AusHealth, 65 Hardys Road Underdale, Adelaide (2025)

20/10/2025

ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE 2025 AUSHEALTH CURECELL AWARDS

AusHealth CEO Dr Justin Coombs is delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 AusHealth CureCell Awards.

This year, seven PhD students from leading Australian universities and research institutes each receive $10,000 to support their living expenses as they pursue breakthrough research in medical science.

The 2025 winners are:

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴 (The University of Queensland): FLVCR2 as a novel gateway for brain therapeutics and glioblastoma treatment
𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘆 (SAHMRI), receiving the Pan Macedonian Federation of SA CureCell Award: Generation of a microbiome-oriented adjuvant therapy for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 (University of Adelaide): Engineering next-generation colorectal cancer treatments
𝗧𝘂𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗺 (Flinders University), receiving the Marine Bioproducts CRC CureCell Award for Marine Medical Biotech: A wound healing hydrogel based on plasma-assisted microalgae extract
𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶 (The Florey Institute): Unlocking brain-penetrating antisense therapies for neurological diseases
𝗞𝗲𝗹𝘀𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre): The clone claw: A novel platform for precise isolation and molecular profiling of rare MRD-resistant clones driving AML relapse
𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 (University of Adelaide) receiving the SMART CRC CureCell Award: Dual action gene editing strategy for treating dominant negative or toxic-gain of function mutations

Entries for the 2025 Awards close to doubled from last year, with 65 PhD students applying from 13 national institutions across five states. The standard of submissions was exceptionally high, making the awards process highly competitive.

According to Justin, “The Awards are only in their second year, so we’re thrilled with the number of applications and inspired by the range and depth of submissions. And it's terrific to see so many universities and research institutions being represented.”

Justin says it's important to support Australia’s next generation of researchers: “People don’t realise how little money Australian PhD researchers get by on. These cash prizes are intended to relieve financial pressures – and I’m delighted to have fellow co-sponsors who appreciate that we need to lend this extra support.”

AusHealth will be releasing a series of interviews with the 2025 CureCell Award winners over coming weeks, highlighting their research and the impact of the Awards on their work.

Clockwise L to R: Kelsy, Lachlan, Tuyet Thi Giang, Cate, Matteo, Matthew, Julia with Tina and Belinda (AusHealth).

For more information, please contact curecell@aushealth.com.au
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AusHealth is Australia’s largest self-funded medical research charity. In 2024, the Adelaide-based charity donated $4.5 million to scientists developing new disease therapies, AI-powered clinical solutions and novel healthcare technologies.
Websites: curecell.org | aushealth.com.au

29/09/2025

Breathe easy: the remarkable story of David Cranston, AusHealth’s bacteriophage pioneer patient

When nasal surgery left Adelaide nurse David Cranston fighting a drug-resistant infection, traditional treatments offered little relief. Struggling to breathe and spending hundreds of dollars a week to manage his symptoms, he turned to bacteriophage therapy, a century-old approach now being revived as a potential weapon against antibiotic-resistant superbugs. David became the first patient treated by the AusHealth Phage Therapy Centre, an Adelaide-based research facility at the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research. Researchers developed a personalised therapy that dramatically improved David's quality of life — and now offers fresh hope to others suffering from similar infections.

The AusHealth Phage Therapy Centre was set up through a collaboration between AusHealth and The University of Adelaide.

Read the full article here:https://www.aushealth.com.au/latest-news/

22/09/2025

Sharing science with people who want to make a difference

AusHealth’s Business Development and Commercialisation Manager, Dr Tina Lavranos, was delighted to speak at a special high tea fundraiser at the Hellenic Macedonian Cultural Centre, hosted by the Society of Pavlos Melas.

The event drew more than 100 people, all eager to hear about the incredible scientific research being supported by AusHealth. Tina shared updates on projects seeking new treatments for the likes of myelofibrosis (a rare bone marrow cancer), diabetes and drug-resistant infections. She was joined by presenters Dr Winnie Kan and Professor Angel Lopez.

For many in the room, the science was deeply personal.

“It was lovely to speak with people keen to share their own experiences with cancer after the presentation,” says Tina. “They were very interested to learn that scientists are still working hard to discover the next generation of therapies. Equally inspiring is the Society’s efforts to engage younger generations, ensuring the legacy of giving, learning and supporting science continues well into the future.”

The fundraiser was also an opportunity to make a tangible difference: the Society of Pavlos Melas generously donated proceeds of over $2,000 to the AusHealth CureCell Awards, supporting PhD students who are advancing cell and biological therapies.

According to AusHealth CEO, Dr Justin Coombs, “It’s incredibly inspiring to see communities come together in support of science. The generosity of the Society of Pavlos Melas not only helps fund vital medical research but also moves the next generation to believe in the difference medical breakthroughs can make.

