Meet the Solutionists, with Mark Scott
The smart insulin pill that could change how diabetes is managed
"I can't just grab my keys and leave the house.听I have to make sure I have something with me in case my glucose levels go too low.听I have to make sure that I have spare insulin pump consumables.听There's lots of parts of having type one diabetes听that听isn't just what we eat."
Michelle's听lived with type 1 diabetes for 31 years. She听has to听plan everything: what she eats, when she drives, whether she can try new foods. Sophie, diagnosed as a teenager, spent years hiding her condition, injecting herself in听secret in听her school bathrooms.
For the millions living with type 1 diabetes, insulin is lifesaving. But听it's听also relentless. Multiple daily injections, or a pump worn 24/7, and constant vigilance of everything from听how you exercise to how hot it is on a given day.听
Professor Victoria Cogger is working on something scientists long thought impossible: smart insulin delivered orally as a single daily pill.
Victoria explains how oral delivery could make insulin management much easier,听what's听made oral delivery so difficult thus far, and what exactly makes this new pill 鈥榮mart.鈥�
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听00:01
This podcast is recorded at the University of Sydney's Camperdown campus on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.听They've听been discovering and sharing knowledge here for 10s of 1000s of years. I pay my respects to elders past and听present and听extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
厂辞辫丑颈别听听00:27
My name is Sophie, so听I've听been living with type one diabetes听for about听nearly 20听years.听So,听I听got听diagnosed when I was about 14~15.听It was听definitely a听shock in those first years after my diagnosis.听It was a lot of secrecy and hiding of my condition. Everything was done in the toilet or in secrecy like measuring my glucose, injecting myself before a meal would all be done in a toilet where nobody really knew what I was doing.听As a teenager, you want to fit in,听that's听the main thing all teenagers want to do.听And the moment you get the diagnosis, you know that听you're听different,听you'll听know that your lifestyle will be different to others, and you听have to听be more careful.听I think that听was why I hid听it, because听I felt uncomfortable being different.听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听01:46
For the millions of people living with type one diabetes, insulin is听literally听lifesaving. Since its discovery over a century ago,听it's听transformed type one diabetes from a death sentence into something that can be managed with daily injections or insulin pumps worn 24 hours a day.听But saying it can be managed undersells just how involved life with diabetes can really be.听So听what if insulin could think for itself, and what if it could be taken just once daily, with no needles and no need to think about the听dose.听Professor Victoria听Cogger听is working on a solution long thought impossible:听smart insulin delivered orally in the form of a single daily pill.听I'm听Mark Scott, and this is the听Solutionists.听Professor Victoria听Cogger has been the director of the Anzac Research Institute at Concord听Hospital, but听she's听the newly appointed inaugural Executive Director of the Sydney听Biomedical听Accelerator and the听co-founder听of听Endo听Axiom, a company developing oral insulin using nanotechnology.听Victoria,听welcome.听Let's听clarify exactly what听we're听talking about here. What is diabetes and听what's听the difference between type one and type two?听
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听03:10
Hi Mark,听lovely听to be here today. Type one diabetes is when our pancreas听is not able to听secrete any insulin any longer. It is an autoimmune condition that usually affects children between the ages of about five and听fifteen听is听when most children are diagnosed. Type two diabetes听on the other hand听is when our body becomes insensitive to the insulin that听we're听producing. It's not that our pancreas stops producing it entirely at the beginning, it's just that our body can no longer sense it in the way that it needs to and it causes similar impacts as type one diabetes, but it is actually a very different disease to type one diabetes.听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听03:48
So听the vast majority of听people living with diabetes are living with type two diabetes.听So听what are the common misconceptions about type one diabetes?听It's听relatively rare, is that right?听
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听04:02
It's听a much rarer disease, it usually is a childhood onset disease, and听it's听not something that can be听modified听by lifestyle factors, in the same way that in type two diabetes you can have听impact听on that disease. Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disease.听It's听your pancreas听literally eats听itself, and the cells that produce the insulin are no longer present in your body. Your body simply cannot produce insulin any longer.听It's听not that you need to potentially听modify听your diet or potentially do a little bit more exercise or change something else in your lifestyle. It is that your body simply does not have the capacity any longer to produce insulin, and this causes dangerously high blood sugar levels, which can create a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis, which is very life threatening.听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听04:52
So听you're听trying to change the way that people manage their type one diabetes. How are people managing it now?听What's听the common day to day life experience of someone with type听one?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听05:03
