Medical technologies play an ever-increasing role in healthcare, with the potential to address numerous unmet clinical needs. With a complex pathway from idea to commercialisation, how can researchers and product developers ensure that their product meets clinical needs, and regulatory approval requirements? This webinar will explore how projects can improve their chances of translation into successful products, able to be used to improve patients’ lives. Join our expert panel as they bring perspectives from university, industry, and CSIRO in developing and commercialising MedTech products, with insights on the challenges and success factors from research to manufacturing.
Panellists:
Professor Andrea O’Connor, Shanahan Chair in Frontier Medical Solutions, Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne
Professor Andrea O’Connor, PhD, FIChemE is the Shanahan Chair in Frontier Medical Solutions and a Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor at the University of Melbourne and the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery. She is a co-Director of the Victorian Medtech Skills and Device Hub and leads the Tissue Engineering Group in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Her research focuses on design, synthesis and fabrication of biomaterials, development of antimicrobial nanomaterials, and scale-up of tissue engineering. She teaches biomedical engineering subjects including Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells. Prof. O’Connor collaborates with clinicians, scientists, hospitals, medical research institutes and medical device companies to address clinical problems.
Mr Andrew Batty, Chief Executive Officer, Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD)
Andrew is a MedTech executive with over 25 years of experience in healthcare, specializing in commercializing innovative technologies. He has held roles in Sales, Marketing, Business Development, Clinical Operations, and Management within pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Andrew has launched and managed companies like CogState, IM Medical, and Anatomics, establishing exits and global distribution channels. He is the founder and Director of Lincoln Consulting Group, assisting businesses in designing and implementing commercial strategies. Recently, he launched MedTech companies such as VividWhite, iFix Medical, and Morand Medical. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Commerce, serves on several company boards, is the past chair of the University of Melbourne IAG for Biomedical Engineering, and is currently the interim CEO at the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery.
A/Prof David Collins, Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne
David is a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne. His research focuses on developing systems for advanced bioprinting using novel micromanipulation methods, spanning from single-cell environments to macro-scale structures. He has expertise in integrated actuation methods in microfluidic systems, with applications for patterning and sorting microspecimens. David collaborates across four continents, working on projects such as 3D bioprinting to engineer single-cell microenvironments, bioprocess engineering for high-throughput micro-scale separations, and disease-on-a-chip models like blood-brain barrier systems for studying neurodegenerative disorders. Visit www.davidjohncollins.com for more information.
Dr Helmut Thissen, CSIRO
Helmut Thissen obtained his PhD in Chemistry from RWTH Aachen University in Germany, where he began translating biomedical research into clinical applications. He then joined the CSIRO in Melbourne, Australia, contributing to the Biomedical Manufacturing Program. His research interests include Biomaterials, Regenerative Medicine, and Biosensors, focusing on interactions between material surfaces and biomolecules, cells, and tissues. Helmut has published over 180 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and holds more than 10 patent families. He established and directs CSIRO’s Biomedical Materials Translational Facility (BMTF) and has translated research into successful biomedical products. He frequently serves as an expert evaluator for institutions like NHMRC and the European Commission and has been an Adjunct Professor at Monash University and National Taiwan University. His awards include the CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement and the Newton Turner Award. He has also served as President of the ASBTE and Program Leader of the CRC for Polymers.
