Monash leads the way with MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellows
Two Monash researchers have been announced this week as the 2022 MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellows.
Dr Warwick Nesbitt from the Victorian Heart Institute and Dr Gregory Stewart from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will each receive a $20,000 stipend and access to mentorship and events to take their research through the next steps to commercialisation.
The Menzies Foundation partners with MedTech Actuator on a ‘talent investor’ approach, supporting high potential science entrepreneurs cross the bridge from research institution to the development of an enterprise for investors.
As part of their Fellowship, Dr Nesbitt and Dr Stewart will connect with potential public and private partners across the Asia-Pacific.
Dr Warwick Nesbitt, Head of the Haematology Micro-platforms Group within the Australian Centre for Blood Disease, leads a multidisciplinary group focused on the development of new ‘lab-on-a-chip’ technologies with a broad range of potential applications, including cell biology research, new diagnostics and new antithrombotic drug discovery.
Speaking on being awarded the Fellowship, Dr Nesbitt said:
“My hope is that by developing better tests of blood function we can improve the clinical management of cardiovascular disease patients. Through the MedTech Actuator Menzies Fellowship I hope to develop a better understanding of the MedTech landscape in Australia and internationally, and to access the experience, expertise, and networks necessary to commercialise our lab-on-a-chip technologies.”
Dr Gregory Stewart, Research Fellow in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, works between academia and the pharmaceutical industry with the goal of delivering better medicines for the treatment of mental health issues.
On receiving the Fellowship, Dr Stewart said:
“Mental health issues have touched my personal life as they have touched the lives of the vast majority of people. The current medicines to treat diseases, like schizophrenia, are far from ideal. My drive is to create new medicines for psychiatric diseases to improve the quality of life of those affected.”
Monash University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AC congratulated the Monash recipients on this remarkable recognition.
“These fellowships are a testament to the work of Dr Nesbitt and Dr Stewart, recognising the outstanding quality of research and its potential – with support from industry and partners – to provide significant benefit for patients and communities around the world,” Professor Gardner said.
The full announcement from the Menzies Foundation can be found here.