Leading the way in academic-industry engagement and commercialisation, the Imaging CoE is engaging with some of the world’s largest and most innovative companies in order to maximise its scientific productivity. Towards this endeavour, the Centre attended the 2015 Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) International Convention in Philadelphia, USA, in June.

Imaging CoE project portfolio: 2015 BIO International Convention

Adaptive microendoscopy

Single molecule imaging

Cryo-Electron Microscopy capability

Microfluidic cryo-fixation device

Imaging software development

Inhibiting immune effectors

Cytokine Release Syndrome therapeutic

Major global pharmaceutical companies with an interest in the Imaging CoE

AbbVie

Amgen

Boehringer Ingelheim

Bristol Myers Squibb

Eli Lilly

Fraunhofer Institute for Immunology and Cell Therapy

GE Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline

Intrexon Corporation

Juno Therapeutics

Kyowa Hakko Kirin

Merck

Novartis

At the forefront of cultivating strong, collaborative partnerships with industry are the Imaging CoE’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Manoj Sridhar, and Commercialisation Officer, Dr Michael Bettess. Armed with a broad portfolio of exciting, cutting-edge projects (see below), their primary aim was to explore and develop potential relationships with international pharmaceutical and platform technology companies.

A strong Australian delegation attended the event, coordinated by Australia’s Biotechnology Organisation – AusBiotech. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the conference was perfectly placed at the heart of the US biopharma industry; combined with New Jersey and Delaware, the tri-state region comprises 80% of the country’s pharmaceutical industries.

Exhibiting our projects in the ‘Australia Pavilion’ over the course of four days, Manoj and Mike met with over 40 companies, which included major global pharmaceutical corporations such as GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis (for a more inclusive list, see below). The feedback we received from these world-class representatives was extremely positive, and clearly indicated the global competitiveness of our research; companies were truly impressed by the quality and breadth of the research conducted within the Imaging CoE.

Looking forward to building fruitful relationships with many of these companies, Manoj and Mike are now in the process of following up on mutual interests expressed during the BIO Convention 2015, and are working hard to develop pathways for commercialisation of the Imaging CoE’s research.

For more information on the 2015 BIO International Convention, see here.