UWS part of the green biotech revolution

A UWS developed biotechnology has been recognised in an article published in the May/June edition of Life Scientist. Titled “Biotech spotlight: big deals”, the article highlights a select group of biotechnology companies to watch in the year ahead. In the article, Western Australian company Bio-Gene Technology Ltd is mentioned for its development of Qcide, a revolutionary natural insecticide. Developed as part of a research collaboration between UWS, Southern Cross University (SCU) and Bioprospect Ltd, the intellectual property has been assigned exclusively to Bio-Gene Technology, which has worldwide rights to the technology.

Qcide is being developed as a new, environmentally friendly treatment for household and agricultural pests. The technology is based on Tasmanone, a natural insecticide derived from the leaves of Eucalyptus cloeziana, a forest tree species found in areas of Queensland. The active molecule exhibits a unique mode of action thought to be targeting the octopermine receptor in insects. This has been identified as the basis for a patenting and for commercialisation of the compound as an insecticide with applications in urban pest control, crop protection and animal health.

Bio-Gene believes that Qcide has the potential to make significant inroads into the global marketplace, where it will offer a greener alternative to established products such as additives required now to combat pyrethrum resistance. Pyrethrum which has a global market currently valued at US$500 million a year.

We encourage you to watch this space for future developments of this exciting technology.If you have any inquiries about harnessing UWS research for your business, please contact UWS Innovation & Consulting on (02) 9685 9742 or by email at ip@uws.edu.au

Researchers in Business (RiB) program holds great potential

UWS recognises that successful partnerships with industry are essential for university research to reach the market and ultimately benefit the public. In keeping with this maxim, we see the Reseachers in Business (RiB) program as a great initiative that will play an important role in enhancing the transfer of university intellectual capital into practical business applications.
The Australian Government has committed $10 million within Enterprise Connect to support the placement of researchers from universities or public research agencies, into businesses that wish to develop a new idea with commercial potential. Funding for up to 50 per cent of salary costs, to a maximum of $50,000 will be provided for placements spanning from 2 to 12 months.

Examples of eligible research projects include:

· Product innovation – developing and testing new, or improved products or services
· Process innovation – addressing production/process issues
· Marketing innovation – analysing brand, product or service consumer perceptions and impact in the market
· Environmental sustainability – identifying, measuring pollution/waste reduction opportunities
· Mathematical science – quantitative analysis/modelling of data to improve product, process or marketing innovation.

The RiB program may be of particular use to researchers and businesses that have applied for an ARC linkage grant and narrowly missed out on selection. UWS I&C welcome interested parties to contact us to explore opportunities on how our researchers may be able to collaborate with you. Please contact us on 9685 9742 or at ip@uws.edu.au

UWS Intellectual Property (IP) Evaluation Panel

Image: (left to right) Dr Fiona Cameron, Mitchell Low and Dr Peter Brown

UWS’s innovation capability was showcased at this year’s second IP Evaluation Panel, which took place on July 5th at the historic Female Orphan School, Parramatta South Campus.

The panel comprised a number of prominent people from within the life science and innovation industries, and academics representing each of UWS’s Colleges, Health Science, Arts and Business and Law. Dr Phil Kearney (Director - External Licensing at Merck Sharpe and Dohme), Hamish Hawthorn (CEO, ATP-Innovations), Dr John Arkwright (CSIRO), and Dr Peter Brown (Senior Associate, Griffith Hack) provided valuable external views to the discussion. With combined expertise in technology transfer and pharmaceuticals, they were able to provide valuable insight into the commercialisation potential of a new invention from Dr Anya Salih that could excite interest in the market for fluorescent tags used in research. Other inventions from the School of Natural Sciences and the Medical School provided stimulating discussions amongst the panel.

Jean Bunton, a UWS PhD student presented an entrepreneurial business pitch called “Sing the Sounds of English”. Being her first time pitching her business idea to a panel, Jean thought it was a great experience. “Presenting the work developed from my Honours project, which was to write songs and music for young children with the aim of teaching English, was a chance to get feedback from experts outside my area of study. Preparing the presentation itself helped me clarify exactly what I was looking for in terms of finding an industry partner. The questions I was asked by the Panel were quite surprising as they came from different angles, but they helped me see which direction I should concentrate my ideas. There were many suggestions of ways I could extend the scope of my project. I now have some potential links with industry which I couldn’t have found in any other way.”

This latest panel stimulated very robust discussion of the exciting technologies and ideas. Our thanks to the dynamic panel members of the day; Dr Peter Brown (Patent Attorney, Griffith Hack), Dr Hugh Pattinson (College of Business and Law), Mitchell Low (PhD student - Centre for Complementary Medicine), Dr Michael O’Connor (College of Health and Science), Debbie Bailey (Office of Research Services ), Dr Phil Kearney (Merck Sharp & Dohme), Dr John Arkwright (CSIRO), Dr Christian Kroos (College of Arts-MARCS), Hamish Hawthorn (ATP-Innovation), and Dr Fiona Cameron (UWS I&C, Chair).Other IP Evaluation Panel dates for 2011 are:

»» Friday, 9 September 2011

»»Friday, 11 November 2011

Please contact us on ip@uws.edu.au if you have an interest in research or commercialisation of university IP.