movers&shakers
© stock.adobe.com/au/Štěpán Kápl
Merck to co-lead global cancer big data alliance
M2 facility to keep Australia’s medtech industry healthy
Merck is collaborating with independent not-
CSIRO, Monash University and the Monash Health Translation Precinct
for-profit Project Data Sphere to jointly lead the
(MHTP) have announced the creation of M2 — a new facility that combines
Global Oncology Big Data Alliance (GOBDA). The ultimate goal of the alliance with Project Data Sphere is to unleash the power of big data to bring
technology, research and medical science. M2 has been described by CSIRO as a ‘one-stop shop’ that will bring the best minds and technology together to turn great ideas into a reality for
value to cancer patients, said Belén Garijo,
Australia’s flourishing medtech industry, benefiting millions of patients
member of the executive board of
as a result. The precinct was launched last week by Minister for Industry,
Merck and CEO Healthcare. The collaboration was announced
Innovation and Science Arthur Sinodinos at CSIRO’s new Biomedical Materials Translation Facility (BMTF) in Clayton, Victoria.
at the signing of a memorandum of
“From life-changing cochlear implants to life-saving vaccines, world-
understanding to coincide with Merck’s
first 3D-printed bone and tissue replacements, Australia has an incredible
Award Ceremony announcing the recipients of its 2017 Grant for
track record when it comes to medical technologies and pharmaceuticals,”
Oncology Innovation, held during the annual European Society for
Sinodinos said.
Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO 2017) in Madrid, Spain. The GOBDA initiative has been formed to expand the open access of de-identified patient datasets to further enhance analytical capabilities, by building on Project Data Sphere’s innovative digital platform. The current platform contains historical clinical trial data from
“M2 will help to accelerate development of technology like this, not only vital for the improvement of the lives of Australians facing medial challenges, but also leading to job and economic growth for Australia.” Australia is home to more than 500 companies working in the medical technologies and pharmaceuticals (MTP) sector, many of which can struggle to make the expensive, time-consuming transition from prototype to clinically
almost 100,000 patients provided by multiple organisations, and
tested product. M2 intends to close this gap for Australian businesses,
access to this information has already led to new and potentially
providing a research ecosystem to transition new discoveries from the bench
practice-changing findings.
to prototyping, preclinical testing, industry evaluation and commercialisation.
GOBDA will expand this platform to include rare tumour trial, experimental arm and real-world patient data. Leveraging these data with big data analytics will help to optimise clinical trials,
“M2 leverages some of Australia’s best medtech expertise, experience and equipment,” said CSIRO Director of Manufacturing Dr Keith McLean. “When a company comes to us we can use CSIRO and MHTP facilities
build a registry of data and help to enable advancement in the
to develop and analyse production-scale prototypes, whilst the Monash
understanding of cancer treatment globally, with the mission to
Biomedical Imaging facility can provide advanced preclinical and clinical
address the significant unmet needs in this field.
testing and imaging.”
12 | LAB+LIFE SCIENTIST - Oct/Nov 2017
www.LabOnline.com.au | www.LifeScientist.com.au