So听type one diabetes can only be managed by daily injections or pump infusion of insulin. So this involves the delivery of insulin into the body either via a needle into the subcutaneous fat, usually of the belly or the leg, and they deliver insulin that way听four, five, six听times a day, so that their body can keep up with their requirements for the insulin, so that the sugar can get to where it needs to get in the body.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听05:32
So听this means, have I got this right, that听you'll听have young people,听you'll听have children who will need听four,听five,听six听injections a day of insulin to stay on top.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听05:42
That's听right.听So听four, five, six, or听they're听on a pump that听they're听connected to 24 hours a day.听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听05:47
And what does the pump do?听
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听05:48
So听the pump acts as an artificial pancreas, and through听monitoring听your blood sugar levels, it then titrates听the level of insulin that needs to be released into your body to try and keep your levels of blood glucose or blood sugar between a听relatively normal听or safe level.听And so basically, somebody who lives with type one diabetes needs to be on top of this all day, every day.
厂辞辫丑颈别听听06:16
I got听the听insulin pump. That has been听a big change听to my condition.听Before, I was injecting myself at least four times a day or more, and because of the听new technology听that has come through, you听don't听have to prick yourself every day as well.听Obviously听you have all these machines locked onto your body, like听they're听stuck to your body, but听there's听a lot of technology that has helped to听kind of听minimise听the blood pricks and the injections. And so obviously that has really听helped, because听I听don't听really have to go to听a toilet听and open a needle. And you know everybody has, everybody don't like seeing a needle in public, but having a pump, you just take up the machine and adjust the dose for your meal, and so it has become more easier to manage in the public definitely with the development听of听technology.
惭颈肠丑别濒濒别听听07:13
My name is Michelle, and I have lived with type one diabetes now for 31 years, and I was diagnosed on the 14th of November 1994 which ironically was听actually World听Diabetes Day. I was a听pre-teen, and then I went through it as a teenager.听You know, being a teenager is hard enough without also having a condition where you听have to听give yourself medication, you听have to听give it attention, and you constantly听have to听plan what you are doing.听It was听very little听spontaneity, and听so that听that was always quite tricky. I guess one of the things that people misunderstand about diabetes management is often that听it's听just about food,听补苍诲听it's听just about your听medication, and听there's听actually a听lot of other factors that affect our glucose levels听through听the day.听So听you know, if听I'm听feeling a bit stressed one day, or if听I'm听feeling nervous about听something, and听my glucose levels can rise because of that. If听I've听done some exercise, then my glucose levels can go high from that exercise, and sometimes they go low from exercise, depending on what type of exercise I do. And if I want to drive the car, I听have to听see what my glucose level is to make sure that听I'm听at a safe level听that听I can drive my car.听You're听constantly planning your next move and听to leave听the house, I听have to听make sure I have something with me听in case my glucose levels go too low.听I听have to听make sure that I have spare insulin pump consumables.听So,听there's听lots of parts of having type one diabetes which听isn't听just what we eat.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听09:20
So听tell us about the work听you're听doing now.听You're听still working on听insulin, but听thinking听through听how it can be delivered differently.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听09:28
So one of the things, and there are no two ways about it, injectable insulin is听lifesaving, and the people that discovered it and were able to separate it out of the,听you know, originally听pig pancreases听just over 100 years ago, really they won the Nobel Prize, they deserve every听bit of that Nobel Prize. But the thing is, is听that when we take insulin, we听have to听inject it, and the way we inject insulin does not mimic the way in which insulin is normally secreted by听the body. And instead of听going in听directly into our bloodstream, it goes into our subcutaneous fat, and then it travels around the body before it gets to its target tissues. And that is听really not听a very effective听way of delivering听insulin, and听creates lots of side effects known as iatrogenic impact.听And these side effects听actually can听be听really counterproductive听to managing body weight, managing insulin sensitivity, managing infections,听all of听those sorts of things.听And听so,听creating a different method of delivery is something that听became听very important听to our team.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听10:37
So听what have you begun to focus on?听
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听10:41
So, we really听started听to look at how we could orally deliver insulin, and we really started to try to understand how we could take something that is only able to be ingested or taken into the body via injection.听We wanted to try and see if we could make it orally bioavailable.听So听it's听one thing to get something into your body,听it's听another thing to make it available to your body, and that is what we have focused on.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听11:05
And would oral insulin be that much more efficient?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听11:09
Absolutely.听So oral insulin, when we take something via our mouth, it goes straight into our bloodstream, from our gut and directly to our liver.听When our pancreas secretes insulin in people that are not living with diabetes, it goes straight into our bloodstream from our pancreas,听straight to our liver.听So听in some ways they mimic each other. When we take it subcutaneously, it goes everywhere听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听11:34
