- Melbourne researchers working on a promising way to target diabetes and obesity will further their work in Europe.
- The project has received a Golden Ticket by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.
Melbourne project one of only four globally to receive significant boost
Two leading Melbourne researchers are preparing to take up a golden opportunity at one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies in Europe.
Just as a fictional golden ticket opened Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory gates to Charlie Bucket, a prestigious Novo Nordisk Golden Ticket is opening doors to University of Melbourne Associate Professor Garron Dodd and Florey Professor Akhter Hossain.
The pair were awarded the ticket earlier this year, in recognition of their work on a new drug to treat diabetes and obesity.
The Novo Nordisk Golden Ticket campaign addresses challenges in diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic conditions and this year just 4 Golden Tickets were handed out globally.
The initiative gives life science start-ups a boost by providing mentorship and collaboration opportunities plus one year’s membership to BioLabs, an international network of co-working spaces for life science startups – with key sites in Heidelberg, Germany and Paris.
Professor Akhter HossainProfessor Hossain, Head of The Florey’s Insulin Peptides Laboratory said the award set up opportunities for the team to forge global partnerships.
With access to Novo Nordisk’s expert guidance, we are in a strong position to move our compounds closer to clinical use.
Professor Hossain said they are working on a promising weight loss and glycaemic control that targets the hypothalamus.
Associate Professor Dodd, Head of the Metabolic Neuroscience Research Laboratory at The University of Melbourne, said the Golden Ticket provided the resources they need to advance their work.
“This unique opportunity confirms that our approach to tackling diabetes and obesity is on the right track,” said Associate Professor Dodd, based in the University’s Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences.
“Securing a Golden Ticket is further validation of our strong business case. We’re getting more than access to world-leading lab space: we’re getting an entrepreneurial base for our work and entry to the ecosystem network of other biotech start-up firms.”
