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NSW hosted an information session on the Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF) Medical Countermeasures Program.
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Dr Felicia Pradera, program manager of Medical Countermeasures Development, Dr Shane Seabrook and Jim Arthur from the Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) spoke at the industry day to discuss the medical countermeasures (MCM) initiatives.
MCMs are vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for protection against chemical, biological or radiological threats, emerging infectious diseases and pandemics.
The information session focused on two programs; the NGTF MCM Program and the DMTC MCM Program.
The objective of the NGTF MCM Program information session was to discuss possible engagement models, gauging community interest and articulating NSW's advanced development and manufacturing capabilities.
The objective of the DMTC MCM Program information session was to prepare prospective participants regarding the requirements of the program. The DMTC MCM Program aims to produce product solutions (vaccines, therapeutics or diagnostics) and strategies benefiting civilian and military health for Australia and globally.
After an inaugural call in early 2016, four projects were selected with participants from around the country. The DMTC will be making a second call for projects in early 2017. The key themes of the program are Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Diagnostics and Security Sensitive Biological Agents, and have been endorsed by the Chief Medical Officer, Surgeon General and the Chief Defence Scientist.
Projects that are past the basic research phase and are heading toward translation are of particular interest. The MCM program is collaborative and therefore it is expected that prospective partners will also make contributions (financial and in-kind) to strengthen the advanced development opportunity.
The $730 million NGTF was launched last week by Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne. It is designed to provide the creative solutions Defence needs and, at the same time, benefit Australian industry.
