Minister for State Development and Acting Minister for Small Business Ian Macdonald has announced nearly $1 million in grants to help innovative life science companies develop and commercialise new research projects.
Ten 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.
"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 $950,700 in Proof of Concept grants were awarded 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Kings Park company Protech Research ($74,700) to develop enzyme technology that can alter the structure of wheat gluten to produce unique ingredients for use in nutrition-enhanced foods, beverages, snacks and breakfast cereals. The enzyme system will be targeted at flour and starch markets and will aim to capture gluten that is currently lost during processing
- Rockdale company Cellixe Pty Ltd ($80,850) for the prototype design, development and testing of an injection device called the "ReGun" which will be used to inject a patented protein preparation to help regenerate damaged spinal disc tissue in patients
- Eveleigh company Elastagen Pty Ltd ($100,000) of the Australian Technology Park to produce a synthetic version of tropoelastin which provides human tissues such as skin with its stretchy characteristic. The synthetic injectable elastin will be used for a range of cosmetic and surgical applications.