THE University of Queensland (UQ) is expanding its drug discovery and development capabilities through a new partnership between UniQuest and global biotech firm Molecule to Medicine (MTM).
This collaboration aims to accelerate the formation of biotech companies in Brisbane and change UQ's academic research into innovative medicines.
UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss highlighted the partnership's potential to strengthen UQ and Brisbane's biotech ecosystem.
"MTM is known for uniting the right people, funding, and technologies to create biotech companies that can advance new therapies for patients," Dr Moss said.
The UniQuest Extension Fund has committed $1 million to Lucia Bio, a new biotech start-up from UQ's School of Biomedical Sciences focused on developing anti-inflammatory treatments.
Initially, Lucia Bio will explore therapies for neuroinflammatory diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neurone disease.
MTM Chair Dr Tom McCarthy praised UQ's research, saying, "the quality of UQ's research is recognised globally, and we're eager to work with UniQuest to advance innovative discoveries and close the translational gap".
CEO Kirsty McCarthy underscored MTM's commitment to fostering globally connected drug research and development ecosystems, leveraging international funding and science networks.
"Our culture at MTM drives the creation and scaling of biotech companies to maximise research translation into successful clinical programs," she said.
This partnership builds on UniQuest's relationship with Dr McCarthy, who was formerly CEO of UQ start-up Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, acquired by Novartis for $200 million in 2015. JG
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