Seven Australian startups will share $15.6 million to speed up the development of new treatments, diagnostic tools and technologies for dementia and cognitive decline. Their work ranges from gene editing for childhood dementia to a digital test that could flag risk decades before symptoms appear.
The funding is the second round of CUREator+ Dementia and Cognitive Decline. The Australian Government funds this national program through the Medical Research Future Fund. Brandon BioCatalyst delivers it in partnership with ANDHealth and Dementia Australia. The aim is to help early-stage Australian medical research reach patients and the market by pairing grants with commercial expertise and access to industry networks. Recipients do not have to give up equity in return.
Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae said dementia is the leading cause of death in Australia, which makes action more important than ever.
"The Albanese Government is proud to support these critical and very promising research projects through the Medical Research Future Fund, backing our best and brightest researchers to make a real difference when it comes to dementia," he said.
"Our government is investing in the critical research, innovation and commercialisation we need to make sure every Australian can age with dignity and in good health."
The two largest grants are $2.5 million each. One goes to Kinoxis Therapeutics in Victoria, which is developing a new therapy for the chronic agitation and aggression that can come with dementia. The other goes to TasTest in Tasmania. Its simple digital test, which people can complete themselves, is designed to identify dementia risk decades before symptoms emerge so people can act earlier to protect their brain health.
Victoria's Synerva Therapeutics received $2,489,934 to develop a new class of therapies designed to prevent neuronal cell death in Parkinson's disease and related dementias. Quinthera in Queensland was awarded $2,425,000 for an oral therapy targeting neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
In Western Australia, CodeBreakers received $2,129,972 for a gene editing therapy that aims to reverse childhood dementia caused by mitochondrial disease. Victoria's Healthily was awarded $1,928,237 to build an AI-powered voice platform to detect cognitive decline early in older Australians. Queensland's Intracellica Bio received $1,607,074 for an antibody therapy that works inside cells to target tau, a protein involved in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies.
CUREator Program Head Dr Amanda Vrselja said the round's breadth showed the strength of Australian innovation in dementia and neurodegenerative disease.
"Dementia and cognitive decline are incredibly complex challenges and there will not be a single solution. We need innovation across the spectrum," she said. That meant everything "from detecting disease earlier to developing new therapies capable of slowing or changing its progression."
"These seven companies are tackling that challenge from very different directions, including gene therapy, novel medicines, artificial intelligence and digital diagnostics."
"CUREator+ is committed to helping promising Australian innovations take the critical next steps towards commercialisation. By combining funding with experienced commercialisation support, we can help researchers and founders build investable companies and ultimately move new solutions closer to the people who need them."
ANDHealth chief executive Bronwyn Le Grice said early detection could transform patient outcomes.
"Dementia and cognitive decline remain among the most significant health challenges facing an ageing Australia. The ability to detect changes early has the power to fundamentally change patient outcomes," she said.
"These technologies also reflect the calibre of innovation coming out of Australia. With the right funding and commercialisation support, we can support these digital and connected health companies to build the evidence base needed to scale here in Australia and internationally."
Dementia Australia chief executive Professor Tanya Buchanan said the views of people with lived experience of dementia must shape the future of treatment and care.
"We are proud to partner with CUREator+ Dementia & Cognitive Decline to support the research and development of dementia treatment and technologies. Through our Community Steering Committee, Dementia Australia Dementia Advocates share their lived experience of dementia which influence how potential treatments and care are considered. We look forward to seeing what these exciting companies achieve over the coming years."
Dementia Australia estimates that more than 446,500 Australians are living with dementia and more than 1.7 million people are involved in their care.
