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The biosecurity company has secured funding to develop sovereign biothreat detection capability.
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Brisbane-based biotech company Microbio has secured a co-investment of $407,000 via the Commonwealth government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).
The company is expected to leverage the funding to establish sovereign manufacturing capabilities to support the identification of potential biological threats.
This is set to include the manufacture of specific oligonucleotides — a component used in its patented one-tube, seven-pathogen test, designed to rapidly detect Security Sensitive Biological Agents (SSBAs).
Oligonucleotides, which are short sections of laboratory-created DNA, form part of the company’s suite of InfectID tests, which include bloodstream infection, COVID diagnostic tests, and SSBA test.
Microbio CEO Paul Carboon welcomed the AMGC funding, which he said would help protect homegrown IP.
“InfectID-Bloodstream infection is entering the clinical trials phase,” Carboon said.
“Now with AMGC’s support, we will take InfectID-SSBA to the point where we can begin in-field trials.
“We are currently seeking parties that would like to work with us to test InfectID-SSBA in defence and civilian trials.”
AMGC managing director, Dr Jens Goennemann said Microbio’s offering is an example of Australia’s sovereign manufacturing potential.
“Microbio’s products will create highly innovative and skilled jobs, while also establishing new manufacturing capability in Australia. Its InfectID system also has the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of defence personnel and civilians both locally and abroad,” Dr Goennemann said.
Microbio’s InfectID-SSBA diagnostic tool was developed in collaboration with DMTC’s Medical Countermeasures Initiative (MCMi), Queensland University of Technology and Defence scientists.
“Projects like this that build on the outcome of DMTC collaborations are critical to ensure that research expertise, intellectual property and industrial capability stays here in Australia,” DMTC’s MCMi program leader, Dr Felicia Pradera, commented.
Microbio is among a number of companies to secure AMGC funding, including Black Sky Aerospace, which received just under $500,000 to fund its work to manufacture the materials required to develop solid rocket motors for its sovereign space and defence projects.
[Related: Black Sky Aerospace secures funding for sovereign space, missile endeavour]
