CUREator Process and Investment Review Committee

The CUREator process covers five key stages.

Expressions of Interest (EOI)

CUREator calls for Expression of Interest in grants to progress the development of biotechnoloy research and innovations. The program is promoted via Linkedin, emails, the Brandon BioCatalyst website and other media channels. A webinar and one on one meetings are available to potential applicants.

EOI Shortlisting

CUREator Analysts and Brandon Capital Investment Managers use a blind scoring system to filter the applications against the eligibility and assessment criteria to develop a shortlist. CUREator Investment Review Committee (IRC) members use a blind scoring system* to evaluate shortlisted applicants against the key selection criteria. In the CUREator IRC meeting, members use the aggregated blind scoring to inform the discussion, and select a Full Application shortlist.

Full Application Shortlisting

CUREator IRC Commitee members use a blind scoring system* to evaluate applicants full applications. Applicants pitch to CUREator IRC Meeting with Q+A. In the CUREator IRC meeting, members use the pitch and aggregated blind scoring to inform the discussion and select a final shortlist to proceed to due diligence examination.

Due Diligence

CUREator and bespoke expert advisors conduct extensive due dilligence. CUREator IRC meeting considers due diligence and risk mitigation outcomes before confirming the selection of programs to receive grants. CUREator Independent Committee members are required to endorse the grant recipients' program's selected.

Investment Endorsement

Programs selected by the CUREator IRC are presented to the Brandon Capital Investment Committee to ensure they are within the investment mandate. Programs endorsed by the Brandon Capital Investment Committee are presented to the Brandon BioCatalyst Board to ensure they meet governance requirements. CUREator informs awardees and draws up formal contracts incorporating feedback from the International Pharmaceutical Committee.

* Applications are evaluated by a minimum of three individual assessors, who independently score each submission based on the assessment criteria. Scores are then aggregated and discussed in the CUREator IRC committee meeting. 

Investment Review Committees 

The Investment Review Committees (IRCs) for each CUREator program are responsible for all funding decisions. These committees consist of members with expertise in biomedical research and commercialisation. 

For targeted funding programs, members are selected based on their subject-matter expertise in the relevant area. The committees’ combined commercial expertise spans technical, business development, clinical trial management, legal and intellectual property (IP), and pharmaceutical or startup/biotech industry management. 

Each committee includes independent members and representatives from Australian research institutes and universities. Independent reviewers’ votes are mandatory for a project to receive funding. 

All IRC members are appointed under strict  CUREator Conflict of Interest Policy. The committee declares and appropriately manages any conflicts, including those involving program participants, Brandon BioCatalyst Members and Brandon Capital staff, to ensure fair and unbiased funding decisions by the IRC. 

CUREator Investment Review Committee (IRC) Members

CUREator+ BMTI Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Prof Alex Collie

Independent IRC Member
CUREator AMR and Health Security

Dr Alisha Anderson

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator ESTAC Preclinical

CUREator+ BMTI

CUREator+ BMTI Dementia and Cognitive Decline

CUREator AMR and Health Security

Dr Aoife Cullen

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator+ BMTI

Ashley Schoof

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator AMR and Health Security

Prof Branwen Morgan

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator+ BMTI Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Prof Damien Keating

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator+ BMTI Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Dr Gorjana Mitic

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator ESTAC Clinical

Dr Jason Lickliter

Independent IRC Member
CUREator ESTAC Preclinical and Clinical

CUREator AMR and Health Security

CUREator+ BMTI

Dr Jenny Petering

Independent IRC Member
CUREator ESTAC Preclinical

CUREator+ BMTI

CUREator AMR and Health Security

Dr Judy Halliday

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator ESTAC Preclinical and Clinical

CUREator+ BMTI

CUREator+ Dementia and Cognitive Decline

CUREator AMR and Health Security

Dr Julian Clark

Independent IRC Member
CUREator ESTAC Preclinical

CUREator+ BMTI

CUREator AMR and Health Security

Dr Katrina Frankcombe

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator+ BMTI Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Dr Leigh Farrell

Independent IRC Member
CUREator ESTAC Preclinical

CUREator+ BMTI Dementia and Cognitive Decline

CUREator AMR and Health Security

Dr Louis Pymar

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator ESTAC Preclinical & Clinical

CUREator+ BTMI

CUREator+ BTMI Dementia and Cognitive Decline

CUREator AMR and Health Security

Dr Michael Bettess

Non-Voting Chair
CUREator+ BMTI

Dr Phil Kearney

Independent IRC Member
CUREator+ BMTI Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Rachel Peek

National Representative IRC Member | Dementia Australia-led Community Steering Committee
CUREator ESTAC Preclinical

CUREator+ BMTI

CUREator AMR and Health Security

Dr Rob McLachlan

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator+ BMTI Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Dr Tamsin Terry

National Representative IRC Member
CUREator+ BMTI Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Dr Tanya Petrovich

National Representative IRC Member | Dementia Australia-led Community Steering Committee