“Events like this remind us that behind every breakthrough is a community of people who want to see science change people’s lives.”

Over its life AusHealth has contributed more than $50 million to Australian-led research in disease therapies, AI-powered clinical solutions and novel healthcare technologies.

Since becoming a registered charity in 2023, AusHealth gratefully accepts donations and bequests from individuals and companies.

If you would like to help us make tomorrow healthier for all Australians by arranging a donation or bequest, please contact AusHealth Ventures: ventures@aushealth.com.au

The AusHealth Hospital Research Fund LTD is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) under ABN 85 657 333 858.

09/09/2025

BUSTING THE MYTHS OF MEDICAL RESEARCH

By Associate Professor Daniel Thomas

Daniel Thomas is a clinical haematologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and cancer scientist who develops new drugs for the treatment of rare and hard-to-treat cancers. As Program Director of Blood Cancers at SAHMRI, he leads a creative and innovative cancer research laboratory.

𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵: 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 ‘𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮 𝗽𝗶𝗴𝘀’

Probably the biggest myth to bust is that medical research treats people as guinea pigs, or that science ‘experiments on people’. I work as a blood cancer specialist and patients on our medical research trials live a lot longer than other patients. That's been shown repeatedly in oncology and haematology. There is incredible trial activity taking place because of medical research, and patients can move from one life-saving treatment to another. So, the majority of cancer patients do not feel like they’re ‘guinea pigs’ – they've had access to something life-changing when there were no other options.

In addition, many people don’t realise how complex human ethics approvals are in order for research to continue. I'm very busy, but a big chunk of my time is spent carefully writing and amending human ethics protocols to make sure everything is done properly.

𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵: 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 – 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁

Medical research is a lot more creative than people realise. It's not just rote-learning facts in a scientific textbook, it can involve believing in your gut that something might be real before you can completely prove it. You have an idea, but you also need to be open to being wrong.

Most of our discoveries in the last 15 years have been serendipitous. They came about when we were working on something, then we noticed something unusual. So yes, you do need experience to tell that something is unusual – but most of it is completely out of your control.

The cell and the human body is still infinitely more complex than any computer. My personal worldview helps to enjoy rather than be terrified by that! Interestingly, so far AI is not going to come up with amazing research outcomes, because large language models are mostly based on what has been done before and probability. It's not trained to creatively do something really different and does not have intrinsic understanding of why something worked.

Read the full article: https://www.aushealth.com.au/busting-the-myths-of-medical-research/

26/08/2025

AusHealth CureCell Awards applications surge in 2025

Entries for the AusHealth CureCell Awards have nearly doubled this year, with 65 PhD students applying from 13 national institutions in five states.

The projects represent a wide range of cell and biological therapies addressing an equally broad range of medical conditions including many types of cancer, spinal cord injury, chronic inflammation, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease and wound infections.

AusHealth CEO Dr Justin Coombs says: “The AusHealth CureCell Awards are only in their second year, so we’re thrilled with the number of applications and inspired by the range and depth of submissions. It's also terrific to see so many universities and research institutions being represented.”

The AusHealth team are now reviewing the submissions and a shortlist of finalists will be announced in early September.

The AusHealth CureCell Awards are designed to help ease the financial burden for PhD students by providing $10,000 to support living costs while they pursue cell or biological therapy-related research.

We look forward to sharing more soon!

18/08/2025

SA Health’s Sunrise is ready to make us the envy of the world

By Dr James Malacha

James Malycha is a senior intensive care doctor at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. In November, he’ll be demonstrating a new system to the world’s largest healthcare informatics symposium. The system is called CCCIS and it integrates SA Health’s Electronic Medical Records (EMR) with a state-of-the-art AI solution. Within just a year, it could not only relieve pressure on overworked hospital staff, it could give them a clinical tool that will be the envy of the world. And the crazy thing? This new system perfectly mirrors the old bedside chart…

Read the full article at https://www.aushealth.com.au/sa-healths-sunrise-is-ready-to-make-us-the-envy-of-the-world/

06/08/2025

What do platypus venom, GLP-1 hormones, and mice at ‘fat camp’ have in common?

They’re all part of Platypep — a research project that’s building on platypus venom in a bid to create an ‘Australian Ozempic’.

Last month, AusHealth CEO Dr Justin Coombs joined Rory McClaren on ABC Radio Adelaide to talk about the incredible science behind Platypep — and how the project is developing what could be the next big thing in diabetes and obesity treatment.

🎙️ In the segment, Justin breaks down:

👉 Why a male platypus needs venom in the first place — and why it’s medically useful!
👉 The science behind GLP-1 and what makes Platypep better than current drugs
👉 Where the project is headed — and why the world should be watching.

He also fields questions from curious ABC 891 listeners!

