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Filed Under: BUSINESS, PROJECTS, Research, TECHNOLOGY Tagged With: Cohort, Griffith University, Lumina, LuminaX, NHMRC

New year, new appointments, projects and programs

Research figures and rankings grow, as Cohort launches the LuminaX Healthtech Accelerator and Dr Peter Binks (right) takes up a leading role at Griffith University

Dr Peter Binks started out with stars in his eyes – literally – studying the structure and shape of galaxies to earn his PhD from the prestigious Oxford University, after completing a science degree majoring in physics (Quantum Mechanics to be precise) at the University of Tasmania. With such impressive smarts, the academic universe was open to him, but Dr Binks instead chose a corporate career that has spanned more than three stellar decades. 

“The stars and planets are one of the most fundamental of human interests, and involve some of the most remarkable scientific concepts.  We know so little about forces and timescales bigger than we ever see on Earth,” Peter Binks reflects, with the awe and enthusiasm of someone with a lifelong commitment to inspiring interest in science (he’s served on the Advisory Boards of In2science and the Institute of Railway Technology and is a Director of Engagement Australia).

And while there’s nothing quite like the lure of space to capture imaginations, Peter’s true passion is for science that is very much down to earth.

“I loved my time as a physicist, but that wasn’t where I could contribute the most.  As my career has developed, I’ve realised my passion is for bringing science and technology to where it can help change people’s lives, or strengthen our economy, or address difficult problems like those of climate change.

I left the university world to learn more about the corporate and business sector, to gain the skills to develop and lead technology activities that will become products and processes from which we all benefit.”

Peter has joined Griffith after working with large businesses such as BHP, Telstra and McKinsey in Sydney, Melbourne, and San Francisco, before spending the last decade in the not-for-profit and startup sectors.

Across a diverse career, he has run a nanotechnology company, and a scholarship foundation, and served on the Boards of medtech and energytech firms. He’s a former CEO of the Business Higher Education Round Table (BHERT), of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, of the Garnet Passe & Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation, and of Nanotechnology Victoria, which he guided for six years.

With this expertise, Peter is enthusiastic about the opportunity for the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct to be a testbed for advanced nanomaterials and sensor technologies.

“Over the last decade, the application of nanotechnology to health diagnostics and therapeutics has moved from concept towards reality,” Peter enthuses.

The Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct is well placed to become a leader in trialing and demonstrating an array of new technologies, many of which are being developed by Griffith researchers in the Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre (see video below).

One of the interesting applications being developed out of the QMNC are long-lasting, flexible electronics for use in implantable devices such as deep brain stimulators and cardiac pacemakers. These could be incorporated into new generations of long-life pacemakers and inserts.”

Peter’s role at Griffith is to develop and implement a university-wide engagement strategy; positioning the University for partnerships to support its major research, education, and cultural activities. He’s arrived as research success reaches a new high, less than 12 months after Professor Mario Pinto joined Griffith from Canada, as DVC Research and Chair of the Precinct’s Strategic Advisory Group.

2020 record year for research rankings, income and commercialisation

For the first time, Griffith University was ranked in the top 250 in four major global research rankings, research income hit a record $87.4 million, including strong growth in industry-funded research.

Total commissioned commercialisation revenue for Griffith Enterprise in 2020 was $38.2M, the largest in the university’s history. 

Griffith researchers published over 100 papers covering various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the fields of medicine, public health, social work, environmental sciences, ecology, tourism, management, nursing, psychology, education, suicide prevention and criminology.

The university has recently released its Research and Innovation Plan 2021-25, which targets a top 200 global ranking, and a top 100 in at least 10 academic areas.

When stars collide - start-ups, corporates, clinicians, researchers, philanthropists

Given his experience across the constellation of worlds – academic, research, corporate, start-up and not-for-profit, Peter Binks is perhaps uniquely placed to understand how sparks of imagination can fly when the sectors collide (or at least connect), and to ‘manage the magic’.

“Our challenge is to stimulate, guide, and manage growth,” he says.

Attracting new partners to the precinct will bring talent and investment, and create opportunities for the activities already here.  Not every business will succeed, and not every opportunity will work, and we need to ensure new opportunities are generated so businesses can pivot and evolve.”

One exciting way to accelerate ‘collisions’ (that hopefully don’t crash) is to bring ideas and expertise together in an intensive and structured way – enter Cohort Innovation Space’s new LuminaX Healthtech Accelerator program, launched this month and kicking off in March to give 10 start-up entrepreneurs the chance to launch or scale-up, delivered in partnership with the Queensland AI Hub and IntelliHQ, and with the involvement of 25 industry partners, including Gold Coast Health.

Associate Professor Kate Seib is one of the Institute for Glycomics researchers who share in $2.56m in NHMRC grant funding

Also kicking off are seven newly-announced National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas projects worth $4.5m and led by Griffith, along with three other projects to which Griffith researchers will significantly contribute. The projects tackle a range of health conditions such as influenza, brain injury and osteoarthritis.

With new appointments, programs and research projects, 2021 is shaping as a real year of growth for the Precinct as it consolidates a reputation as a new post-pandemic horizon and haven of opportunity.

