Australian life sciences and tropical medicine delegation promote their capabilities in India

To showcase their capabilities and enhance relationships with Indian counterparts as part of ABWI

A 19-member Australian life science delegation is visiting India to showcase their capabilities and enhance relationships with their Indian as part of Australia Business Week in India (ABWI).

Led by the Andrew Robb AO MP, Australia’s Minister for Trade and Investment, ABWI is the largest Commonwealth-sponsored trade, investment, education and tourism mission ever undertaken to India, comprising around 450 business delegates.

Nicola Watkinson, Australian Trade Commission’s Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner for South Asia, said this mission reinforces the message that Australia is keen to identify, strengthen and deepen relationships with India.

“ABWI delegates represent a significant cross section of Australia’s industries and services in areas with significant opportunity for Australian companies to partner with Indian colleagues,” said Watkinson.

“This includes developing globally significant medical research breakthroughs, like the medical use of penicillin, development of cochlear implants, cervical cancer vaccine and the bionic eye. These have been developed and successfully commercialised through partnerships between scientists and Australian biotechnology and global life science companies,” said Watkinson.

Simone Greulich, Life Sciences and Tropical Medicine Program Leader, said that the delegation will be exploring research collaborations, licensing partnerships, clinical trials, diagnostic services, and investment, especially in the areas of tropical medicine, oncology, infectious diseases and diabetes.

“There are over 470 biotech companies based in Australia. Of these, 62 per cent are in human therapeutics and diagnostics, 16 per cent in agricultural biotechnology, nine per cent in chemical environmental services and eight per cent in biotech services,” said Greulich.

“Australia’s innovative research institutes have specialist and world-class expertise in oncology, neurology, tropical medicine and medical devices.”

“In tropical medicine, Australia is one of the few developed economies with domestic experience delivering healthcare in a tropical climate. This has led to extensive research expertise in medicines to tackle diseases like dengue fever, malaria and tuberculosis,” said Greulich.

Significant opportunities also exist to strengthen Australia-India life sciences research partnerships through: Australia’s Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) program, joint R&D programmes with Australian research institutions; and Australian clinical trial and development and contract research services.

Successful Australia-India life sciences partnerships include: Serum Institute of India based in Pune; Australia-India Trauma Systems Collaboration; and The India Vision Institute a joint initiative established by LV Prasad Eye Institute and Australia’s Brien Holden Vision Institute.

While speaking about treatments for cancer Dr Rajendra Badwe, Tata Memorial Hospital, said, “Unless the Government puts in the fund cost of the advanced treatment will not come down.”

Robb said, “Australia has a stronghold in the field of research and we offer good commercial opportunities. Multidiscipliniary collaborations with other parts of the world is going to be important. Healthcare and medical research are among the major strengths of Australia.”

EP News Bureau – Mumbai