When conducting daily lab work, commercialisation is not the first order of business. And although academic conferences are a great platform for gaining new scientific insights and collaborators, they present fewer opportunities to connect with industry professionals in an exploratory capacity.
Dr Philip Kwok, Senior Lecturer and researcher at the University of Sydney, was the recipient of the AbVance Commercialisation Award at the NSW Drug Discovery Forum in 2024. His research in drug delivery to the lungs as aerosols is pioneering a new method for efficiently treating pulmonary fungal infections. Focusing on formulation science and particle engineering, he said he adapted his pitch for an industry audience when he presented at DDF 2024.
“I’ve presented in different kinds of conferences and seminars before, but the forum was my first time in really pitching to industry professionals. I had to adjust to the style so that it’s more for an industry audience. I asked, how can my formulation solve that problem better than the existing solutions?”
In addition to seeing his own work from a new perspective, he received feedback from panellists to consider optimising his formulation for the global market.
“They highlighted a need to study the stability and storage of the aerosol that would allow it to be transported around the world. They also asked me about the cost of production. For instance, how much would my products cost compared to existing medications?
“As a scientist, these considerations may not be the first thing that come to your mind.”
The format of the full-day event is not only conducive to making new industry connections — intermittent networking sessions are great for sharing knowledge with like-minded researchers about common translation roadblocks. Coordinated across five sessions featuring live feedback from biotech specialists, the forum provides a glimpse into impactful commercialisation strategies to deliver innovative pharmaceutical products to patients.
For researchers uncertain about where to begin exploring the application of their research to global heath challenges, the forum is an effective platform where they can gain pitching experience while making essential connections.
Dr Kwok said, “Universities now are more outward looking. I have seen a change in the University of Sydney in the last decade being more encouraging in making our research translatable.
“A lot of the times you may not think what you’re working on has commercialisation or application potential. But it doesn’t necessarily matter what stage you’re at, it’s always good to have someone from outside your field to give you comments, which is precisely what the panellists did.”
The AbVance Commercialisation Award will once again be awarded to the top presenter at the DDF 2025 showcase. Valued at $20,000, this sponsorship package includes expert guidance and pharmaceutical development services from Ab Initio Pharma.
