Nurturing biotech ventures

About Us

Our Mission

Enabling
real-world
outcomes

Our mission is to connect early-stage and scaling biotech ventures with the support they need to progress discoveries towards real-world treatments and therapies.

Together, we can build a critical mass of scientists with the knowledge and confidence to run successful biomedical ventures – and the power to influence and impact global health outcomes.

By supporting young biotech companies, Jumar can be a catalyst for growth in commercial biotech outcomes for Australia.

Speak to the team

Our Story

Building
on a biotech
legacy

Jumar Bioincubator was established by three of Victoria’s most distinguished entities spanning industry, research and academia – CSL, WEHI and the University of Melbourne. Together, with backing from innovation investor Breakthrough Victoria and operator Cicada Innovations, their unrivalled legacy in the Australian biomedical landscape sets the tone for what’s possible for the next generation of biotech startups.

Jumar is vital for building a critical mass of scientists, here in Australia and throughout the region, who have the knowledge and confidence to run successful biotech companies. By connecting young companies to all the practical support they need to overcome early challenges, we hope to steward the creation of a thriving biotechnology ecosystem. Bringing local talent, innovative ideas and commercial prowess together to solve real-world problems and deliver real-world impact.

By connecting young companies to all the practical support they need to overcome early challenges, we help steward the creation of a thriving biotechnology ecosystem.

OUR PARTNERS

Leaders in the
biomedical landscape

CSL

CSL (ASX:CSL; USOTC:CSLLY) is a global biotechnology company with a dynamic portfolio of lifesaving medicines, including those that treat haemophilia and immune deficiencies, vaccines to prevent influenza, and therapies in iron deficiency and nephrology. Since our start in 1916, we have been driven by our promise to save lives using the latest technologies. Today, CSL – including our three businesses: CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor – provides lifesaving products to patients in more than 100 countries and employs 32,000 people. Our unique combination of commercial strength, R&D focus and operational excellence enables us to identify, develop and deliver innovations so our patients can live life to the fullest.

csl.com

University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is a global leader in higher education where brilliant minds come together to address important questions and tackle grand challenges. We equip our students with a future-facing education personalised around their ambitions, enriched by global perspectives and embedded in a collaborative research culture. As active citizens and future leaders, they represent our greatest contribution to the world. We engage our communities to ensure that education and research is inspired by need and for the benefit of society. In this, we remain true to our purpose and will fulfil our mission as a public-spirited institution dedicated to the principles of fairness, equality and excellence in everything we do.


unimelb.edu.au

WEHI

WEHI is where the world’s brightest minds collaborate and innovate to make life-changing scientific discoveries that help people live healthier for longer. Our medical researchers have been serving the community for more than 100 years, making transformative discoveries in cancers, infectious and immune diseases, developmental disorders, and healthy ageing. WEHI brings together diverse and creative people with different experience and expertise to solve some of the world’s most complex health problems. With partners across science, health, government, industry, and philanthropy, we are committed to long-term discovery, collaboration, and translation. At WEHI, we are brighter together.  

wehi.edu.au

Breakthrough Victoria

Breakthrough Victoria is a strategic investment partner in Jumar. Breakthrough Victoria was established in 2021 to be an independent investment company for Victoria, delivering patient capital and impact investment to the state’s economy. Managing a $2 billion innovation fund, we provide long-term capital to innovation businesses and projects that will improve people’s lives and benefit Victoria’s economy. We invest in all stages of growth, from the first spark of an idea through to companies with global ambitions. We aim to be a catalyst for ideas and investment, bringing together investors, research institutions, governments and companies to commercialise great ideas and innovations in Victoria.

breakthroughvictoria.com

Cicada Innovations

Jumar is managed and operated by Cicada Innovations. Cicada Innovations is Australia's leading deep tech incubator. Cicada has a twenty-three year track record of supporting ventures creating life-changing technology with facilities, connections, and mentoring. Twice named ‘top incubator in the world’ by International Business Incubator Association, Cicada has incubated startups raise over $2B in funding, achieve over $1.3B in exits and trade sales, and launch products globally. Cicada's incubators, training, and community are designed to meet the unique needs of deep tech startups, and their mission to help startups grow and make Australia a leader in deep tech innovation.

cicadainnovations.com

Our Name

Let us be your
”jumar” along the
path to research
commercialisation

The name “jumar” refers to a mountaineering technique by which climbers receive the support necessary to efficiently scale and speedily ascend challenging mountains. By providing a first home for young aspiring biotech ventures, Jumar Bioincubator similarly aims to help biotech entrepreneurs to ascend and scale the heights of their industry.

Meet the Jumar team

Michael Temopoulos Community Facilities Manager

Michael is the Community Facilities Manager at Jumar. His role involves providing front facing assistance from reception to the residents on matters both the office and laboratory related. Michael is also tasked with taking care and overseeing the backend operations of all of our facilities with a focus on the laboratory.

Michael's previous role was as a Laboratory Operations Manager, where he was responsible for all the operational aspects within the lab which included a wide array of tasks covering, Lab Equipment/Processes/ Upgrades, IT, Purchasing and OHS. Anytime problems arose Michael was commonly the first point of contact for a solution. Michael was also the operator for Melbourne's infamous star observation wheel, where he was at the controls keeping it running.

Ellie Mohammadi Program Manager

Ellie supports the residents of Jumar Bioincubator by managing the health programs for the health tech founders and entrepreneurs. Ellie is also your first point of contact when you arrive at Jumar Bioincubator. She provides support for all our residents’ needs as well as assisting with management of internal and external events at the incubator.

Ellie is a cultural chameleon that loves socialising! She was born and raised in Sweden and is ethnically Persian so she can easily adapt to European and Middle eastern customs. Ellie’s professional experience has mainly been in the translational health research sector and biotech start-ups. She has managed a governmental funding program where she looked after Australian researchers nationwide and provided them with support. Ellie’s educational background was completed in Sweden and includes a M.Sc. in Bioengineering and a M.Sc. in Bioentrepreneurship and she conducted her master’s thesis in the US at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health sciences and Technology. Ellie is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Camille Shanahan General Manager

Camille manages Jumar Bioincubator, ensuring we have a thriving biotech community of diverse biopharma and medtech startups with the support they need to accelerate product development. Camille leads the Jumar team, maintains connections with all residents and across the ecosystem and curates the events and programs to create a culture of innovation and acceleration. Camille drives Jumar's contribution to the broader biotech ecosystem in Australia.

Camille has experience across clinical, scientific, business development and commercialisation roles in the biopharma sector, working in Australia and Canada. Camille has built on her academic medical research experience to facilitate the translation of Australia's world class research into clinical solutions. Camille has a strong track record in managing projects in early stage translational, STEM infrastructure and health policy. Prior to joining Jumar Bio, Camille held life sciences consulting and business development roles developing strong ties with biotech companies at all stages of product development and with key peak bodies including Ausbiotech, MTPConnect and BioMelbourne Network.  

Subscribe

Join our mailing list to stay up to date
with the Jumar community

Subscribe