Dr Bob Irving

Scientific and Commercial Director

NanoVic - Nanotechnology Victoria

Lvl 2 Bldg 75, Monash University, Wellington Rd
Clayton
Victoria
3800
Australia

PH: 61 (3) 99058618
Fax: 61 (3) 99058501
Email: [email protected]
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Background

In his role as Scientific and Commercial Director of Nanotechnology Victoria, Dr Bob Irving has proven himself to be a pre-eminent leader of engagement with industry to successfully deliver nanotechnology and commercialization outcomes.

After a career in post-doctoral and industry research with Australia’s CSIRO, Dr Irving commenced as the Scientific and Commercial Director of Nanotechnology Victoria in April 2004 and has been responsible for the development of the project portfolio and commercialization of new nanotechnology solutions for Victoria. This year, the key objectives have been to uncover key technologies and form relationships with Victorian and interstate companies that could benefit from the application of specific nanotechnologies for new and improved materials and biological applications.

Dr Irving has successfully developed projects focussing on array vaccination and nanoparticle drug delivery. A major achievement is the NanoArrays project, a platform producing new diagnostic devices for the veterinary, environmental and human health industries, leveraging proprietary technologies from Monash University and Swinburne University of Technology.

As a result of these initiatives, Dr Irving was invited to participate in the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Nanotechnology Mission to France, organized in association with the National Academy of Technologies of France. There he visited a number of key nanotechnology centres in Paris, Grenoble, Lyon and Toulouse. The newspaper “La Dépêche du Midi” commented on the participation of both academic and industrial representatives – a key driver of Dr Irving’s activities in Victoria. Dr Irving has also represented NanoVic in delegations to the USA, Canada, and Taiwan, and is developing key relationships with national nanotechnology institutes and companies in those countries.

Bob has played a significant role in exploring the development of functional biomaterials over the last year for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. He has established for Nanotechnology Victoria an industry-leading capability in this field, and is co-author of a patent under preparation.

Bob has also contributed to nanotechnology awareness and literature, and has given addresses as a keynote speaker in a number of academic and industry forums relating to nanotechnology and bioengineering, particularly as it relates to biotechnology, health and food sciences, and the rural economy. He co-authored a paper “Nanotechnology in Australia: A National Strategy”, which appeared in the FACETS journal of the International Union of Materials Research Societies in October 2004. He has given nanotechnology lectures on request at educational institutions.

Significant Employment History

Dr Irving has a PhD in Biochemistry through the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London with a research topic on model systems for understanding the role of hormones and their receptors in prostate cancer. Prior to joining Nanotechnology Victoria, Dr Irving worked as a research scientist in private industry, the National Research Council Laboratories, Alberta Research Council Canada, CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition and the CRC for Diagnostics with program and project leadership responsibilities leading to the formation of the start-up company EvoGenix.