Senator Jana Stewart
Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba
Labor Senator for Victoria

The Hon. Ed Husic MP
Minister for Industry and Science

Infertility affects 1 in 6 Australians.

Changing demographics and social practices are leading to a rise in the number of women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). During each IVF cycle, clinicians need access to quantified hormonal data and rely on repeat blood tests which are costly for the provider, burdensome for patients and limiting for clinicians.

An Australian Government grant of $1 million will support a Hampton East business as they work to develop a biosensor-based home-use device to replace blood tests allowing IVF clinics to remotely and accurately receive timely hormone tracking data.

The project by Symex Labs Pty Ltd will use the funding to join with industry and research partners will enable collaboration between clinical, research and commercialisation experts, taking a technology proven in the lab to a home-use medical device for fertility hormone quantification.

The project is one of 21 announced by Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic, under round 15 of the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) initiative.

Funding will support projects solving problems identified by industry, with five projects focusing on circular economy challenges such as recycling solar panels and upcycling plastic and tyre waste.

The 21 projects involve 91 project partners across Australia, including 60 Australian industry partners of which 49 are small or medium enterprises, as well as 26 Australian research organisations.

A full list of successful projects is available on business.gov.au

Quotes attributable to the Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science:

“Today we are announcing $51 million to support some truly outstanding examples of industry-led collaborative research partnerships.

“These projects are expected to deliver significant national benefits by formulating solutions to major industry challenges and creating new jobs.

“These projects back in the importance of initiatives that bring together industry and researchers to overcome barriers to growing competitive, productive and sustainable Australian businesses.

Quotes attributable to Senator for Victoria, Jana Stewart:

“My congratulations to success story Symex Labs, which has received $1 million from the Albanese Labor Government to continue the development of its innovative technology to develop a home bio-sensing device for the monitoring of fertility hormones.

“This is a terrific example of Victorian innovation and ingenuity and has the potential to create new jobs and strengthen our local economy.

“I congratulate Symex Labs and wish them all the best as they further develop and test their innovative technology and work towards supporting women across Victoria.”