The University of Queensland’s capabilities in drug discovery and development are set to be strengthened by a new partnership between UniQuest and global biotech company Molecule to Medicine (MTM).
The collaboration will align UniQuest’s Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative (QEDDI) with MTM to foster the formation of new biotech companies in Brisbane and translate academic research into new medicines.
UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss said the collaboration will benefit UQ and the Brisbane biotech start-up space.
“MTM is renowned for bringing together the right people, funding and innovative technologies to create successful biotech companies with the capability to advance new therapies for patients that need them,” Dr Moss said.
“This partnership brings potential treatments a step closer to the clinic, with investment from the UniQuest Extension Fund.”
The fund has invested $1 million in new biotech start-up Lucia Bio, spun-out from UQ’s School of Biomedical Sciences to develop a potential best-in-class anti-inflammatory treatment.
Lucia Bio is the first new entity to be established as part of MTM's expansion into Australia.