🎧 Listen to the full interview below.

29/07/2025

AusHealth’s new partnership with Kynetyka Technologies supports a device that will dramatically speed up DVT diagnosis and reduce healthcare costs...

AusHealth’s new partnership with Kynetyka Technologies supports a device that promises to dramatically speed up DVT diagnosis and reduce healthcare costs both nationally and internationally

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg. It’s commonly perceived as a risk of flying, but many cases occur in hospitals, clinics and aged care facilities.

DVT can prove lethal.

Before any treatment, a DVT must be diagnosed, which currently relies on expensive ultrasound tests that can take up to 24 hours.

Enter DVTect – a new, medical device for super-fast DVT screening at the bedside, created by Adelaide-based company Kynetyka Technologies and supported by AusHealth.

This new screening tool comprises a sensor, as well as software which does the ‘thinking’ and provides the result.

So how does it work?

When a patient has a DVT in their leg, the muscles of the calf respond differently to movement. Kynetyka’s DVTect measures this change through a sensor attached to the patient’s calf: the calf is given a light tap to initiate movement and the resulting muscle oscillation waveform is transmitted to the software, which measures the waveform and analyses it for the presence of a DVT.

The entire process takes a few minutes.

DVTect is easy to use at the bedside in hospitals and clinics by nurses or technicians, with minimal inconvenience to the patient. In addition, it is much more affordable than current practice – alternative hand-held scanning devices start around $6000, while large hospital ultrasounds are closer to $200,000.

The device has already aced a pilot study and, with AusHealth funding, is about to undergo further clinical trials with patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH).

Kynetyka is also collaborating with AI developer HeartAI, which is based at AusHealth’s commercialisation hub, The Accelerator. The HeartAI team will be refining the software based on data collected from the RAH.

Kynetyka CEO Craig Newton says, “This welcome collaboration with AusHealth will support outcomes such as defined sensitivity and specificity performance, readying DVTect for final hardware and software development, and ultimately routine clinical use and sales.”

According to AusHealth CEO Justin Coombs, “DVTect has the potential to accelerate DVT diagnosis, save lives and reduce healthcare costs both here in Australia and around the world.

“Kynetyka’s project is a great example of the Australian med tech innovation that AusHealth is proud to support on the path to patient impact.”

If all goes well, Kynetyka envisages a time soon when hospital staff, aged care workers and remote communities will be able to quickly, easily and affordably test for deep vein thrombosis. Maybe one day, even frequent flyers will be able to access the device from their local chemist.

Pictured left to right: AusHealth's Divisional Manager (Ventures) Belinda Wade, Kynetyka COO Peter Bradley, and AusHealth's BD Manager Dr Tina Lavranos

22/07/2025

PHD STUDENTS – COULD $10,000 HELP WITH YOUR LIVING COSTS?

The 2025 AusHealth CureCell Awards are closing soon – only ONE WEEK LEFT to apply!
Applications need to be received by 31 July.

Are you a PhD student doing a cell or biological therapy-related project? If so, apply NOW for one of five $10,000 awards available.

Not For Profit charities AusHealth and CureCell are committed to translating cutting-edge research into real-world, commercial outcomes. The awards – intended to help with living costs – will be made to five students currently enrolled in a PhD, whose research projects have real potential for clinical impact.

Application is simple!

✅ Applicants should send AusHealth a one-page brief (in pdf format) outlining their PhD project, considering the judging criteria.
✅ In the event of shortlisting, AusHealth might ask finalists to give a five-minute pitch presentation.
✅ Briefs should be sent to curecell@aushealth.com.au

Applications need to be received by 31 July 2025. Winners will be announced before 30 September 2025.
Find out all the details: https://www.curecell.org/
Please email curecell@aushealth.com.au with any questions.

15/07/2025

Patently obvious? Six traps waiting for scientists who are anxious to patent their discovery…

By patent attorney, Dr Leigh Guerin.

1. The Timing Trap: file an early patent at your peril!
Scientists often rush to patent their ideas as soon as lightning strikes, unaware that early filing starts an expensive and time-sensitive clock. A 20-year-patent for instance starts the minute you file it: if it takes you another 10 years to get your idea to market, you’ve effectively lost half of any potential value. And by the way, once you’ve filed, the train has left the station and you can’t bring it back.

The key is strategic timing – or as I like to say, ‘talk early, file late’. Consult with experts early, but delay filing until you have substantial data and a clear commercial pathway for your discovery. Each year you postpone filing potentially increases the value of your patent by allowing for more research, market validation and commercial appeal.

Not unrelated, I recommend using a patent attorney as an advisor well before you use him/her to file for your patent application.

