In this episode of the LSWA podcast, host Tracey Wilkinson interviews Fleta Solomon and Michael Winlo, two experts in the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy and medical cannabis. They discuss the potential of these treatments to revolutionise mental health care and provide a more holistic approach to patient care.

The conversation begins with a focus on the use of cannabis to achieve high THC effects for certain patients. Fleta and Mike emphasise the importance of therapy in every treatment plan, whether it be through coaching, encouragement, or support in using medication effectively. They stress that therapy is a key component in personalised treatment, aiming to make symptoms more manageable rather than curing the underlying disease.

The discussion then shifts to psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Fleta and Mike share remarkable results from studies showing significant improvement in patients' symptoms and even full remission from PTSD criteria. They explain the need for a team of therapists, doctors, special facilities, and tightly regulated medications to deliver these treatments effectively.

Fleta and Mike delve into the history of psychedelics and their therapeutic potential, highlighting the ongoing research and regulatory changes happening globally. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of providing access to these treatments in Australia, where there is a limited number of trained psychiatrists and specialised clinics. Despite the obstacles, they remain optimistic about the potential impact of psychedelics on mental health care.

We’d love your feedback on this podcast series, please take a moment to complete this short survey: ​​https://forms.office.com/r/W0R1cEtMjh

The LSWA podcast is brought to you by Life Sciences WA. Stay updated on LSWA and connect by visiting our website, https://www.lifescienceswa.com.au.

This show is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of the LSWA podcast, host Tracey Wilkinson sits down with Natalie Barber, the director of Clinical Operations at Chrysalis Advisory, and Professor Peter Richmond from the University of Western Australia.

Natalie and Peter discuss their respective roles in the clinical trial space. Peter, a paediatrician, focuses on improving children's health by conducting research on vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. He shares his involvement in every stage of the clinical trial process, from vaccine design to regulatory advisory boards.

Natalie's role is to support clinician researchers like Peter in delivering complex clinical trials. She explains the importance of understanding the protocols, engaging participating sites, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

The conversation covers the structured pathway that a drug or device must follow before being approved for the market. Natalie breaks down the phases of a clinical trial, starting from preclinical studies in the laboratory, progressing to phase 1, phase 2, and phase 3 trials involving larger populations, and even continuing with phase 4 post-marketing surveillance. She emphasises the time commitment and financial investment required, as well as the need for multicenter trials to gather data from different jurisdictions.

Throughout the episode, Natalie and Peter provide valuable insights into the world of clinical trials and the importance of evidence-based medicine. Their combined expertise offers a comprehensive understanding of the processes behind bringing new medical treatments to market.

We’d love your feedback on this podcast series, please take a moment to complete this short survey: ​​https://forms.office.com/r/W0R1cEtMjh

The LSWA podcast is brought to you by Life Sciences WA. To stay updated on LSWA and connect, visit our website https://www.lifescienceswa.com.au

This show is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of the Investor Meets Innovator Podcast, host Peter Birch sits down with Paul Anderson, the Managing Director of Orthocell. With over 25 years of experience in the medical space and a background in device development and regenerative medicine, Paul shares his insights on the life sciences industry and the journey of bringing innovative medical technologies to market.

Paul discusses the challenges and opportunities in the healthcare industry, particularly in Western Australia where the economy is heavily reliant on the mining industry. He emphasises the importance of intellectual property protection and the role it plays in generating value in products and advancements in manufacturing.

Through his own experiences with Orthocell, Paul highlights the crucial elements for success in the life sciences, including multidisciplinary teams, funding, faith, and patience. He dives into the lengthy and complex pathway to market for medical devices and pharmaceutical products, shedding light on the challenges investors in the industry need to understand and navigate.

Paul also shares the story of Orthocell's pioneering technique to treat tetraplegic patients, resulting in improved mobility and life-changing outcomes for patients like Adrian. He explains the role of patient advocates, surgeons, and government support in developing successful and marketable technologies.

We’d love your feedback on this podcast series, please take a moment to complete this short survey: ​​https://forms.office.com/r/W0R1cEtMjh

The Investor Meets Innovator Podcast is brought to you by Life Sciences WA. To stay updated on LSWA and connect, visit our website https://www.lifescienceswa.com.au

This show is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of LSWA Investor Meets Innovator, Host Tracey Wilkinson talks with Simon Handford and Angela Fonceca about the challenges and complexities of tech transfer offices and taking research to commercialisation. They discuss the challenges of taking an innovation from academia and industry, the slow pace of negotiations, issues with funding commitments from industry partners, and the role of technology transfer offices in aiding researchers.

They talk about the importance of managing expectations with various stakeholders and balancing academic records with commercialisation efforts, and the pressure on researchers and the need for clear communication to protect their work.

We’d love your feedback on this podcast series, please take a moment to complete this short survey: ​​https://forms.office.com/r/W0R1cEtMjh

The LSWA Podcast is brought to you by Life Sciences WA. Stay updated on LSWA and connect by visiting our website https://www.lifescienceswa.com.au

This show is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network — the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of the Investor Meets Innovator Podcast, host Peter Birch is joined by Ian Brown, Executive Chairman, and Intan Oldakowska, Chief Scientific Officer, of Rex Ortho. They discuss the journey of Rex Ortho, a platform technology company focused on orthopaedic fixations, particularly in proximal femoral fractures.

