DMTC Medical Countermeasures Program leader, Felicia Pradera, has been presented with the prestigious DMTC Research Collaboration Award for her leadership of the program.
The DMTC Awards for Excellence were presented at this year’s DMTC Annual Conference Dinner at the National Gallery in Canberra.
The Awards for Excellence recognise significant contributions made by individuals and teams that have resulted in successful outcomes for DMTC and its partners.
The Research Collaboration Award presented to Dr Pradera goes to an individual who embodies the spirit of collaboration that is integral to DMTC’s strategic intent.
Seconded to the DMTC from the Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group, Dr Pradera oversees a portfolio of projects that leverage funding from CSIRO and DST Group, as well as contributions from a number of highly capable and innovative research and industry partners.
DMTC CEO, Dr Mark Hodge, said Dr Pradera was a worthy recipient of the honour.
“Felicia has made a massive contribution to the success of this program,” Dr Hodge said. “In fact, it’s not over-stating it to suggest that the program may not have even been running today without her leadership and expert oversight.
“Felicia is a valued member of the DMTC team and really has exemplified our commitment to achieving the very best outcomes for the Australian Defence Force, while also facilitating industry and supply chain development in this country.”
Dr Pradera received her award from Corporal Dan Keighran VC, who was the guest speaker at the gala dinner. After telling the remarkable story of his life and the circumstances of the battle for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross, Corporal Keighran had a simple but powerful message for the DMTC community.
“What you do, makes a difference to the safety and security of our soldiers and the ADF,” he said.
DMTC congratulates Dr Pradera and all the other award winners.
Award Winners
The Industry Partnership Award is awarded to individual researchers whose efforts contribute significantly to the capability of a DMTC Industry partner. This year’s award was awarded jointly to Gui Wang and Juan Torres from the University of Queensland for their efforts in helping Thales’ Protected Vehicles division transition research outcomes from DMTC Project 3.19 into their vehicle development program.
The Project Leadership Award is awarded to leaders of a project team who have contributed significantly to achieving project outcomes. This year’s award was awarded jointly to Ali Daliri and Lihong Su for their leadership of DMTC Project 6.04 “Land vehicle alternative material characterisation” and Yen Truong for her leadership of DMTC Project 7.33 “Advanced nanostructured fabrics”. Yen’s project involves five research and industry partners including CSIRO and DST Group.
The Early Career Award recognises the contribution of early career technical officers, engineers and scientists to DMTC projects, rewarding efforts ‘above and beyond’. It is open to technical officers, engineers and scientists, including PhD students, who are working on DMTC research projects and are aged under 35. This year’s award went to Andrew Ang from Swinburne University of Technology who has been a highly-valued team member and contributor to no fewer than four DMTC projects in the Maritime domain.
The Capability Improvement Award is awarded to the project team who achieves a significant improvement in technical capability in the area of materials and/or manufacturing technology. This year’s award winner was the High Strength Fabrics project team who have developed fragmentation resistant fabric to prototype stage. Industry partner Bruck Textiles has since adopted the technology and is marketing the fabric globally. Tony Pierlot (Project Leader – CSIRO), Ahmed Bhoyro, Ben Eu, Bin Lee, Doug Dower, Horace Billon, Liberty Wagner, Lyndon Arnold, Peter Herwig, Rajiv Padhye, Sandip Ranjan, Tim Head and Vlad Libeson.
Further details on the DMTC Medical Countermeasures program are available at https://dmtc.com.au/our-activities/medical-countermeasures/
Corporal Dan Keighran VC presents Dr Felicia Pradera with the Research Collaboration Award.
The Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) is a not for profit collaborative venture that brings together defence industry, universities and government research agencies to develop technologies that will enhance Australia’s defence and national security capability.
The Medical Countermeasures (MCM) activity being hosted by DMTC is focused on vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for the protection of military and civilian personnel against Chemical Biological and Radiological (CBR) threats, emerging infectious diseases and pandemics.
Now closed, this call for Expressions of Interest for collaborative projects focused on three priority areas:
1. Point of Care Diagnostics
2. Antimicrobial Resistance and
3. Security Sensitive Biological Agents.
Proposed projects were required to have a minimum of one industry partner and one academic/research partner.
The DMTC MCM program is about translation of technology and therefore all proposed projects must be at or above the non-clinical/preclinical phase of development for vaccines and therapeutics; and a prototype for diagnostics.
The following guidance was provided to assist with applications:
– DMTC MCM EOI Information guide;
– DMTC MCM TRL Guide guide; and
– DMTC MCM Template QuadChart submission.
