Translating a clinical question into a research project
A Research Translation Committee Seminar
Date: Tuesday 28 March 2023
Time: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Location: TRI Auditorium or via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85174168762 - Passcode: RTS2023)
In this seminar, we explore the various pathways to taking a clinical question and turning it into a research project with translational potential.
Prof Greg Monteith will share his experience at identifying new drug targets for breast cancer and working with UQ’s QEDDI to turn this into a drug with a commercialisation pathway. While Prof Jenny Couper will talk about her work on the ENDIA project, which is following babies from the pregnancy into early childhood to find out what causes type 1 diabetes.
Matthew Britland specialises in bringing science into clinical practice. He will share his insights into how scientists can effectively bridge their laboratory expertise into the clinic via industry and patient engagement. Lastly, we will hear from a technology transfer expert on how to understand if a solution to a clinical question actually has what is needed to be translatable: what do you need to consider if your work is to have any chance at being commercialised by industry.
Speakers
How to find a therapeutic target
Professor Gregory Monteith, Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland
Dr Brian Dymock, Head, QEDDI and Dr Kim Beaumont, Senior Drug Discovery Scientist, QEDDI
Prof Monteith’s research group is focused on identifying new drug targets for the treatment of sub‐types of breast cancer which still have a poor prognosis. His research group has attracted over $15 million in medical research funding from Australian and USA grant agencies. His work specifically focuses on calcium signaling in cancer cells, with publications in Cell, Nature Reviews Cancer, Oncogene and PNAS. Alumni from his research team include leading University based biomedical researchers and senior staff working in pharmaceutical companies and global contract research organizations servicing the health care industry.
Designing a cohort study to find biomarkers and connect with research
Professor Jennifer Couper, Head, Discipline of Paediatrics, Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide
Prof Jenny Couper is an active clinician as a paediatric endocrinologist and was Head of the Discipline of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide and Head of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Department, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, SA from 2001 to 2021. Her clinical research has focused on two areas in type 1 diabetes: the prevention of type 1 diabetes, and the prevention of cardiovascular complications in children with type 1 diabetes. She leads the first investigations of the prenatal and early origins of childhood type 1 diabetes (the ENDIA study www.endia.org.au) and has refined early biomarkers and strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease. She is a member of the Advisory Council of the International Society of Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) and a co –author of national and international guidelines for the management of type 1 diabetes.
Bridging the science-medical-consumer-industry environments in translating a clinical question
Matthew Britland, Founder & Director, Pharmedsciences, President, Medical Affairs Professionals of Australia (MAPA)
Matt is an experienced Senior Medical Manager with a long history of working in the pharmaceuticals industry and clinical roles. Skilled in Pharmaceutical Medicine, Oncology and Haematology. Matt is a strong professional with a MMedSc focused in Pharmaceutical Medicine from UNSW Australia. Matt now lectures in Pharmaceutical Medicine at UNSW. One of Matt’s main ambitions is the development of the Medical Affairs Profession and the ethical and effective implementation of the MSL role. Matt is the Secretary of the Australian Medical and Scientific Professional Association (APPA) which is the representative association for Medical Affairs in Australia and is dedicated to promoting excellence in pharmaceutical medicine through professional development, networking and advocacy.
What do you need to consider to ensure there is a commercial pathway
Dr Tamsin Terry, Director, Commercialisation - Life Sciences, UniQuestTamsin is Commercialisation Director
Tamsin is Commercialisation Director– Life Sciences at UniQuest with a particular focus in oncology, infectious disease and vaccines. Tamsin has an extensive background in Australian and UK research commercialisation and medtech industries encompassing small molecule drug and biologic development and medical device with additional experience in vaccine development and gene expression-based diagnostic assays/biomarkers. Prior to joining UniQuest in July 2018, Tamsin was R&D Director for the Wound Management Innovation CRC, responsible for directing research and development strategy across the CRC’s portfolio of innovative wound-focused research and had previous Research Director roles start-ups commercialising small molecule and antibody therapeutics and expression-based diagnostics.
