Collaboration is key to translating discoveries into reality
Meet Dr Hui Xin Ong, the pharmacology research leader engaging with industry to fast track new medical products to the market.
Dr Hui Xin Ong in the lab
Dr Hui Xin Ong,聽lecturer in pharmacology聽and research leader in the聽Faculty of Medicine聽and Health聽knows the challenges of translating discoveries into reality for the medical technology sector.
She established a spin-out pharmaceutical manufacturing facility,聽, that provides聽research and development services and clinical therapeutics to academics and clinicians at a subsidised cost as well as to pharmaceutical companies. It translates early discoveries into clinical trials and ultimately commercial pharmaceutical products that will enhance Australia鈥檚 reputation in the sector.
鈥淒ealing with industry has its advantages鈥�, says Hui. 鈥淚f you have the skills, they don鈥檛 hesitate to collaborate or fund your research because it helps them develop their product.鈥濃��
The advantages are numerous. Companies have access to specialised skills, knowledge and techniques, where collaboration on new ideas and research brings opportunities to leverage funds from the research funding schemes.
For medicine and health students, there聽are聽also benefits:聽鈥淲hen the students are exposed to industry culture,鈥� Hui adds, 鈥渢hey are better prepared after graduation.鈥�
Recognising this gap,聽as co-director,聽she has developed an industry driven聽Master聽of Science in Medicine鈥檚聽Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Development聽program聽providing essential skills for聽graduates.聽鈥�
Hui is currently dealing with several different international and local companies. To gain access to industry, Hui is approached by companies who have read her publications, or she networks at conferences.鈥疶his allows both parties to鈥痠dentify the mutual benefits. Industry-funded research replaces long conventional processes by shortening the pre-clinical phase which is time-consuming and expensive. This route fast tracks the product to the market.
Hui emphasises that it is important for researchers to understand how the industry operates 鈥� they are timeline driven and milestone oriented. Open communication, sharing of knowledge and upfront agreement to terms and conditions, are the keys to success.