on the circuit
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听11:35
and then it comes to our liver.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听11:36
And again, the dangers听of it听going on that indirect circuit through to our liver听has听real physical consequences.听
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听11:44
Absolutely.听So one of the big problems with insulin therapy is people that start it immediately put on weight,听because they're fat and they're just their normal you know, adipose tissue and their muscles start to be exposed to levels of insulin that someone that's not living with type one diabetes are not exposed to.听And those levels cause excess fat听deposition because听insulin causes fat uptake into your fat deposits,听and also听can cause fat deposits into your muscle, which is听really not听something that is great to live with.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听12:16
People have been injecting insulin for 100 years. What stood in the way of us developing an oral solution?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听12:23
Absolutely, so lots of people have tried, and, you know,听we're听very aware that many people have tried before us.听And basically, our听body is听really clever听and has evolved all sorts of mechanisms to stop proteins, of which insulin is one, from getting into our body intact. And听that's听because听that's听one of the ways in which we prevent听infection听and we prevent toxicity from, you know, things that we pick up off the floor, and all those sorts of things.听Our body breaks it down in our stomach with high acids and enzymes and all those sorts of things which break down proteins into their core components. The reason insulin听can't听get in is because of听all of听those factors. And听so听what we听have needed听to do is invent a way to make sure we can protect the insulin from our body's innate mechanisms, to protect it from听us听ingesting whole protein.听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听13:10
So听the听stomach would normally attack the insulin before the benefits could be听accrued?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听13:15
Absolutely.听You would not get a whole molecule of insulin into your bloodstream. You just get bits of it. And听so听what听we've听done is听we've听created a way to get the whole molecule in and make sure that it can still work when it gets into your bloodstream.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听13:29
So how are you听going听about that?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听13:31
It's听been听a really interesting听process, because听it's听pushed us into areas that we are not, you听know,听that听we're听not innate nano technologists.听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听13:40
And听what's听a nanotechnology?听
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听13:41
Sure.听So听nanotechnology is really an area of science or an area of physics and chemistry where听we're听looking at molecules and designing molecules that are sub 100听nanometers听in size.听So听to give you some context, 100听nanometers听is about the width of about a third of the width of a human hair.听So听we're听talking about very, very, very tiny molecules. And the reason they are so interesting is because they allow us to circumvent some of the properties that our body听has to听protect itself.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听14:16
Is that听due to the fact that听it is so small?听
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听14:19
Partly听it's听so small, but听it's听also because of some of the innate properties of the听particular nano听technologies you might like to use.听We use听a quantum听nanotechnology, which means our dots can behave either as a wave or as a particle, and this is how听we're听able to get听through into听the body.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听14:36
Now, that sounds complicated-
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听14:38
It is.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听14:39听
But explain it to us a bit more. So,听the molecule that carries the insulin, tiny,听tiny听delivered into the stomach, and then using these quantum capabilities allows it to bypass the protective mechanism.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听14:57
That's听right.听So听that听补苍诲听a protective听coating, which we can come听to听but the nano particle can behave like a wave or a particle, we attach the insulin to it, and it still stays, so our dots are only about seven听nanometers听in size, and then when we add the insulin to it and encapsulate it, we keep them below the 100听nanometer听size, and so they continue to be able to act in that way that allows them to basically slip through the cells and into our bloodstream.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听15:26
So听that's听the听sweet spot听is the 100. And if听it's听smaller than that,听it's听like听it's听more likely to be able to make its way through听
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听15:33
That's听exactly right.听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听15:34
How on earth听do you听load up听a molecule onto something so small?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听15:38
Yeah,听it's听a good question, and involves very clever chemists, but听really听we have a听linker molecules, and we also use electrostatic or negative positive charge. It really comes down to things as simple as that positive negative, just like a battery, we join them听together听and they match up, and they allow us to attach the insulin to the molecule, and then we can keep them together.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听16:00
