Medicines New Zealand: Value of Medicines Awards 2022

Since 2011, Medicines New Zealand has rewarded outstanding researchers for undertaking innovative research into the use of medicines or vaccines through the Value of Medicines Award. In 2022 Medicines New Zealand relaunched the award scheme, after a brief hiatus due in part to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Award Scheme now includes two awards:

The Innovation Jump Start Award designed to provide financial assistance for an early career researcher.
The Award for Excellence in Innovative Medicines Research which recognises an already established researcher for the contribution they have made to biopharmaceutical research in New Zealand.

Applications for the 2024 Innovation Jump Start Award are now open.

Applications close 6 September 2024

The Innovation Jump Start Award

2024 marks the third year of the Innovation Jump Start Award. This Award aims to give a jump start boost to the career of one of New Zealand’s potential future leaders in biopharmaceutical innovation.

Designed to support a new or continuing project in the area of drug discovery and development, the Innovation Jump Start Award will be awarded to one of New Zealand’s potential future leaders in biopharmaceutical innovation.

The award is intended to financially support a promising researcher’s ability to reach their career goals in medicines development. 

Member companies of Medicines New Zealand will also be able to assist the award recipient, by researching out to their networks of international affiliate companies in order to gain opportunities for industry experience. 

This Award is open to applications from early career scientists including current postgraduate students (Masters and PhD Candidates) in life-science disciplines which are relevant to the biopharmaceutical sectors such as pharmacology, genetics, physiology, biochemistry and immunology to Health Care Professionals who are pursuing a research-focussed career.

 As the Award is intended for early career researchers, applicants’ highest qualification is anticipated to have been conferred within the past ten (10) years. 

Value of the Award

The Award recipient will receive a prize package with a total value of up to $30,000* NZD. This includes: 

$20,000 to support project costs. 

Career support funding of up to $10,000 to enable the winner to participate in an educational programme or another career-enhancing opportunity (industry internship etc).

*Total value of up to $30,000 exclusive of GST

Award Information Sheet

Award Application Form

Recipients of the Innovation Jump Start Award

Current Holder: Dr Rory Little (2023)

Creation of the New Zealand Insect Symbiont Collection for Antimicrobial Drug Discovery

^{Parmjeet Parmar MP (ACT) with Value of Medicines Innovation Jumpstart Award Winner, Dr Rory Little.}

Dr Little's project aims to discover new antimicrobial drugs from overlooked sources, particularly bacteria living in symbiosis with New Zealand's diverse insect population. While nature has historically provided successful drugs, rediscovery rates are high, and resistance is increasing. The project focuses on creating a collection of insect-derived bacteria (NZect strain collection), sequencing their genomes, and screening for antimicrobial natural products. The unique bacteria associated with New Zealand insects remain largely unexplored. His explorative and ambitious proposal aims to establish a unique New Zealand resource from which to conduct drug discovery, with a longer-term objective of his research being to establish a spinoff company to help develop promising drug leads, ultimately leading to a healthier and wealthier country.

The Award for Excellence in Innovative Medicines Research

The second award available this year is The Award for Excellence in Innovative Medicines Research. It continues the traditions of the earlier Value of Medicines Award (2011-2018) which was awarded for an outstanding research project involving innovative use of medicines or vaccines. The Award for Excellence in Innovative Medicines Research recognises a New Zealander who has made a significant scientific or clinical contribution to the development of innovative medicines or vaccines. The Award takes a broad view of success and is designed to recognise and celebrate the efforts of an established New Zealand researcher to ensure that the biopharmaceutical research sector thrives in New Zealand.

The award winner, to be selected by Medicines New Zealand, will be presented with the Value of Medicines Trophy in recognition of their significant contribution to innovative medicines research in New Zealand.

2023 Recipient - Professor Dame Margaret Brimble

Professor Dame Margaret Brimble is a highly esteemed New Zealand chemist. Renowned for her exceptional contributions to organic and medicinal chemistry, Professor Dame Brimble has earned international acclaim for her pioneering work in synthesising bioactive natural products and developing novel drugs. With a distinguished career marked by scientific excellence, Professor Dame Brimble continues to be a trailblazer in the field of chemistry.

2022 Recipient - Professor Richard Robson

Professor Robson has been a principal investigator on more than 70 clinical trials and as an author on approximately 100 publications. He has gone above and beyond in his commitment to innovative biopharmaceutical research in New Zealand through his decades of involvement with the Health Research Council’s Standing Committee on Therapeutic Trials (SCOTT).