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NSW GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS FOR LIFE
10 / 11 / 2008
Minister for State Development and Acting Minister for Small Business Ian Macdonald
today announced nearly $1 million in grants to help innovative life science companies
develop and commercialise new research projects.
Mr Macdonald said 10 grants have been awarded from the Department of State and
Regional Development's (DSRD) BioBusiness Proof of Concept program.
"This program helps life science companies develop their research to early stage
commercialisation while at the same time stimulating innovation and productivity in the
State''s life science industry," Mr Macdonald said.
"Today I announce a total of $950,700 in Proof of Concept grants to help develop a range
of exciting new life science projects.
"This is about helping small life science businesses on the road to commercial success
and creating new jobs and economic opportunities for NSW as well as products and
services to benefit society."
The grants announced today are to:
Frenchs Forest company Minomic International ($100,000) to develop a urine test
for prostate cancer, improving the ability to accurately diagnose prostate cancer
without the need for more invasive examinations. Prostate cancer is the most
common form of cancer in men and the second highest cause of cancer deaths in
Western society. Company contact: Brad Walsh on 8004 4702 or 0413 231 296 or
www.minomic.com/
Balgowlah company Dosimetry and Imaging Pty Ltd ($100,000) to help develop an
x-ray system potentially 100 times more sensitive than current technologies,
providing less radiation exposure to patients. The new digital radiography system
will comprise an analysing plate coated with a chemical compound called optically
excited luminescence (OEL) which is highly sensitive to ionising radiation. Company
contact: Jonathan Wright on 9949 7710 or 0417 272 017 or
www.dosimetryimaging.com
Mosman company NeuStent Pty Ltd ($100,000) to test the effectiveness of two
devices to prevent and treat strokes. The innovative devices will clear clots and
other blockages in the blood vessels of the brain without impeding blood flow.
Company contact: Dr Abby Bloom on 9968 4307 or 0412 199 820
Hornsby company VetPhage Pty Ltd ($95,150) to produce a new biopharmaceutical
to help control salmonella bacteria contamination in chickens bred for human
consumption, reducing the risk of gastroenteritis. The product has been developed
from bacteria-eating viruses known as bacteriophages, which destroy target
bacteria before disappearing. Company contact: Dr Hubert Mazure on 9905 0133 or
0404 199146
Eveleigh company E-Nose Pty Ltd ($100,000) for the combining and testing of
electronic nose sensors ("e-noses") and software in a prototype air pollution and
emissions monitor to assist companies with their environmental management.
Company contact: Graham Bell on 9209 4083 or 0416 099529 or www.e-nose.info
Marrickville company Ulco Medical ($100,000) to develop an electronic simulation
system to train medical professionals in a procedure where medical equipment
performs the role of the heart and lungs in circulating and oxygenating blood.
Training for the procedure - known as Veno-Arterial Extra Corporeal Membrane
Oxygenation - is currently done during emergency situations but the simulation
system will provide for safer training. Company contact: Clark McKeon on 9519
5881 or 0418 990222 or www.ulcomedical.com
North Ryde Company Human Genetic Signatures ($100,000) to develop technology
to allow doctors and small hospital laboratories to conduct rapid tests to detect
infectious diseases, including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
The technology will allow cost-effective swab or blood analysis to be done in a
machine the size of a microwave oven within two hours, replacing traditional
methods that can take 1-2 days, and allow physicians to prescribe antibiotics faster
and more accurately. Company contact: Robert Birrell on 9870 7580 or 0412 646
326 or www.geneticsignatures.com/
Kings Park company Protech Research
today announced nearly $1 million in grants to help innovative life science companies
develop and commercialise new research projects.
Mr Macdonald said 10 grants have been awarded from the Department of State and
Regional Development's (DSRD) BioBusiness Proof of Concept program.
"This program helps life science companies develop their research to early stage
commercialisation while at the same time stimulating innovation and productivity in the
State''s life science industry," Mr Macdonald said.
"Today I announce a total of $950,700 in Proof of Concept grants to help develop a range
of exciting new life science projects.
"This is about helping small life science businesses on the road to commercial success
and creating new jobs and economic opportunities for NSW as well as products and
services to benefit society."
The grants announced today are to:
Frenchs Forest company Minomic International ($100,000) to develop a urine test
for prostate cancer, improving the ability to accurately diagnose prostate cancer
without the need for more invasive examinations. Prostate cancer is the most
common form of cancer in men and the second highest cause of cancer deaths in
Western society. Company contact: Brad Walsh on 8004 4702 or 0413 231 296 or
www.minomic.com/
Balgowlah company Dosimetry and Imaging Pty Ltd ($100,000) to help develop an
x-ray system potentially 100 times more sensitive than current technologies,
providing less radiation exposure to patients. The new digital radiography system
will comprise an analysing plate coated with a chemical compound called optically
excited luminescence (OEL) which is highly sensitive to ionising radiation. Company
contact: Jonathan Wright on 9949 7710 or 0417 272 017 or
www.dosimetryimaging.com
Mosman company NeuStent Pty Ltd ($100,000) to test the effectiveness of two
devices to prevent and treat strokes. The innovative devices will clear clots and
other blockages in the blood vessels of the brain without impeding blood flow.
Company contact: Dr Abby Bloom on 9968 4307 or 0412 199 820
Hornsby company VetPhage Pty Ltd ($95,150) to produce a new biopharmaceutical
to help control salmonella bacteria contamination in chickens bred for human
consumption, reducing the risk of gastroenteritis. The product has been developed
from bacteria-eating viruses known as bacteriophages, which destroy target
bacteria before disappearing. Company contact: Dr Hubert Mazure on 9905 0133 or
0404 199146
Eveleigh company E-Nose Pty Ltd ($100,000) for the combining and testing of
electronic nose sensors ("e-noses") and software in a prototype air pollution and
emissions monitor to assist companies with their environmental management.
Company contact: Graham Bell on 9209 4083 or 0416 099529 or www.e-nose.info
Marrickville company Ulco Medical ($100,000) to develop an electronic simulation
system to train medical professionals in a procedure where medical equipment
performs the role of the heart and lungs in circulating and oxygenating blood.
Training for the procedure - known as Veno-Arterial Extra Corporeal Membrane
Oxygenation - is currently done during emergency situations but the simulation
system will provide for safer training. Company contact: Clark McKeon on 9519
5881 or 0418 990222 or www.ulcomedical.com
North Ryde Company Human Genetic Signatures ($100,000) to develop technology
to allow doctors and small hospital laboratories to conduct rapid tests to detect
infectious diseases, including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
The technology will allow cost-effective swab or blood analysis to be done in a
machine the size of a microwave oven within two hours, replacing traditional
methods that can take 1-2 days, and allow physicians to prescribe antibiotics faster
and more accurately. Company contact: Robert Birrell on 9870 7580 or 0412 646
326 or www.geneticsignatures.com/
Kings Park company Protech Research