This feels a long way away from your core medical experience, first up.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听16:06
Absolutely and the work really has only been possible because of our collaborations with very clever people at the听Nanocentre听here,听Zdenka听Kuncic听for example, my听co-inventors, David听Lacuda, who is a clinician and has significant experience in treating diabetes,听and also Dr Nick Hunt, who is the other听co-inventor听of the molecule.听We have really had to push into areas that we knew听what we wanted to do,听we needed help to work out how exactly to do it, and we've been very fortunate to collaborate with people that have been really willing to go on that journey with us.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听16:41
It's听a great example听of multidisciplinary teams taking on the great global challenges. They talk about your pill as being a smart insulin pill.听So听it's听not just tiny,听in what ways would it be smart?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听16:55
So听it's听clever, and this really was Nick's leap of faith听for us.听It's clever because we're able to coat it in a way that the coating which partly protects it from the enzymes that I spoke about before in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, it coats it in a way that means that the insulin cannot be released unless the enzymes听to break down the coating听are able to operate, and they can only operate in high glucose environments.听So听when the body has low blood glucose or low body sugar, the insulin is hidden and听it's听not bioavailable. And听so听in doing that听we make it smart, because the insulin can only听impact听the body in the same way that the pancreas works.听The insulin听is only active when there's sugar in the blood. In low sugar environments, the insulin just stays tightly wrapped up in its little package.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听17:50
So听if I go back to the current treatment, which is all about the pump and the measuring and then delivering the necessary dose, the medication itself only works if the condition is set that the body really needs it.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听18:03
That's听exactly right.听So听the enzymes can only work if the body needs听it.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听18:09
Sounds incredibly exciting. Tell us about the journey from taking smart ideas in the lab on a process of development whereby听you've听got the听drug, and听then trials of the drug and听possibly changing听the world听as a consequence of听this.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听18:29
Mark听it's听been a phenomenal process, it has been a learning curve like nothing else听I've听known in my life, and it has been a wonderful ride. We听again,听needed to lean into areas of complete discomfort and interact in ways with companies, in ways with investors.听We鈥檝e听really had to work across the basic听discovery side, pushing into clinical experience and听all of听those sorts of things.听So听through collaboration, we were able to understand what the problems are with insulin delivery.听So听all of听that sort of thing was incredibly important, and then basically, we needed to go and learn how to pitch our ideas to people that were potentially going to help us get them out of the lab and into the clinic.听We've听had to learn about manufacturing,听we've听had to learn about regulatory affairs,听we've听had to learn about听all of听those sorts of things. But luckily,听we've听been supported听to do听that here, and that has been something听that's听been听really important. The other thing that really helped us was partnering with the business school was incredibly important. And听also听we were听very fortunate听to receive a philanthropic bequest that really helped supercharge this project.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听19:38
One of the things听you've听demonstrated听is the power of business partnerships听in this work. Tell听us a bit about听Proto听Axiom and听Endo听Axiom.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听19:45
So听Proto is a biotech accelerator here in Sydney.听It's听a听fairly new听company, and Anthony Liveris came into the market to disrupt and try and help to accelerate biotechnological advances听that are coming out of universities.听And so he really came in with some venture capital, and has raised funds and done series raises and all of those sorts of things, so that he can start to help to license intellectual property out of universities and medical research institutes into the corporate space so that they can start to get the support and traction and business development that they need. Obviously, you need to do clinical听trials,听they're听very expensive. You need to do听all of听the regulatory things that I spoke about,听all of听that stuff needs听know听how and needs support. But all of that costs money, and so really, the partnering with听Proto so that we could spin out with the University of Sydney and the Sydney Local Health District to form听Endo听Axiom is what is pushing forward our oral insulin into the clinical trials that are that are currently getting ready to get underway.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听20:53
And how long will that take听that clinical trials听process?听
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听20:56
So the听clinical trial will take six months, the first clinical trial, and then after that, we'll move into phase two, and that will take another two to three years, and then the phase three,听that's when it starts to go worldwide and听starts to be sort of incorporated into clinical practice, but in an experimental way.听So听we're听still a few years off this听hitting, you know, the shelves as such, but听we're听well and truly on the path, and for me, that is a moment of huge fulfillment.
