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Fellowship helps guide through commercial process

28 September 2005

Monash PhD researcher Dr Hendrik Zimmet has been awarded a Commercialisation Fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians to help him gain a better understanding of how research findings are developed to a commercial level.

Dr Zimmet (pictured) is one of 10 physicians from across Australia to receive the college's Merck Sharp and Dohme Commercialisation Fellowship.

The fellowship, comprising a three-day workshop and poster submission, aims to cultivate skills in intellectual property and business management.

It is intended to add value to the institutions and departments in which the recipient works and to address the growing lack of clinical researchers skilled in developing their research to a commercial level.

Dr Zimmet, from the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, has just started his PhD into the use of adult stem cells for treating heart failure.

He said the fellowship would help in his long-term goal of a career in cardiac research, clinical practice and teaching.

"We don't learn very much about the commercial development of research in undergraduate or postgraduate medical studies," he said.

"I am inspired by well-conducted translational research -- the true journey from 'bench to bedside'.

"The Commercialisation Fellowship will be a unique and invaluable opportunity to examine and build solid foundations in the practical aspects and methods by which research is commercialised."