importance of translating science into tangible solutions. Australian researchers are globally recognised for groundbreaking early-stage research, however attracting investment to bring them to market and ultimately deliver solutions to patients remains challenging,” said Ms Goodman.
Last year, Biointelect held Australia’s first Vaccine Value Chain Conference, where participants unanimously called for a national product development network to accelerate innovation.
Ms Jennifer Herz, Founder and Executive Director of Biointelect, said, “The conference outcome demonstrated that overcoming challenges in vaccine development and commercialisation in Australia requires deeper collaboration between industry and academic research. The Biointelect Venturer will serve as the catalyst for this change, nurturing research into investment-ready solutions to improve the health of all Australians.”
Biointelect has appointed Leanne Hobbs, a former vaccine biotech CEO and multi-national senior executive, as General Manager to quickly establish the incubator. Leanne has extensive experience in developing practical strategies to accelerate scientific translation and development locally and internationally
“We are pleased to welcome Leanne Hobbs to the Biointelect team. Leanne will lead the new incubator and collaborate closely with SMEs research organisations and institutions, as well as community-based entities already working to prevent and reduce impact of disease. Through these relationships Leanne will support Australian SMEs and foster local and international collaborations and investment,” said Ms Goodman.
The Biointelect Venturer will launch in early 2026, following extensive stakeholder and community engagement, to make sure it aligns to public health priorities and delivers in the areas of highest unmet need.
The $32.9M grant was part of the MRFF 2024 BioMedTech Incubator program. This program is designed to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians by supporting Australian SMEs engaged in early-stage medical research and innovation projects with commercial potential. https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/mrff-2024-biomedtech-incubator
About Biointelect
Biointelect is a leading strategic planning and commercialisation advisory firm for the life science sector based in Australia. We harness our global 360° view of the healthcare ecosystem to provide a dynamic approach and expert advice at each stage of the development pathway to accelerate innovation for patients.
Biointelect enables the commercialisation of new therapies across all therapeutic areas by partnering with the broad life science ecosystem to define commercial approach, prove economic benefit, enable through strategy and capability development, and set up for commercial success. Founded in 2012, Biointelect channels the vision of co-founders Jennifer and Karl Herz to bring innovative science to market. The firm’s local and international experience across diverse sectors within the life sciences sector places Biointelect at the forefront of advancing healthcare for all.
Media Contacts
Leah Goodman Leanne Hobbs
Chief Executive Officer, Biointelect General Manager, Biointelect Venturer
