Gut health testing biotech Microba wins 2019 Lord Mayor’s Innovation Award

LMBA 2019

 

Media Announcement Friday 18 October 2019

 

Brisbane-based world leaders in metagenomic testing, Microba, have won the 2019 Product Innovation Award at the Lord Mayor’s Awards Dinner tonight (FRI 18 OCT).

Microba succeeded in winning the Queensland Urban Utilities Award for Product Innovation for their Metagenomic Analysis Platform (MAP™) which provides quality, high-resolution analysis of the human gut microbiome.

MAP™ is unique to the company and uses the gold standard in data processing of gut microbiome samples – the community of bacteria living in the gut.

This processing capability, along with the use of world-leading sequencing technology – metagenomic DNA sampling – provides a significant innovation to not only local industry but across the globe.

Launched in 2018, Microba has grown rapidly in the last 14 months, with over 7,000 Australians exploring their gut bacteria, several key research projects underway, international expansion on the horizon and respected partners and well-known investors.

CEO Blake Wills said that the company was excited to win the award and share the stage with some of Brisbane’s finest in the business community.

“Microba is a home-grown innovative start up in Brisbane, based on research and expertise cultivated in the City, he said.

“We are pleased to see our contribution to local and global industry, consumers, and the local business community being recognised by our Lord Mayor,” he said.

“Our MAP™ platform and Microba Insight™ home testing kit provides customers with affordable access to personalised and detailed information about the gut microbiome that was previously not readily accessible with older technology.

“The information we are accessing through MAP™ is advancing our understanding of how the gut microbiome influences health and will accelerate the discovery of new diagnostics and therapeutics.”

Microba look forward to beginning their expansion into international markets such as Asia and the USA in the near future and hope to bring their first therapeutic product to clinical trials within the next 12 to 18 months.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he was delighted to join Brisbane’s business community in celebrating the 2019 winners and acknowledging all finalists.

“I congratulate all winners and finalists of the 2019 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards and thank them for helping to grow our city’s $171 billion economy,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Brisbane just keeps getting better and as this year’s award recipients demonstrate, the climate is right for business in Brisbane.”

ENDS