January 29, 2021 By Kathy Kruger

Filed Under: BUSINESS, HEALTH, INVEST, People of the Precinct, PROJECTS, Research

Bright spots in 2020 and bright future in 2021 and beyond

Professor Mario Pinto, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Griffith University and Chair GCHKP Strategic Advisory Group

2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the Precinct’s Institute for Glycomics at Griffith University, and Institute founder Professor Mark von Itzstein started on a high, by being named Gold Coast Citizen of the Year on Australia Day. Of course the year, and the celebrations didn’t quite go to plan.

We look forward to Australia Day 2021, with one of our Precinct’s favourite people, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, named Queensland Australian of the Year, and in the running for the nation’s top honour, capping off a stellar year for Queensland’s first quadriplegic doctor.

In between, much has happened in the Precinct and we can be sure that amidst the challenges, change and ‘pandemic pivoting’ that Australia is indeed the lucky country, and Queensland and the Gold Coast are the best places to be for a bright future, as GCHKP Strategic Advisory Group Chair Professor Mario Pinto reflects.

“For all the upheaval, and that very much includes our university sector, this pandemic year has brought research success, new partnerships and some business growth, and certainly heightened commercial interest in our Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, beyond the COVID-19 horizon.

Who would have predicted that the pandemic would serve as a catalyst for increased interest in our Precinct?”

Probiotics-based biotech company Cluster Biotech moved into our Precinct in May, taking one of the new lab spaces at Cohort Innovation Space, and is already building new business. Compliance software start-up Virtual Mgr, also based at Cohort, turned the pandemic into an opportunity to pivot and even expand into the UK. Just a couple of ‘bright spots’.

Geography, stability and relative safety are strong attributes that will be more important than ever for our Precinct’s future success.

Social distancing has altered perspectives on company locations and remote working and only intensified the premium lifestyle appeal of the Gold Coast, as is evident by interstate and international company interest and reports of growing real estate sales through interstate migration, in the general absence of overseas migration and opportunities for international engagement.

Like other innovation precincts, we have a significant opportunity to build on renewed respect for science and research, and the appreciation of the value of our world-class Australian health system.

Given our healthcare assets and emerging and growing capability in advanced design and other Industry 4.0 technologies for future manufacturing, particularly in the area of medical technologies, our Precinct is well-placed to ride on a wave of interest and investment in the new economy, that will lead us through recovery and drive future growth.

Initiatives such as the Australian Government’s $1.5billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy and the focus on sovereign capacity and supply chain resilience, will assist us to partner with and attract innovative companies actively engaged in R&D, enrich and grow our existing innovation ecosystem, and enhance our impact.

Importantly, as an emerging Precinct, in a youthful city and relatively young nation, we genuinely represent a new horizon for global talent and innovative businesses, in a post-pandemic world.”

2020 Bright Spots

Professor of Emergency Care Julia Crilley (second from left) and nurse colleagues

Well-earned recognition in this International Year of the Nurse

2020 could not have been a more appropriate year to dedicate to acknowledging the amazing work of nurses.

Here in the GCHKP, Griffith University celebrated its Nursing and Midwifery program ranking No 1 in Australia, and No 2 in the world!

Meanwhile, Gold Coast Health became the first full health service in Australia to win prestigious International Magnet recognition for Nursing and Midwifery services.

Dedicated Gold Coast University Hospital nurse and Professor of Emergency Care Julia Crilley OAM was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, alongside Griffith University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Health, Professor Sheena Reilly AM, who is a renowned paediatric health researcher.

COVID - health and research response

  • Professor Michael Good AO, Principal Research Leader, Institute for Glycomics, past Chairman of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Queensland Great was appointed to the National Covid-19 Health and Research Advisory Committee. 

    Professor Michael Good
  • Gold Coast University Hospital treated some of Australia’s first COVID-19 patients in late January, and completed major COVID training across the health service, including 250 clinical simulations in April alone.
  • COVID 19 Clinical Research – researchers and clinicians have developed a world-first Precision Medicine Data Platform, including a COVID-19 dashboard, to help ICU clinicians make critical patient care decisions utilising artificial intelligence (AI). Start-up company Datarwe was awarded $1.5m Advance Queensland funding for platform and has set up a new data lab as Queensland’s new AI Hub for health at Cohort Innovation Space.
  • COVID-19 vaccine and therapy research – there’s been extensive research into COVID-19 vaccines and therapies as well as pandemic impacts, including a multi-pronged Glycomics approach (which included a $200,000 investment by the Queensland Government and City of Gold Coast); $300,000 from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) awarded to Professor Nigel McMillan of Griffith’s Menzies Health Institute Qld for gene silencing (sRNA) technologies targeting COVID; and Professor Suresh Mahalingham, also of Menzies, partnering with a major Indian vaccines company to develop a live attenuated COVID vaccine.