Quad Charts were required by no later than 1600hrs AEDT on Friday March 17, 2017. Further application rounds may be conducted in future. For more information please contact Felicia Pradera at DMTC on 03 9214 4447.
Posted by DMTC on March 21st, 2017 Tagged: Countermeasures, EOIIn a speech at DMTC’s Annual Conference in Canberra, Assistant Minister for Defence, Mr Stuart Robert, has announced that the Government has agreed to secure funding for DMTC for an additional three years.
In his announcement Mr Robert said “Technology that was researched and developed through DMTC has been commercialised through the Defence Materiel Organisation’s Priority Industry Capability Innovation Program. Simply put, this means the men and women of the Australian Defence Force, whether on operations or humanitarian missions, will continue to benefit from the technological advancements available to improve their safety and security on the job.”
This announcement means Australian research organisations and industry can look forward to engaging in further cost efficient collaborative programs with DMTC, which will provide tangible increases to the technology available to the ADF.
DMTC’s CEO, Dr Mark Hodge, said “DMTC will now be able to continue its work in developing the critical knowledge and expertise which underpins the Australian Defence Force capability.”
The media release for the announcement by the Assistant Minister for Defence can be found here.
Posted by DMTC on March 26th, 2014 Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) has been successful in its proposal to the Federal Government to undertake a new program focusing on Personnel Survivability. Minister for Defence the Hon Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel the Hon Jason Clare today announced that the Government has approved the Personnel Survivability program, which is now expected to commence later this year.
Personnel Survivability is a new 5 year program which will deliver a range of improved materials, manufacturing processes and technology solutions to enhance the operational effectiveness and survivability of Australian Defence personnel. The program aims to reduce the burden to personnel by decreasing the weight, bulk and cognitive awareness of the equipment being worn while maintaining or increasing the level of protection enabling them to perform their duties with minimal hindrance.
Focusing on improving the mobility, survivability and sustainability factors that affect personnel, Personnel Survivability will contribute to saving lives and increasing operational effectiveness of Australian Defence personnel. Areas of research will include:
– Ballistic, Blast and Flash Protection
– Signature Reducing Activities
– Environmental Threats
– Utility, Fit and Comfort
– Human Systems and Injury Modelling
– Integration with Mounted Operations
This research will further enhance the work being undertaken by the Integrated Solider Systems group (also known as Diggerworks) within the Defence Materiel Organisation.
In addition to the benefits to Defence personnel, this Program will contribute to the further development of Australia’s defence industry and the enhancing of indigenous industrial, commercial and academic defence capabilities.
The federal Government will provide in excess of $9 million towards the program through the Defence Materiel Organisation and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, with the sector already committing in excess of $11 million.
DMTC CEO, Dr Mark Hodge is delighted with the news: “this represents a significant outcome for the broader defence sector, including of course the companies and research sector organisations that committed their support to the bid. We’re most grateful for the support and commitment of our partner organisations, and of course that of Defence, which was the final piece of the puzzle, allowing each party to leverage contributions from the others through DMTC’s collaborative business model.”
Personnel Survivability will be managed by DMTC using the successful collaborative model currently used for existing DMTC programs.
Established by the Federal Government as the first Defence Future Capability Technology Centre (DFCTC), DMTC focuses on delivering new materials technologies and manufacturing processes to Australia’s defence industry which will in turn enhance industry’s ability to supply high priority products and services to Defence. By acting as the link to industry in developing capabilities that are relevant to Defence requirements the DMTC model enables Defence and industry to work together to address critical capability issues while preserving Defence’s need to remain objective in procurement and tendering processes.
The addition of Personnel Survivability to the programs already being run by the DMTC confirms the relevance of DMTC in linking Defence requirements to the development of indigenous commercial opportunities. DMTC has become a resource for industry to understand how its ideas and capabilities can fit with Defence requirements and for the transitioning of these capabilities to commercial reality.
Tony Quick commented that “DMTC is demonstrating the delivery of research and development to meet defence needs across a number of program areas and we all look forward to making a real impact in this critical area.”
DMTC invites further interest from the sector to participate in the program. The Program will be operated in a similar manner to DMTCs existing programs, and requires co-investment from partners. Exact funding will be decided on a case by case basis.
For further information please email personnelsurvivability@dmtc.com.au or phone: (03) 9214 4447.
To view the joint media release from Minister for Defence the Hon Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel the Hon Jason Clare click here.
View a pdf version of the DMTC media release: DMTC to enhance Personnel Survivability
Posted by DMTC on June 14th, 2011