Intan shares the background of Rex Ortho, which started in 2012 when she and her co-founder, Matt Oldakowski, were approached by a surgeon with a need for a solution to fixation failures. Intan and Matt embarked on their PhD research, learning about biomechanical engineering, regulatory requirements, and commercialisation. After several pivots and investments, they are now preparing for a clinical trial.

Ian, who joined the organisation later, talks about his decision to invest in Rex Ortho. He was drawn to the idea because it came from a surgeon with a genuine need, and he appreciated the effort and investment Intan and Matt put into understanding the market and gathering feedback from surgeons. Ian conducted his due diligence by interviewing surgeons and industry executives to assess the potential of the technology.

Throughout the episode, listeners gain insight into the challenges and successes of launching a healthcare startup, the importance of collaboration between clinicians and engineers, and the balance between financial returns and positive impact in healthcare investments.

To learn more about Rex Ortho and their innovative orthopaedic fixations, visit their website https://www.rexortho.com.au/

We’d love your feedback on this podcast series, please take a moment to complete this short survey: ​​https://forms.office.com/r/W0R1cEtMjh

The LSWA Podcast is brought to you by Life Sciences WA. Stay updated on LSWA and connect by visiting our website https://www.lifescienceswa.com.au

This show is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network — the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of the Investor Meets Innovator Podcast, host Peter Birch speaks with Arjun Balaji, an analyst with a clinical background at Tenmile, a venture capital firm in Perth, Western Australia. Arjun shares his background in medicine and his journey into the world of biotech startups before transitioning to investing.

In this episode Arjun discusses the importance of bridging the gap between clinicians and the technologies they use day-to-day. He highlights how investing in life sciences allows for both commercial success and positive impact. The conversation delves into the definitions of impact investing, philanthropy, and angel investing, and the role they play in the healthcare industry.

Learn about the mission of Tenmile to further the Australian biotech ecosystem through early-stage life sciences investing.

To learn more about Tenmile and their investments, visit https://www.tenmile.com/

We’d love your feedback on this podcast series, please take a moment to complete this short survey: ​​https://forms.office.com/r/W0R1cEtMjh

The Investor Meets Innovator Podcast is brought to you by Life Sciences WA. To stay updated on LSWA and connect, visit our website https://www.lifescienceswa.com.au

This show is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of the Investor Meets Innovator Podcast, host Peter Birch sits down with Dr Melissa McBurnie, Partner and Head of Impact at Brandon Capital.

You will hear about how Brandon Capital approaches investing with impact in the life sciences and get some insights into the processes that they use when making an investment in this space. You will also learn about the role balancing financial returns plays in creating positive impact.

Links & Resources:

- AusBiotech: https://www.ausbiotech.org/

- MTPConnect: https://www.mtpconnect.org.au/

- Life Sciences WA: https://www.lifescienceswa.com.au/

- Brandon Capital Partners: https://brandoncapital.vc/

- Brandon BioCatalyst: https://brandoncapital.vc/brandon-biocatalyst/

- Brandon Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandon-capital/

We’d love your feedback on this podcast series, please take a moment to complete this short survey: ​​https://forms.office.com/r/W0R1cEtMjh

The Investor Meets Innovator Podcast is brought to you by Life Sciences WA. To stay updated on LSWA and connect, visit our website

In this episode of the Life Sciences WA Podcast, Dr Tara Speranza discusses her work as a healthcare and biotech analyst at Bell Potter Securities.

Dr Speranza is part of a group of three analysts who cover the healthcare and biotech sector in Australia, focusing on companies listed on the ASX. She has a background in molecular biology and endocrinology and has worked on various projects in the pharmaceutical industry.

Dr Speranza explains that as an analyst, she focuses on analysing the financial performance of healthcare and biotech companies, as well as their product pipelines and potential for growth. This involves looking at a wide range of factors, including a company's revenue and profit margins, its market share and competitors, and its ability to develop and commercialise new products and services.

Dr Speranza also discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in the healthcare industry. She notes that the industry is highly regulated, with strict rules governing the development and approval of new drugs and medical devices. This can make it difficult for companies to bring new products to market, but it also ensures that only safe and effective products are available to patients.

In addition, Dr Speranza emphasises the need to stay up-to-date on the latest scientific and technological developments in the field. She notes that the healthcare industry is constantly evolving, with new breakthroughs and innovations emerging all the time. As an analyst, she must be able to understand and interpret these developments in order to provide accurate and useful insights to her clients.

When it comes to investing in the life sciences industry in Western Australia, Dr Speranza believes that there are many exciting opportunities, particularly in the areas of biotechnology and medical technology. She encourages investors to do their due diligence and carefully evaluate the potential risks and rewards of different investments. She also emphasises the importance of building a diverse portfolio and being willing to take calculated risks in order to achieve success.