Six Australian health technology and biotech startups have shared $13.5 million in funding through the second round of the federal government-backed CUREator+ commercialisation program.
The funding includes almost $6 million for three companies developing AI-enabled cardiovascular technology, digital biomarkers and a platform for assessing vertigo and dizziness.
Melbourne-based WeGuide has been awarded $1.95 million to develop its AI-powered platform for the development and commercialisation of digital biomarkers using wearable, clinical and patient-generated health data.
WA-based Navier Medical will receive $2.13 million for its AI-enabled cardiac CT technology, which uses risk markers from routine CT scans to improve the prediction and prevention of heart attacks.
Navier Medical CEO Sander Bangma said the funding would support a prospective clinical trial, further development of the platform and its progression towards commercial readiness.
“Preventing heart attacks starts with seeing the disease earlier,” Mr Bangma said.
“Our Navier Heart platform turns routine CT scans into a powerful tool for early detection and personalised treatment of cardiovascular disease, by revealing the high-risk vessels hiding in plain sight.”
Also in WA, Neurotologix has been awarded $1.95 million to commercialise an integrated platform for the objective assessment of vertigo and dizziness.
The remaining funding will go to three biotech companies, with Aleris Therapeutics and Frontier Inflammasome Therapeutics each receiving $2.5 million to develop therapies for inflammatory diseases.
Luma Bio has also received $2.5 million to develop peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals for targeted cancer imaging and treatment.
ANDHealth CEO Bronwyn Le Grice said the successful companies demonstrated Australia’s capabilities in AI-enabled diagnostics, digitally enabled models of care and data-driven biomarkers.
“We’re focused on supporting them to become globally competitive companies that deliver better outcomes for patients in Australia and around the world,” Ms Le Grice said.
CUREator program head Dr Amanda Vrselja said the program was designed to address the gap between Australian medical research and commercialisation.
“Australia produces outstanding medical research, but too many promising discoveries struggle to access the expertise, capital and commercial support needed to reach patients,” Dr Vrselja said.
CUREator+ is delivered by Brandon BioCatalyst in partnership with ANDHealth and is funded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and provides milestone-based, non-dilutive funding alongside commercialisation support and access to industry networks, with the aim of moving medical and digital health technologies towards investment, clinical adoption and commercialisation.
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