惭颈肠丑别濒濒别听听21:29
I think the biggest thing would be if I could just sit down and eat some food and not have to think about it 15 minutes before and not have to count my carbohydrate foods in my meal and worry that I might have calculated it wrong.听It's听one of those things that makes me not always want to try different foods, because I听don't听want to have to deal with it afterwards. I think for me, having something which means that I can just eat something without having to count the carbohydrates in it, and without having to worry about the repercussions on it afterwards.听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听22:23
Now,听you're听not just a scientist in this听space,听you're听a caregiver to someone living with type one diabetes. But that came听later,听you started the work first, tell us this story.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听22:34
Yeah, so my son was听ten, and we had already finished the oral insulin formulation, the one that is going into people, and we just finished it, and he was not very well. And it was through听COVID,听so you know it was, as we all know, the medical system was so under strain, and he got terribly, terribly unwell one Christmas, and I didn't know what was wrong with him, and I thought he had a virus. He was rushed to hospital, and I by the timing, I had no idea what was wrong with him, even though I work in this field and had so much听experience.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听23:09听
So听you听didn't听think this听is听diabetes?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听23:12听
Not at the beginning.听And when I look back,听I'm听aghast, because I think,听how on earth听did I miss that? But I rushed him to听hospital, and when I got听to听emergency, I said to them, my son either has type one听diabetes听or he has a brain听tumor. And they said, well,听let's听check the type one diagnosis first. And his blood sugar levels were听thirty听something, which normally there should be five. And he was, you听know,听he was very, very acutely unwell, and the team that helped him, you know,听sort of helped听us support him in those first few days听were听phenomenal.听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听23:50
I can听imagine this just creating this massive, complex, almost psychic reaction from you. I mean, devastated as a mother that your child is so sick, relieved at a diagnosis, but of all the diagnoses for him to have, it being the area that you've committed your professional life to, how did you come to terms with that?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听24:12
It was a big head wrestle for quite a while. I was very worried听for a long time听I'd听brought something home from the lab and done something to him, and that was something, you know, and it took his endocrinologist and everything to say, you know,听this听didn't听happen like that. You know, calm down.听It's听got听nothing to do with you. But I think what it did for me and the project and I think the way I then worked with our team was it made it something that I was able to say this is going to make a tangent. It took it from something that was abstract to something that you really started to understand what it is like for someone that is having to live with multiple daily injections or a pump, and you see how it changes fundamentally the activities of daily living.听You听have to听think, what are we听eating, what are we doing today, what are we, you know, what do we need packed in the car?听You know, particularly when he was little. And you know,听he's听not so little听now,听he's听giant. But you know, he loves football, he loves his sport and all you know, and he really does change the way you think about it, and who's going to be with him today when he's playing sport, who's going to make sure he's got his juice in his bag, his things in his bag.听What's听at school for him to make sure that he is going to be okay if he has an event at school?听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听25:29
Yeah.听So听it brought you听kind of deep听empathy and insight into patients and, I suppose, into carers and to families.听Did it change any of your research听as a consequence of听that?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听25:41
Absolutely. It changed it to something that I knew needed to be addressed听and hopefully we can create a technology that not just delivers insulin, that can solve this problem for other proteins as well.听So听all听protein-based听drugs need to be injected. And this sort of technology听it's听like听we've听designed a new suitcase for听the protein. And if we can听impact听other diseases in this way, I can only, you know, hope that we can change the lives of other people as well.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听26:12
So听if you crack this delivery mechanism, what are some of the other diseases that might be helped through this?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听26:19
So听there are lots of diseases that need injections, things like children that have stunted growth or limited growth require human growth hormone injections. There are other diseases that the GLP ones, the听Ozempic's听and all their听protein-based听drugs?听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听26:32听
Right,听so听you can take a tablet for that?
