From Code to Cure
Dr Robert McLeay's Founder Story
In Armidale on the 27th of June 2024, the UNE SMART Region Incubator hosted an event featuring Dr. Robert McLeay, a prominent figure in the med-tech and health-tech industries. The event, titled "Robert McLeay's Founder Journey: From Code to Cure," offered attendees an in-depth look at his path from academic research to establishing and successfully exiting a med-tech startup.
Dr McLeay, who has a diverse background in IT, bioinformatics/genomics, and applied pharmacology, shared his experiences and knowledge with the audience. He began by discussing his PhD research, where he used machine learning to genomics, setting the stage for his future entrepreneurial endeavours.
A key focus of the event was Dr McLeay's journey in founding DoseMe, a startup that developed precision dosing and dose individualisation software. He recounted creating DoseMeRx, a software now used by healthcare providers in over 150 hospitals worldwide. Dr McLeay spoke about the challenges and milestones in building DoseMe from the ground up to its acquisition by Tabula Rasa Healthcare (NASDAQ: TRHC) in 2019.
Attendees, including health-tech founders, medical researchers, and students, gained valuable insights into DoseMe's impact on healthcare. Dr McLeay highlighted how the software has improved patient outcomes, such as reducing antibiotic-associated acute kidney injury by 83%, and its adoption by over 7,000 clinicians globally.
Dr McLeay also discussed his life after DoseMe, including completing a medical degree and participating in various research projects. He emphasised the importance of supporting other healthcare startups, offering advice and lessons learned from his own journey.
A notable aspect of the event was the opportunity for attendees to spend one-on-one time with Dr McLeay to discuss their startups. The one-on-one opportunities provided a unique chance for budding entrepreneurs to gain personalised insights and guidance from an experienced founder.
The event at the NOVA Building in Armidale included a Q&A session, during which attendees engaged with Dr McLeay, seeking further insights into his experiences and the evolving health-tech landscape.
With free admission for SRI members and a nominal fee for the general public, the event underscored the UNE SMART Region Incubator's role in promoting knowledge exchange and innovation within the region.
Dr Robert McLeay's story provided attendees with practical takeaways and a clearer understanding of the intersection of technology and healthcare, inspiring many to consider their ventures in the health-tech field.
