The VCCC Alliance is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Andrew Scott AM in the newly created role of Research Translation and Commercialisation Lead.
Professor Scott’s 20-year career as a cancer clinician/scientist features a host of leading research roles, including as Director of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (Austin Branch) and President of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, as well as Professorial appointments at the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Monash University.
An NHMRC fellow and Order of Australia recipient, he is currently the Director, Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy at Austin Health, Head of the Tumour Targeting Program at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI), and a member of the VCCC Alliance Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy Advisory Group.
Professor Andrew Scott
Through the role, Professor Scott will bring a commercial lens to research activities conducted within the VCCC Alliance, acting as a key cog in the translation of research discoveries into commercial assets, an area which historically, has been under-resourced in Victoria.
The role will also support the acceleration of novel therapies to the clinic and clinical trial innovation within the VCCC Alliance to ensure optimal program implementation leading to downstream improvement in patient outcomes.
The successful international commercialisation of Venetoclax in 2016 – a WEHI-led collaboration with the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the University of Melbourne – remains an exemplar for research commercialisation in Victoria.
The success of this multi-institutional venture demonstrates not only the cutting-edge standard of Victorian research but also the potential and power of the VCCC Alliance as the scaffolding for world-class collaboration.
The Victorian Government has identified investment in biotech research as a key priority for the state. Professor Scott will seek to create the conditions for enhanced prospects for commercialisation of discoveries, including working collaboratively with government.
“The opportunity to engage with the VCCC Alliance, Victorian Government, the wider clinical and academic community, and key industry stakeholders to drive successful research translation of discoveries relevant to patients with cancer holds enormous potential,” Professor Scott said.
“In particular, the need for successful commercialisation of discoveries to enhance clinical translation and the successful conduct of academic co-operative group trials and industry partnerships, will be critical to progress in the area, and is aligned with the VCCC Alliance Strategic Program Plan.”
VCCC Alliance Head of Research Dr Mark Buzza said the appointment of such an experienced and commercially focused senior cancer professional was a key step to accelerating progress.
“Victoria has been home to some exciting breakthroughs in cancer research, but there is still much to be done to continue to drive research in our state to the next level."
“With Professor Scott’s guidance, we are well-positioned to drive innovative new research projects focussed on delivering downstream patient benefit by leveraging the partnerships already forged by the VCCC Alliance and supplementing those with new collaborations with local scientists and the biotech sector more broadly.”
The appointment of Professor Scott as the Research Translation and Commercialisation Lead was made following an open Expressions of Interest process. Working with the guidance and support of VCCC Alliance Executive Director Professor Grant McArthur, and in close collaboration with Dr Buzza and Associate Head of Research Associate Professor Justine Ellis, Professor Scott will provide leadership, strategic direction and expert advice to the VCCC Alliance, with the goal of driving and maximising research translation and commercialisation opportunities including the acceleration of novel therapies and clinical trial innovation across the VCCC Alliance and the cancer sector.
For more information, contact Dr Mark Buzza, Head of Research.
