- Six Australian health and medical technology startups are sharing $13.5 million from the second funding round of CUREator+, a government-backed program to advance new health technologies.
- The recipients include Aleris Therapeutics, Frontier Inflammasome Therapeutics, Luma Bio, Navier Medical, Neurotologix, and WeGuide.
- Aleris, Frontier, and Luma each received $2.5 million, while Navier received $2,130,609, Neurotologix was awarded $1.95 million, and WeGuide got $1,945,111.
- Health Minister Mark Butler emphasized the funding's potential to deliver meaningful patient benefits, stating, "Our Government is investing in biomedtech and health technology startups to support new technologies that can improve health outcomes and change lives."
- CUREator+ was launched as a commercialisation program backed by the Medical Research Future Fund to support the development of health technologies.
- The program aims to bridge the gap between Australia's research capability and the resources needed to turn discoveries into viable companies.
Six Australian health and medical technology startups have secured a combined $13.5 million through the second funding round of CUREator+, a program supported by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund. The funding aims to move locally developed therapies, diagnostics, and digital health tools closer to patients and private investment.18
The largest allocations of $2.5 million each went to Aleris Therapeutics and Frontier Inflammasome Therapeutics for their work on therapies for inflammatory diseases. Luma Bio also received $2.5 million to develop peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals for targeted cancer imaging and treatment.23456
Other recipients include Navier Medical, which received $2,130,609 to advance AI-enabled cardiac CT risk markers aimed at improving heart attack prediction and prevention. CEO Sander Bangma emphasized the importance of early detection, stating, "Preventing heart attacks starts with seeing the disease earlier."
Additionally, Neurotologix secured $1.95 million for an integrated platform assessing vertigo and dizziness, while WeGuide was awarded $1,945,111 for an AI-powered platform to develop digital biomarkers.
CUREator+ program head Dr. Amanda Vrselja noted that the initiative addresses the gap between Australia’s research capabilities and the resources needed to commercialize discoveries. Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler highlighted the potential of these technologies to improve health outcomes and change lives.
“The funding is milestone-based and non-dilutive, delivered by Brandon BioCatalyst with ANDHealth, and backed by the Medical Research Future Fund. Recipients span inflammatory disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and AI-enabled digital health, with Navier Medical receiving $2,130,609 for its cardiac CT platform.”
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