Can businesses better engage in science? Can scientific institutes successfully do business?

Melbourne is at the forefront of neuroscience research, as improved therapies and devices are developed and tested. But can our businesses and scientific institutes harness the full potential of these treatments, which promise to improve lives and make money?

Medical innovation does not guarantee business success. While neuroscience and better management of brain and central nervous system disorders are having a big impact on human health, no medical innovation is successful without savvy development and marketing.

Using case studies and information, this event will demonstrate how access to financial capital can drive research and development programs and move technology from research institutes to successful commercialisation.

Date: Tuesday 26 November
Time: 3.45 pm registration, presentation & discussion from 4.00 pm followed by networking
Venue: Ian Potter Auditorium, Kenneth Myer Building, Florey Institute of Neurosciences & Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville Victoria 3052

International Guest Speaker:  Dr Kiran Reddy, President & CEO Praxis Precision Medicines & Venture Partner, Blackstone Lifesciences

Kiran Reddy, MD, MBA is President & CEO of Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc a biotech company focused on developing new therapies for neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Reddy is a Venture Partner at Blackstone Life Sciences. He currently serves on the leadership council of the Boston Society of Physician Entrepreneurs.

Previously, Dr. Reddy was at Biogen as part of the Corporate Strategy team where he focused on sourcing new technologies and product opportunities to support the Company’s growth via acquisitions, partnerships, and equity investments. Prior to Biogen, Dr. Reddy was an Associate Partner at Third Rock Ventures. He supported and managed various portfolio companies in addition to focusing on new company formation and new investments. He was part of the founding team and Chief Business Officer for SAGE Therapeutics through its IPO. Dr. Reddy was part of the team that launched Foundation Medicine, and was actively involved in the early investments into Alnara Therapeutics, Afferent Pharmaceuticals, and Rhythm pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Reddy holds MD and MBA degrees from Georgetown University. He completed his internship in medicine and his neurology residency at Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital. He was previously a Howard Hughes science fellow, and has authored several peer-reviewed scientific papers in the field of epilepsy, neuroimmunology, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Brigitte Smith, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, GBS Venture Partners Limited

Brigitte Smith has more than twenty years’ experience in venture capital, business strategy and start-up company operations. Brigitte has been investing and managing investments for GBS’s $450m of life science specialised venture capital funds since 1998. Brigitte was on the board of GBS portfolio companies AirXpanders Inc, Endoluminal Sciences Pty Ltd, Neurovance Inc and Vivive Inc among others. Brigitte was the founding investor and chair of Pharmaxis Pty Ltd. Prior to founding GBS Brigitte worked in the US and Australia in operating roles with early stage technology based companies, and at Bain & Company as a strategic management consultant.

Ms Smith has a B. Chem Eng (Honours) from the University of Melbourne, and as a Fulbright Scholar completed a MBA (Honours) from the Harvard Business School and a MALD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, both in Boston, USA.

Dr David Rhodes, Chief Scientific Officer, ReNerve

Dr David Rhodes has more than 19 years’ experience in healthcare and biotechnology industries where he has held numerous executive and senior management roles. Previous roles include Chief Scientific Officer of the medical devices company Admedus Ltd and senior executive and Head of Drug Discovery and Senior Vice President Biology at Avexa Ltd. During this time the technological developments within these companies resulted in the value of these companies increasing significantly.

David has extensive experience in leading the discovery and development of multiple small molecule therapeutics, from inception through to licensing, and the development of cardiovascular medical devices through to regulatory approval and sales.

For much of his work, David works extensively at the interface between commercialisation and academic research and is a visiting scientist at CSIRO, an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University and is a member of the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute Leadership Advisory Board.

David is a co-founder, and currently Director and Chief Scientific Officer of Renerve Pty Ltd, developing technologies for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries.

Tickets: 
BioMelbourne Network Members: $75
Non Members: $150 (Prices include GST.)

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Cancellation policy:
A full refund is given up to 7 days prior to the event. No refunds within 7 days of the event.

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