2. The Publishing Pitfall: the dilemma of disclosing too much
Academic researchers frequently fall into the trap of publishing research before securing patent protection, which can destroy the novelty and patentability of their invention. And look, we get it, the pressure to publish is intense. But once you’ve made your idea public, it’s in the public domain and can be used against your future patent applications – even though you’re the one who made it public! That’s why we recommend working with patent attorneys and/or university technology transfer offices. It really can pay to ask.

3. The Hidden Cost Iceberg: look out below!
Scientists dramatically underestimate the true cost of patent protection. A simple Australian patent can cost around $10,000 – but that can quickly escalate to $250,000 or more if you’re considering multiple jurisdictions (patents for different countries). Costs include initial preparation, filing in multiple jurisdictions and responding to patent office queries as they challenge the ‘novel’ and ‘inventive’ nature of your idea. Beware also that it’s not a one-cost solution: the patent process involves ongoing prosecution, maintenance fees and, on rare occasions, legal challenges.

Read the full article at www.aushealth.com.au/latest-news/

14/07/2025

AusHealth’s partnership with Ventora Medical will advance an innovative device that promises to improve breathing support for newborns

Each year in Australia, 30,000 newborns will need some form of respiratory support. This includes 10,000 premature babies whose lungs are not fully developed.

Existing neonatal respiratory support methods – such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) – have a flaw: owing to factors such as interface fit, leaks and airway resistance, clinicians can’t tell how much pressure is reaching the baby’s upper airways.

As a result, clinicians need to rely on a ‘guess and check’ method that can lead to over- or under-delivery of pressure. This may cause secondary respiratory complications, prolong the baby’s hospital stay, or increase the risk of long-term health issues.

Now, a Melbourne-based medical technology startup called Ventora Medical has created a device that continuously measures airway pressure for babies on non-invasive breathing support.

According to Edward Buijs, CEO and co-founder of Ventora Medical, “Our clinical pilot study demonstrated that babies with similar weight and clinical status, receiving the same prescribed level of support, were sometimes receiving markedly different airway pressures.”

Ventora’s solution is the Ventora Airway Pressure Monitor.

The innovative dual-function device combines airway pressure monitoring with the functionality of a feeding tube. It provides clinicians with objective feedback of the actual pressure being delivered to the baby’s airways, to enable better informed, proactive and tailored treatment.

It also minimises invasiveness to the baby, with minimal change to medical procedure.

By making the invisible visible, Ventora hopes to reduce the incidence and severity of breathing-related complications, decrease failures of non-invasive support, and ultimately improve survival and long-term health outcomes for newborns.

According to AusHealth Ventures Manager Belinda Wade, “AusHealth’s funding will support an ongoing clinical feasibility trial at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Victoria to help validate the safety, performance and usability of Ventora’s device in a real-world clinical environment. It will also help to miniaturise the current prototype.

“We are thrilled to support this groundbreaking Australian innovation and help Ventora evolve their research from the lab, through clinical trials to commercialisation and marketplace.”

The global annual sales for neonatal respiratory devices are approximately A$3 billion with further growth forecast. The use of non-invasive breathing support has increased 8.7% annually in Australian and New Zealand NICUs from 2010 to 2019.

According to Edward Buijs, the current feasibility study will also allow Ventora to evaluate how patient, user and environmental factors may influence device performance, and confirm the effectiveness of device design updates.

“This feasibility study is critical to ensuring Ventora’s Airway Pressure Monitor functions safely and effectively in its intended clinical environment.

“Ventora is delighted to partner with AusHealth to undertake this important research, which aims to create a new standard of neonatal respiratory care.”

09/07/2025

2025 CureCell Awards are open for applications! Reminder: they close on 31 July.

If you’re a PhD researcher working in the field of cell and biological therapy, we invite you to apply for an extra $10,000 to help cover living expenses this year.

Even better, you can use the funds for absolutely anything – including a long overdue holiday!

Unsure whether to apply? Here’s some encouragement from last year’s winners.

“I'd say just go for it! The worst thing somebody can say is ‘no’, right? And the application process really wasn't too difficult – in fact, I found the exercise useful. It focusses your mind on your project and how to best sell it."
👌 Dylan McPeake, 2024 CureCell Awards winner

"If you do it earlier in your PhD, it might open doors to commercialisation programs including accelerators that universities or CSIRO might be running. It's a great way to explore that aspect of your project."
👌 Rakshanyar Sekar, 2024 CureCell Awards winner

Applications need to be received by 31 July 2025. Winners will be announced before 30 September 2025.
Find out all the details: https://www.curecell.org/
Please email curecell@aushealth.com.au with any questions.

📸 courtesy 2024 CureCell Awards winner Max Garwood, pictured with the bike he purchased using part of the money from his Award. "Since getting the bike I have ridden to uni every single day (yes, even in rain … but it’s Brisbane rain)!"

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