A cutting-edge project at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) has received funding through the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Project (CRC-P) scheme, announced in round 17.
The grants from the Australian Federal Government’s $50 million Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Grants scheme supports short term collaborative projects.
Institute Director, Professor Alan Rowan, alongside Bulugudu Ltd and Trioda Wilingi Pty Ltd, was awarded $556,314 to build a scalable Indigenous-led biomaterials supply chain.
The project will establish quality-controlled manufacturing processes for spinifex cellulose nanofibres (SCNF) – natural fibres harvested from native spinifex grass – for use in medical applications, like the Rowan Group’s snake venom wound healing gel.
With global demand for hyaluronic acid-based gels already topping $10 billion, the team will accelerate development of injectable medical gels that could be longer-lasting, easier to administer, and safer.
Professor Rowan said the project represented Indigenous-led innovation at its best.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to advance world-class science while ensuring that Indigenous communities are the primary beneficiaries of commercialisation,” he said.
“The CRC-P grant will allow us to move from proof-of-concept to medical-grade products, creating new jobs and industries along the way.”
The award will also expand the Indigenous materials laboratory run by Dr Jan Lauko, which complements the work of the National Indigenous Science and Technology Centre (NISTC).
Professor Rowan said the success reflected AIBN’s mission to deliver research that matters.
“From Indigenous-led biomaterials to advanced environmental technologies, these projects show how AIBN partnerships can deliver national benefit,” he said.
Out of 21 successful projects nationally, AIBN secured two, highlighting the institute’s strength in translating research into real-world impact.
Read about Dr Cheng Zhang’s CRC-P funded work tackling PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in water and soil here.
