In partnership with Garvan researchers, our mission is to inspire, enable and empower real impact at a global scale through best-in-class research services, translation and commercialisation of Garvan’s intellectual property (IP) and know-how.
What we do
To achieve our mission, we:
- Partner with Garvan researchers to help translate and commercialise their discoveries into global impact – beyond scientific impact to achieve clinical, economic and societal impact.
- Encourage and support the entire technology transfer process, including:
- Support the development of skills and know-how in translation and commercialisation that can result in new centres of translational excellence; translation services; therapeutics and biologics, including antibody-based therapies; cell and gene therapies; vaccines; diagnostics; medical devices; software as a medical device (SaMD); and platform technologies with the potential to disrupt and change scientific, market and clinical paradigms.
- Educate, train and support Garvan researchers in all commercial matters to drive clinical, economic and societal impact.
- Support the development of skills and know-how in translation and commercialisation that can result in new centres of translational excellence; translation services; therapeutics and biologics, including antibody-based therapies; cell and gene therapies; vaccines; diagnostics; medical devices; software as a medical device (SaMD); and platform technologies with the potential to disrupt and change scientific, market and clinical paradigms.
- Educate, train and support Garvan researchers in all commercial matters to drive clinical, economic and societal impact.
The CDI Office also builds relationships with organisations that have complementary industry and translational research capabilities, such as in mRNA, medicinal chemistry, high-throughput screening, vaccine development, artificial intelligence, diagnostics, and clinical study and trial management. We leverage Garvan’s expertise and facilities to form collaborations that advance clinical translation while creating commercial opportunities.
Industry partnerships
Partnering is critical for Garvan to achieve real impact – at a global scale – from its research. Garvan is committed to early industry engagement to help us answer the right questions, as well as guide our research program designs and plans. We also recognise the essential role industry plays in the development and commercialisation of new services, therapeutics and biologics, cell and gene therapies, vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices and software.
Garvan partnerships with industry can occur through:
- Consulting
- Collaborative R&D
- Contract (or ‘sponsored’) research
- Licensing
- Joint ventures
- Spin-offs and start-ups.
Our approach to partnering is flexible, responsive and commercial.
Our team
Dr Gavin Dixon, Director, IP and Commercialisation
Dr Gavin Dixon joined Garvan in November 2022, having previously brought to market university research IP in the fields of therapeutics, research reagents, medical devices, organisational psychology, healthcare IT, scientific instrumentation and education. Trained as a neuroscientist at The University of Sydney, Gavin worked as a post-doctoral researcher in the field of alcohol-related brain pathology. He subsequently qualified as a registered Australian patent and trademarks attorney in 2005, while working as a patent scientist at an ASX-listed biotech firm. Since 2008, he has held commercialisation, business development and IP advisory roles at University of Wollongong, University of NSW and University Technology Sydney. In 2015, he qualified as a Registered Technology Transfer Professional.
Gavin has a love of both the science and the business of innovation, is constantly curious and enjoys the team effort required to make technology transfer work. As an entrepreneur, Gavin has developed and operated a variety of businesses, including an advanced manufacturing facility, a wine storage technology and a dance school.
Daniel Barton, Director, Business Development
Daniel Barton has over 15 years’ experience in medical biotech and decades in the technology sector. As a Senior Life Sciences Executive, he has broad and deep experience in IP, fundraising, and industry and academic collaborations. He has founded start-ups and worked in early clinical stage and pre-revenue businesses, held board reporting duties at ASX listed entities and senior positions in privately held global companies, engaging with top tier international media and technology customers and partners. Daniel has provided consulting services to HNWs and family offices investing in the biotech sector. He is a creative communicator and problem solver who is passionate about supporting science with the goal of improving human health.
Dr Nadia Pece-Barbara, Patent Counsel and Commercialisation Manager
Dr Nadia Pece-Barbara is a registered patent and trademarks attorney and an experienced IP and commercialisation strategist. She brings over 17 years’ experience from top tier IP firms as well as university/research institute’s research translation teams. She also continues to practise as a patent attorney and excels in providing strategic advice on global IP portfolios in all aspects of IP protection, patentability, patent practice, ownership, freedom-to-operate, infringement/validity, commercialisation and policy.
Nadia is passionate about education in all IP matters and is a lecturer with the Faculty of Law at UTS. She gained a PhD in Immunology from the University of Toronto and completed postdoctoral work at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. A scientist at heart, Nadia is driven to help researchers in all areas of protecting, maintaining and translating their IP from bench to bedside.
Our core values
Our values guide us in successfully translating and commercialising Garvan’s scientific discoveries into better health outcomes for patients worldwide.
Commercialisation Excellence: We inspire, enable and empower impact through research translation and commercialisation.
Proactivity and Open-mindedness: We act in anticipation of future opportunities, needs, or changes with creative and commercial solutions.
Tenacity: We never give up and do what it takes to accomplish our goals.
Authenticity: We lead consistently, tell it like it is, are approachable, communicate openly and respect others’ expertise, skills and experience.
Courage: We take calculated risks, pursue brave and creative solutions, and implement best practice.