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Research, clinical trials, partnerships and developments

A major partnership between Griffith University and Gilmour Space will speed the launch of new low earth orbit satellites
  • Aerospace technology – Griffith University and Gilmour Space signed a major 5-year partnership that will see Low Earth Orbit satellites developed locally and launched to space by 2023, with extensive R&D anticipated in 3D printing and prototyping, sensor technology and AI, along with a range of student training opportunities.
  • Clinical trials – The GCHKP accelerates as a clinical trial hub during COVID-19 – Griffith University’s Clinical Trial unit became the first location in the world to recruit patients for a multi-national rheumatology trial while screening the first patient in Australia for another multi-national trial. Griffith researchers were awarded a $2m grant from Queensland Cancer Council to expand ovarian cancer clinical trials., while other university scientists received $1.46m from the National Health and Medical Research Council for diagnostics and therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome. Gold Coast Health reported 94 active clinical trials and 151 research projects, including a world-first trial of a robotic arm brain aneurysm procedure and will co-lead a $2.3m trial into treatments for deadly sepsis.
  • Medical technologies – materials science researchers developed new implantable electronics for use in brain stimulation and cardiac pacemakers; health technology researchers won the national iAwards 2020 Business Industry Solution of the Year with a device to better identify and treat pain, while another major biomedical engineering project is developing world-first artificial wrist ligament.
Proxima – child health and education centre of excellence

The $80m Proxima development by Evans Long was announced as a prestige integrated centre of excellence in child education and health – the first private commercial development in the GCHKP’s Lumina commercial cluster. Construction is set to start in the first half of 2021, with Sanctuary Learning Adventure named as the innovative operator of a special-needs focused childcare centre.

Cohort Labs opened in May

Cohort Labs – Cohort Innovation Space opened new PC1 and PC2 labs in May, including a new biotechnology lab quickly taken up by probiotics-based biotech company Cluster Biotech.

December 16, 2020 By Kathy Kruger

Filed Under: HEALTH, PROJECTS

Gold Coast accelerates as a clinical trial hub during COVID-19 times

Griffith University's Clinical Trials Unit (CTU)

Business at Griffith University’s Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) has not only continued but thrived in the midst of a pandemic, with the site being first globally to recruit patients for a multi-national rheumatology trial and screening the first patient in Australia for another multi-national trial.

The Gold Coast and Queensland have benefited from the state’s current low COVID-risk status, to accelerate capability that had been rapidly building, pre-pandemic.

Australia's largest regional clinical trials location - and growing

A 2019 study, commissioned by the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Gold Coast and the Queensland Government Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation, found the Gold Coast was Australia’s largest regional clinical trial location, with 126 trials contributing almost $12 million per annum to the city’s economy, and significant growth anticipated over the coming decade.

Director of the Griffith University Clinical Trial Unit, Professor Evelin Tiralongo, said growth could be even stronger than earlier projections of the local sector being worth $33 million by 2029, with further demand likely to be caused by the pandemic.

“Providing high-quality clinical trial services to global and national sponsors, as well as supporting researcher-led trials, is core business for us, and being able to operate in a COVID-safe way, in an environment with so far low levels of coronavirus in the community in Australia, Queensland, and the Gold Coast in particular, is an advantage,“ Professor Tiralongo said.

Professor Evelin Tiralongo

“After some initial disruptions to active trials, we worked very quickly on setting up a COVID-19 safe plan to enable us to continue providing essential services for existing clinical trials and subsequently take on new business, with great support from the University, our External Advisory Committee and the clinicians and other health professionals we work with.”

With intense focus on multiple COVID-19 trials worldwide, researchers, including Griffith’s Professor Michael Good AO, Principal Research Leader at the Institute for Glycomics and a member of the Australian Government’s National COVID-19 Health and Research Advisory Committee, continue to press the need for vital research and trials into other important conditions to continue, or risk significant health consequences.

Professor Michael Good

Many such important trials are currently being conducted at Griffith’s Clinical Trial Unit in areas such as rheumatology, neurology, endocrinology, renal disease, gastrointestinal disorders and infectious diseases, with the unit looking to expand into dermatology and cardiology.

Dr Claire Williams, the Clinical Trial Unit’s Business and Operations Manager, has welcomed the opportunity to take part in these studies and expand the CTU’s business.

“Despite everyone’s attention being currently focussed on COVID-19, it’s still vitally important that we continue to develop and improve vaccines and treatments for other chronic and serious diseases. As a University Core Research Facility, it is crucial to continue to support Griffith researcher-led trials and take on pharma trials so that we can enhance clinical research and knowledge and offer possible new therapy options to the Gold Coast community,” said Dr Williams.

“We are undertaking trials which focus on outpatients and greatly value the continuous and growing collaboration with clinicians from General Practice, Specialised Private Practice, the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service and other providers. Being in the same building as the Griffith’s Health Clinics and Menzies Health Institute Queensland makes it easy to collaborate with other Allied Health professionals and researchers.”

Clinicians who would like to collaborate on current and planned trials at Griffith’s CTU should contact CTU management for further information [email protected] and volunteers can register their interest via the CTU’s website here.

October 29, 2020 By Kathy Kruger

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From Research to Reality: GCHKP Talent Leads the LuminaX 2025 Cohort

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