The MRCF expanded into New Zealand, supported by the New Zealand Government, in February, while the Malaghan Institute and Callaghan Innovation have also signed up to the fund.
Pete Hodgson, chief executive of Otago University's commercialisation arm Otago Innovation, said "without doubt'' some of Otago's research would excite the MRCF.
The fund was established in 2007 to provide dedicated investment funding and expertise to support the development of very early-stage research innovations.
Early-stage opportunities can receive up to $A3million ($NZ3.16million) to support preclinical development, while ideas which get through that stage can receive a further $A17million of investment support.
Director of Otago University's research and enterprise office Dr Gavin Clark said joining the MRCF opened up opportunities to develop important biomedical discoveries at the university into technologies which could improve people's health and wellbeing.
"Successfully translating fundamental research findings into successful commercial applications is very challenging and is sometimes referred to as ‘bridging the valley of death'.
"Becoming a MRCF member puts us on a much sounder footing for crossing that valley,'' Dr Clark said in a statement.
