ADJOURNMENT
Senator POLLEY (Tasmania) (20:15): I rise to speak about hope powered by science and collaboration. That hope is embodied by Meizon Innovations, an Australian biotechnology company working to change the future for people living with dementia here in Australia and across the world. Dementia affects not only memory but identity, independence and family life.
It places a profound emotional and practical burden on carers and communities. I recently visited the Florey institute in Melbourne to meet with Professor Albert Frauman, Liz Ferentinos and researchers who are involved in exceptional work. Meizon Innovations has set out on an ambitious mission to develop new therapies to do more than manage decline.
They aim to change its course. At the centre of that mission is DL33, a treatment that has generated real interest because of the promise in preclinical research and its potential to open a new path in dementia care. I witnessed firsthand the use of drugs in mice trials at their state-of-the-art laboratories.
Meizon describes DL33 as a therapy designed to replenish deficient DL33 levels in the brain, with the goal of preventing, treating and potentially reversing aspects of cognitive decline. According to the company, DL33 has reversed cognitive decline in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease and childhood dementia, making it one of the most compelling parts of Meizon's research pipeline.
Just as importantly, the company presents this work not as a miracle claim but as a scientific journey that still requires rigorous testing. Recent updates indicate that the next stage will include toxicology studies and early-phase human safety testing. That matters because genuine medical progress is built not only on exciting discoveries but on careful evidence, transparency and perseverance.
What makes this story especially powerful is where it began. Meizon's work is deeply connected to the Florey institute of neuroscience and mental health, one of Australia's leading brain research institutes. Meizon states that DL33 originated from research at the Florey institute and the University of Melbourne.
The company's co-founder and scientific leader, Dr Wah Chin Boon, built much of her research career at the Florey, where she led the steroid neurobiology lab. Reports on Meizon's development explain that the discovery behind DL33 emerged from close scientific investigation and a willingness to follow unexpected findings. That is often how breakthrough happens—not in grand moments of certainty but through disciplined curiosity and years of dedicated work.
More broadly, scientific research is essential to Australia's future, and nowhere is that more urgent than in brain health and dementia research. Australia is home to outstanding scientific, clinical and research institutes whose work is changing lives, advancing knowledge and strengthening our nation's capacity to respond to major health challenges. Their efforts deserve not only our acknowledgement but our strong and ongoing support.
This is especially important right now because dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia, placing a growing burden on patients, families, carers and the health system. Investing in research into brain health is not simply the right thing to do; it is a national priority backed by clear evidence. In 2024, dementia accounted for more than 17,500 deaths in Australia.
In 2023, dementia related spending reached an estimated $4.7 billion across aged care, health care and support programs. Continued investment in research offers the best hope of early diagnosis, better prevention, improved treatments and ultimately a cure, which we will hope for every single day. As it is the leading cause of death, what we have to understand is we have to look after our brains from cradle to grave.
It is so important. There's so much we can do to prevent the onset of dementia, and we need the support of the government to ensure that our scientists have the support that they need to continue this important work. Senate adjourned at 20:20