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Monday Sep 16, 2024

Day 09: Breaking New Ground in Life Sciences and Oncology

Infectious Disease Innovation at UNSW

Day 09 marks a major milestone on the Road to the Max: Australia as we hit the halfway point of our journey and spend our first full day in Sydney. The day kicked off with a visit to the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where we met with Merlin Crossley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Quality, Professor Ewa Goldys, and Paul Watt, Executive Chair and Co-Founder of Avicena. Paul shared how Avicena is developing low-cost, ultra-high-throughput molecular diagnostic and screening instruments, offering transformative solutions for healthcare. The team at UNSW also enlightened us on their tech-forward educational mission and groundbreaking research in curing infectious diseases, providing a glimpse into the future of life sciences.

The Next Generation of Cancer Therapeutics

After our campus and lab tour, we headed downtown to meet with Christian Toouli, CEO and Managing Director of FivepHusion. This innovative company, founded by oncologists, is focused on curing solid tumors, including stage 4 cancers, with next-gen-formulated therapeutics designed to be safer and more effective. Christian offered us an inside look into how FivepHusion is tackling some of the toughest challenges in oncology. Day 09 was a deep dive into the heart of Sydney’s biotech, diagnostics, and oncology landscape. As we pass the halfway point of this epic journey, we’re more inspired than ever by the cutting-edge work being done to transform healthcare. Stay tuned as we continue to uncover what’s next on the Road to the Max: Australia!

Avicena Systems
Fermion
FivepHusion
Flagship Pioneering
Flightpath
Fortitude Investment Partners
Frontier Scientific Solutions
Gamma Biosciences
Garonit Pharmaceutical
GBI
GC Cell
Genezen
K-Crab
NAS
UNSW University of New South Wales
Avicena Systems' Cutting-Edge Biopreparedness and Testing Platform

Avicena has developed a scalable rapid molecular diagnostics platform that enables nations and organizations to quickly identify and contain potential outbreaks. Tony Fitzgerald, CEO, and Dr. Paul Watt, CSO, discuss how lessons learned from the pandemic have shaped their approach to building resilient systems capable of responding to the rapid spread of pathogens among humans and animals, helping safeguard global health.

University-Industry Partnerships Tackling Genetic Disease Therapies and Diagnostic Innovation

In this interview, we visited the UNSW campus to speak with Professor Merlin Crossley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Quality at UNSW, Dr. Paul Watt, Executive Chairman & CSO of Avicena, and Professor Ewa Goldys, Scientia Professor at UNSW. Professor Crossley discusses UNSW’s 75-year innovation-forward mission and its groundbreaking research on genetic diseases. Dr. Watt provides insights into Avicena’s cutting-edge diagnostic systems, while Professor Goldys offers a closer look at the labs and the exciting partnership between UNSW and Avicena, highlighting their collaborative efforts in advancing biosecurity and diagnostic technologies.

Modernizing Dated Approaches to Oncology Care

Dr. Christian Toouli, CEO and Managing Director of FivepHusion, delves into his company’s innovative approach to improving cancer treatment. FivepHusion is addressing the limitations of current standard-of-care chemotherapies for solid tumors and stage IV cancers by modernizing the delivery of these treatments. With a focus on providing better outcomes for patients, Dr. Toouli shares his vision for the future of oncology and how FivepHusion is leading the way in making cancer therapies more effective and safer.

Views from across the river.
Adama in deep concentration.
Sydney's skyline at sunset.
The Commonwealth Blue Ensign waving in the Sydney winds.
At long last, the Opera House!
Here's lookin' at you, Sydney.
Christian Toouli, CEO and Managing Director of FivepHusion.
Sydney Harbour Bridge in all her majestic glory.
Day Nine of the team's mission to uncover Australia's healthcare heroes has taken them to the Lowy Cancer Research Centre at UNSW.
Thanks to the UNSW lab team for an incredible tour!
Adama steps behind the lens from time to time.
A front-row seat for the action at UNSW's Lowy Cancer Research Centre.
Props to Lucas for keeping the costume gloves on while operating the camera.
Tony Fitzgerald, Managing Director & Co-Founder, and Paul Watt, Executive Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Avicena Systems.
Ewa Goldys, Research Collaboration Partner with UNSW and Avicena Systems.
All smiles at the interview with Professor Merlin Crossley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Quality) at UNSW.
We're really digging the architecture at UNSW.
The UNSW biology department has turned up in full force to greet the team.