Tuesday Sep 03, 2024

Day 00: Kicking off our journey Road to the Max: Australia

In the not too distant future, to protect our civilization, we need heroes. Life science heroes…

We’re back with the 6th installment of our epic “Road To…” series. This year, our team is headed Down Under to get up close and personal with Australia’s biotech and pharma industries. Colloquially referred to as “The Sunburnt Country,” Australia is the skin cancer capital of the world. The country is estimated to have seen almost 20,000 cases of melanoma among its population in 2023 alone — meaning it accounted for roughly 11% of new cancer diagnoses among Australians – with an astonishing 400,000 or more treated for non-melanoma skin cancers. As a result, cancer research and innovation is vitally important to the safety and well-being of the citizens of Oz.

Welcome to Another Edition of Thunderdome!

Our team is determined to seek out and meet the life science heroes on the forefront of Australia’s burgeoning pharma and biopharma research ecosystem. Follow our six Road Warriors as they head to the other side of the world and hit the road to uncover the future of Australia’s pharma industry on our highest-octane thrill ride yet – Road to the Max: Australia.

wheeler
Ergomed
PrimeVigilance
Genezen
Touchlight
Samsung Biologics
Coriolis
Frontier
DataHow
Ampersand Capital
NAS
Avant Bio
Minafin
Seran
Infinity
Kicking off Road to the Max: Australia, Nigel Walker talks with Michael Moussourakis, VP of Strategy at Alconox.

As the very first interview of this road trip — and the one who helped us kick off our Road to 50 States journey back in 2021 — Michael offers insights into the technologies reshaping the pharmaceutical landscape. With Australia facing some of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, Michael discusses how Alconox is pioneering cleaning solutions to keep pharmaceutical products safe and contaminant-free, supporting the manufacturing of biologics and cosmetics like sunscreen, to protect patients and uphold regulatory standards.

Adama, Rocco, and Lucas getting a first look at the interior of the Interceptor.
Check out those tires — perfect for burnouts!
You'll know when our team is headed your way because you'll hear us.
The Interceptor's not-so-child-friendly child safety lock.
Not sure why this even has brake lights. We just need the gas pedal.
They don't make 'em like this anymore.
"And right there's the flux capacitor." Wait, that was two road trips ago.
Richard "Rocco" Mansbridge assuming the role of Grease Rat for the road trip.
"Let's see what we're working with here. Yes, I think that'll do just fine."
Nigel Walker assuming the role of the one and only "Mad" Max Rockatansky for the road trip.
Windswept Clint O'Neil and Rocco Mansbridge walking the beach.
The maiden shot of the Interceptor in all its glory!
Hop in, we're going for a ride.
The Interceptor sports an authentic signature from Tim Burns, AKA Mad Max's Johnny the Boy.
The blazing Australian sun is the reason Rocco's always got his shades on.
Interior autographs from the original Mad Max cast.
Mark Gostick assuming the role of Nightrider for the road trip.
Phill Neill assuming the role of Goose for the road trip.