NATIONAL INCUBATOR SHIFTS INTO GEAR, ANNOUNCING VACCINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE INNOVATION COHORT Six Australian infectious disease innovations receive $10.48 million to accelerate commercialisation potential
With
Jenny Herz,
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Biointelect
Danielle Shand,
General Manager
Biointelect Venturer
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | September 2026
Biointelect Venturer is Australia’s national incubator for infectious disease innovation, helping promising Australian scientific innovators accelerate their path from discovery to impact. Funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) through the 2024 BioMedTech Incubator grant opportunity, Biointelect Venturer combines catalytic non-dilutive funding with commercialisation expertise, strategic guidance, networks and tailored support to progress early-stage innovations towards commercial and investment readiness. Managed and operated by Biointelect, the incubator builds on Biointelect’s deep expertise and success in supporting early-stage biotech and medtech commercialisation.
Biointelect Venturer has announced six Australian infectious disease innovations will share $10.48 million in the incubator’s first funding round giving the successful research teams the ability to advance their early-stage breakthroughs to commercial and investment readiness.
– AdaptiVax Pty Ltd
– Ebivanta Therapeutics Pty Ltd
– ENA Respiratory Pty Ltd
– Proboxis Biotechnology Pty Ltd
– Saccharide Therapeutics Pty Ltd
– SAMMvax Pty Ltd
The recipients address significant local and global unmet health needs in infectious disease and include three vaccine offerings, a unique nasal antiviral technology and two vaccine platform technologies.
The projects will now enter the Biointelect Venturer incubation program for up to two years and receive non-dilutive funding, tailored commercialisation support, expert mentoring and access to national and international networks to help progress their technologies to secure commercial interest and funding.
Biointelect Venturer was established through a $32.9 million Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant from the Australian Government’s MRFF Medical Research Commercialisation initiative. It will support two national cohort intakes, this being the first, and a dedicated top-up round for high-potential projects as part of the program.
Biointelect Venturer is helping to build local capability in translational research and commercialisation and supporting the creation and growth of Australian biotech companies developing health technologies across the infectious disease sector. Ultimately the ambition is to strengthen Australia’s position as a global infectious disease innovation hub.
Source: Adapted from Biointelect media release (August 2026)
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Startup Advances Biosensing
Melbourne based Nutromics is looking to solve some of the biggest healthcare challenges, by delivering on a mission to revolutionise precision medicine with Continuous Molecular Monitoring (CMM). Nutromics is developing biosensor technology integrated into a small and unobtrusive wearable smart patch.The software solution aims to be flexible and designed to connect with mobile and web solutions for integration with consumer health software and hospital platforms.
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Continuity of Care under COVID-19
Series 3, Episode 1
Under the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Healthcare system has handled the public health crisis by monitoring and responding to challenges in supply chains, testing & tracing of new infections and stock piling of essential equipment.
The public has largely responded by practising social distancing, understanding how hand hygiene can spread contagion and recently installing the COVIDSafe mobile application. Public health messaging has been largely effective and literacy improve, to combat the dangers of misinformation.
To open up access to medical advice during the pandemic, in March the Australian government issued MBS item codes for telehealth consultations, for advanced practice nurses as well as GPs and other specialists.
According to AMA President Dr Tony Bartone, as of mid-May 2020, around 10 million Medicare-funded telehealth services have been provided, either over the phone or via video, a significant majority of which have been provided by GPs and other specialists since the Medicare telehealth items were introduced in March.
However in recent months, the health system has mounting concerns on:
- a reduction in general practice visits for testing, investigation or immunisation
- lower rates of elective procedures resuming since being halted
- reduction in laboratory testing
- reduction in treatments and diagnosis of chronic and acute conditions
- access to, and continuing to take medications
Those with pre-existing conditions have been urged to keep appointments and routine treatments to maintain their health.
Industry has taken action such as the newly formed Continuity of Care Collaboration (CCC). The 15 health organisations forming CCC are an Australian first national communication collaboration of Peak Bodies, Industry and Healthcare Organisations coming together to stress the importance for people to continue monitoring their health and maintaining their regular care.
This Australian Health Journal episode on the continuity of care was produced with commentary from the following health industry associations and organisations: APNA – Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association, RACGP, Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), West Cessnock Medical Practice, Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Medicines Australia
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Raising awareness, engagement and inclusion of Allied Health
Anita Hobson-Powell holds the position of Chief Allied Health Officer for the Australian Government within the Department of Health and Aged Care. With a background as an exercise physiologist and extensive experience leading allied health professional associations*, she has been entrusted with three main priorities. First, she aims to raise awareness about the significance of allied health professionals and their role in the healthcare system. This involves ensuring that decision makers and individuals engaging with health services understand the contributions of allied health professionals.