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听26:34听
Absolutely,听rather than an injection. It also makes it cheaper, because you听don't听have a lot of the issues that are related with injectable drugs.听We've听spoken about the issues to the person, but also听protein-based听drugs need to be refrigerated. They need to be cold-stored, you know, transported. They have limited shelf lives. This has major听socio-economic听impacts.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听26:57
So,听no pressure Victoria, but the biggest building听we've听ever built here in the 176 years of the University of Sydney, is the new Sydney听Biomedical听Accelerator, and听you've听just been appointed the inaugural director of that that new complex for us. Tell us about the opportunities that you think the biomedical accelerator could bring to the treatment of patients and the development of new drugs and diagnostic tools.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听27:23
So for me, and I think the University of Sydney and the Sydney Local Health District and the people of New South Wales, the Sydney听Biomedical听Accelerator is going to transform the way in which we as a university and a local health district can both treat the patients that we have and design new treatments for the patients in the years to come. We are taking a relationship听that's听been in place for I think听it's听140听something-听
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听27:51
140 years.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听27:52
140 years. We are taking a听relationship听and we are solidifying our partnership by committing to working side by side in a synergistic way that will听impact听discovery,听biomedical听discovery, and take it straight to the clinic for the people of New South Wales and the world.听I听can't听underestimate how exciting this is for the University of Sydney and the Local Health District. It is something that we have long dreamed of,听it's听something that few other places have achieved, and听we're听on the precipice of it,听it's听remarkable.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听28:30
And it strikes me that this development may have been a long time coming, but听it's听arriving just at the right time. The impact of quantum, the impact of nanotechnology, the impact of AI means that听all of听these tools that are now available to our brilliant scientists and wonderful clinicians just gives them a repertoire that they can draw on, which should really help with discovery and translation.
痴颈肠迟辞谤颈补听颁辞驳驳别谤听听28:55
Oh, absolutely.听I think there听are points in history where you can see听there鈥檙e听great leaps are possible because something has changed in the ecosystem, you know, whether it is AI or the single patient digital health record or things like that.听We are听now committing to saying we are going to use these technologies for the good of these patients听补苍诲听also, I think, you know, for the fulfillment of our scientists and clinicians, and I听don't听think that can be underestimated. The people that are delivering this work are committed to making the world a better place, and we are inviting them to do that.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听29:34
And听we're听thrilled听you're听taking on that leadership听role,听that's Professor Victoria听Cogger.听She's听the newly appointed inaugural Executive Director of the Sydney听Biomedical听Sccelerator. And if you want to learn more about how diabetes researchers are leading us into the future of medicine, listen to our episode with Professor David James,听who's听working on precision medicine.
顿补惫颈诲听闯补尘别蝉听听29:57
What I would like to see is if听we could do a test on people right at the get go, and that test would tell us you should be taking drug听Y, so that you immediately take a prescribed drug听Y, save all those problems, and you save the potential dangerous adverse effects from taking four medications instead of one.
惭补谤办听厂肠辞迟迟听听30:22
You can listen to that episode of the听Solutionists right now and make sure听you're听following the听show听so you听don't听miss an episode.听The听Solutionists is a podcast from the University of Sydney, produced by听Deadset听Studios.听
The Solutionists is a podcast from the University of Sydney, produced by听. Keep up to date with听The Solutionists听by following @sydney_uni听on听听补苍诲听, and @sydney.edu.au on听.
This episode was produced by Liam Riordan with听sound听design by Jeremy Wilmot. Supervising producer is Sarah Dabro. Executive editors are Kellie Riordan, Jen Peterson-Ward, and Mark Scott.听Strategist听is Ann Chesterman.
This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. For thousands of years, across innumerable generations, knowledge has been taught,听shared听and exchanged here. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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