About CUREator
CUREator’s mission is to support the biotechnology sector by advancing promising research from the lab to the clinic and market, benefiting patients, providing a return on research investment and growing the Australian biotech industry.
CUREator is a national biotechnology incubator that assists research projects with commercial potential, new biotech spinouts from academic research and small—to medium-sized biotech enterprises. Supported by Brandon BioCatalyst, CUREator helps these opportunities achieve key technical and commercial milestones to secure follow-on investment or partnerships.
The Opportunity
Australia has world-leading medical research and clinical capabilities, supported by significant government funding. However, many notable innovations and discoveries from early-stage research have struggled to find the relevant expertise and initial financial support to guide them towards ‘investment ready’ opportunities.
Early funding pathways and expert assistance are essential to bridge this gap and grow the Australian biotech sector. CUREator builds on Brandon BioCatalyst’s experience and proven track record in effectively managing the development, translation, and commercialisation of Australia’s biomedical discoveries.
How CUREator Works
CUREator adopts the established review processes of the Brandon BioCatalyst investment model, ensuring thorough due diligence, expert advice, and independent investment insights. CUREator seeks the most promising and impactful Australian biotech innovations and looks to provides them with funding and support.
CUREator Team
Amanda Vrselja – Program Head
Mike Bettess – Acting Program Head
Ellie Mohammadi – Program Officer
Patricia Rueda – Analyst
Aaron De Bono – Analyst
Christina Kulis – Analyst
CUREator Programs
CUREator manages several grant funding programs, supporting the development of innovations addressing health needs:
Early-Stage Translation and Commercialisation (ESTAC) Programs: Pre-clinical and clinical stage. Funding is derived from the Australian Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund.
Biomedtech Incubator (BMTI) Program: In partnership with ANDHealth. Funding is derived from the Australian Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund.
BMTI Dementia & Cognitive Decline Program: In collaboration with ANDHealth and Dementia Australia. Funding is derived from the Australian Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund.
Health Security and Minimising Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) Grants. Funding is derived from, and the program is delivered in conjunction with the CSIRO, Australia’s National Science Agency.
A more detailed review of the programs can be found in the Program Overview section below.
CUREator Process
CUREator’s process cover 5 key stages – Expression of Interest (EOI), Full Application & Pitch, Due Diligence, Fund Manager Approvals & Funding and Support.
All funding decisions are made by the Investment Review Committees (IRCs) for each CUREator program. IRCs are comprised of members with combined expertise in biomedical research and commercialisation.
In the case of targeted funding programs, the members are selected based on their subject-matter expertise on the relevant indication/area of interest. The combined commercial expertise of the committee members includes business development experience, clinical trial management, legal and IP (Intellectual Property), former pharma experience or startup / biotech management.
Each committee is comprised of members who are independent of Australian research institutes / universities, and experts that represent a sub-set of the national research institutes / university sector or other specific program participants.
All IRC members are appointed under strict confidentiality agreements mnand conflicts of interest policies. The committee declares and appropriately manages any conflicts, including those involving program participants and CUREator and Brandon BioCatalyst staff, to ensure fair and unbiased funding decisions by the IRC.
CUREator Investment Review Committee (IRC) Members
| CUREator ESTAC Preclinical & Clinical | CUREator+ BMTI | CUREator+ BMTI Dementia and Cogntivie Decline | CUREator AMR and Health Security | |
| Non-Voting Chair | Dr Michael Bettess | Dr Michael Bettess | Dr Michael Bettess | Dr Michael Bettess |
| Indpependent IRC Members | Dr Julian Clark | Dr Julian Clark | Dr Julian Clark | Dr Julian Clark |
| National Representative IRC Members | Dr Aoife Cullen** | Dr Aoife Cullen | Dr Aoife Cullen
Pradeep Babu Sadasivan Pillai M.D. Dr Tanya Petrovich (Dementia Australia) Rachel Peek (Dementia Australia) |
Dr Aoife Cullen
Dr Alisha Anderson (CSIRO/ Health Security) Dr Branwen Morgan (CSIRO/AMR) |
* Clinical stream only
** Preclinical Stream only
Portfolio
The first CUREator cohort was founded in mid-2022. In under 2 years, the incubator is already starting to generate tangible outcomes that impact the Australian BioMedTech sector.
This impact is reflected in support for biotech companies and the generation of new startups with the support or generation of more than 120 jobs in the sector.
Funded opportunities are expanding their network, formalizing previous collaborations or establishing new ones with local Research Institutes / Universities or local contracted CROs (contract research organizations). This results in as much as 25% of the funding provided being redistributed into the local biotech ecosystem.
The funding deployed by CUREator has resulted in the commitment of more than 1:1 leverage funding from the projects parent institutions, resulting in additional internal support for the opportunities. Several CUREator awardees have collectively raised over AU$40m in seed funding and partnering collaborations, with several more negotiating term sheets with local and international investors.
Program Overview
CUREator+
Support for novel or repurposed drugs (pre-clinical and clinical), medical devices, and digital health technologies. You can read more here.
Delivered in partnership with ANDHealth and with funding from the MRFF.
CUREator+ Dementia and Cognitive Decline
Support for novel or repurposed drugs (pre-clinical or clinical), early diagnostics, biomarkers, assistive and medical devices, and digital technologies that will prolong or improve the lives of Australians living with dementia and their caregivers. You can read more here (link: https://brandonbiocatalyst.com/cureator/cureator-plus-dementia-and-cognitive-decline/)
Delivered in partnership with ANDHealth and Dementia Australia and with funding from the MRFF (link: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mrff)
Preclinical Stream
Supports preclinical medical research or medical innovation projects with commercial potential. You can read more here.
Delivered with funding from the MRFF.
Clinical Stream
Supports the clinical development of novel drugs, or novel uses for existing drugs with commercial potential. You can read more here.
Delivered with funding from the MRFF.
Health Security Stream
Supports projects that improve Australia’s preparedness and responsiveness to human health threats. You can read more here.
Delivered with funding from the CSIRO.
Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Stream
Supports projects developing technologies which improve the prevention, detection, diagnosis and response to antimicrobial resistance. You can read more here.
Delivered with funding from the CSIRO.
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