Engaging with Industry Case Study: Microbio & lessons they’ve learned in translating research into a commercial product

DATE: Tuesday 22 February
TIME: 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Watch seminar Zoom recording

Queensland-based biotech, Microbio, founders Prof Flavia Huygens and Paul Carboon share their practical tips for translating research into a commercial project. The pair founded Microbio in 2018 to bring Microbio’s pathogen diagnostic test, InfectID, (which uses real-time PCR followed by high-resolution melt-curve analysis to identify pathogen species directly from whole blood without the need to pre-culture) out of the laboratory and into the market. They have successfully raised seed,  Series A capital, and Federal Government funding to commercialise InfectID. In 2021, Microbio also developed two SARS-CoV-2 tests and received approval for sale in Europe under IVD Directive 98/79/EC.

Speakers

Dr Flavia Huygens
Executive Director, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Microbio
Flavia’s 30-year teaching and research career has been focused on molecular microbiology, with a particular focus on human pathogens. Flavia’s expertise and exceptional ability to bring together emerging technology in molecular microbiology, genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics has culminated in the creation of InfectID, a diagnostic test that identifies bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens.

Paul Carboon
Executive Director, Founder and Chief Executive Officer Microbio
Paul is a leader in biotechnology innovation. He has 25 years of commercialisation experience in the technology sector, and has a deep understanding of commercial management, product management and product development. Paul has successfully taken four greenfield projects to market with products that continue to achieve multimillion-dollar annual revenues. He currently serves on the AusMedtech Advisory Group and is a founding adviser with the BridgeTech Program.