A new partnership between Texas Medical Center and Biodesign Australia aimed at creating impact through health and medical life sciences commercialisation, innovation and research has been announced at the annual Science on the Swan conference in Perth.

Biodesign Australia, a network administered by The University of Western Australia, enables Biodesign programs across Australia to share resources, speakers and best practice to provide a quality experience for participants and biomedical innovations for patients.

Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Innovation and ICT; Medical Research announced the collaboration between Texas Medical Center, the largest medical city in the world, and Biodesign Australia, which will allow further access to talent, clinical trial activity, expanded funding opportunities and market access.

Texas Medical Center Biodesign was launched in 2015 and brings together founders with mentors, business leaders, and technical expertise to bring breakthrough technologies to market. The program has raised over $57 million ($US41 million) in capital, 11 companies have been founded and 25 corporate/academic relationship developed.

Biodesign programs commenced in Australia in 2016 and are now in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. Collectively the programs have trained hundreds of budding entrepreneurs through medtech and digital health courses, as well as boot camps and the iPREP Biodesign industry internship program.

Professor Kevin Pfleger, Director Biomedical Innovation at UWA, said the new partnership would further healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship.

“By uniting the programming, talent and expertise found at Biodesign Australia and Texas Medical Center we are creating a dynamic ecosystem that will help to shape the future of healthcare,” Professor Pfleger said.

William McKeon, President and CEO of Texas Medical Center, said the launch of an Australian BioBridge in 2018 created a unique opportunity for the exchange of ideas, research and investment to advance medical breakthroughs both at Texas Medical Center and in Australia.

“This expanded relationship with Biodesign Australia offers global opportunities for a new group of healthcare leaders, and we are excited to work collaboratively to provide a platform for innovation and commercialisation,” Mr McKeon said.