Aussie snake venom to save lives in outback Queensland

A revolutionary wound care technology developed at AIBN is a step closer to market, with the potential to save lives and transform trauma care across outback Queensland.

SerpenSeal, designed by researchers at AIBN, combines venom from

eastern brown snakes and nanofibers from Spinifex, to rapidly stop severe bleeding within minutes.

AIBN Director and project lead Professor Alan Rowan said the world-first technology could be a gamechanger for emergency responses, particularly in rural and remote settings.

“We’ve created a breakthrough medical technology that uses ingredients found in Queensland’s very own backyard,” Professor Rowan said.

“Queensland is one of the most geographically dispersed states in the country – and in many cases – access to urgent trauma care is limited.

“This is where SerpenSeal can make a life-saving difference, especially for communities where every second counts.”

The project recently received nearly $500,000 through the latest Australia’s Economic Accelerator Ignite funding round, enabling the development of its first commercial product.

This brings the total project funding to more than $4 million, helping fast-track the product’s roll-out to hospitals, ambulances and emergency helicopters around the world.

“Our first product will be a gel form capable of stopping bleeding in just 16 seconds, compared to around 12 minutes using traditional methods,” Professor Rowan said.

“This means emergency responders could apply the gel directly to a wound with gauze, potentially saving a life.” 

The next phase of development will focus on adapting SerpenSeal to suit a range of clinical environments, working closely with RBWH trauma surgeon Dr Jason Brown to determine the most effective formats.

“Depending on its use and the clinical setting, SerpenSeal could be developed into other forms such as foams or films – tailored to various emergency responses, surgical bleeding, or battlefield trauma scenarios,” Professor Rowan said.

"We’ll also continuing to study why SerpenSeal works so effectively and remains stable in challenging environments.

“This phase includes expanded pre-clinical testing to ensure the product is not only powerful, but ready to meet the demands of real-world trauma medicine.”

To support future manufacturing and scale-up, the team is collaborating with Indigenous-owned enterprise Bulugudu Ltd to establish a local supply chain for Spinifex extract — one of SerpenSeal’s key ingredients.

Adj A/Prof Colin Saltmere of Bulugudu Ltd said the collaboration is a powerful example of how science and Indigenous knowledge can work hand-in-hand to deliver real-world impacts.

“By combining the wisdom of Indigenous knowledge with modern-day science, we’re creating something unique.

“This new funding is not just supporting a new product, but a partnership that values culture, community and innovation.”

The SerpenSeal team includes Dr Amanda Kijas and Professor Mark Midwinter from The University of Queensland, Adj A/Prof Colin Saltmere from Bulugudu Ltd as well as Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital burns and general surgeon Dr Jason Brown.