Australian Research Council (ARC) has recently launched
the ARC Training Centre for Innovative
BioEngineering. Located at the University of Sydney, the Centre
aims to focus on advances in important biomedical engineering research,
including the development of personalised implant technology.
According to the CEO of ARC Professor Sue Thomas, the
Training Centre is supporting the next generation of biomedical engineers to
meet Australia’s future health challenges.
“This new Training Centre aims to produce skilled graduates
who will be ready to overcome industry-focused challenges in musculoskeletal
regeneration,” said Professor Thomas.
The ARC Training Centre for Innovative BioEngineering is
established with the aim of producing:
(1)
technologies that enable improved outcomes and
cost-efficiencies in the clinical treatment of challenging medical conditions;
(2)
a skilled workforce to further advance the
breakthroughs we make in this field; and
(3)
a framework to capture data for improving future
generations of technologies and implants.
An integral role of ARC Industrial Transformation Training
Centres, including the ARC Training
Centre for Innovative BioEngineering, is to provide the opportunity for
early career researchers to gain experience in a real-world industry setting,
within a highly driven research environment.
This Training Centre will train future research leaders in
Australia as they work directly with collaborating industry partners on
real-world industry challenges.
At the ARC Training
Centre for Innovative BioEngineering, researchers will engineer
innovative technologies to personalise orthopaedic implants targeted for the
unique biological, physical and lifestyle characteristics of each recipient.
The centre runs a collection of multidisciplinary projects
spanning the following themes:
(1)
Diagnostic technologies: to identify the
required characteristics of the solution or implant,
(2)
Innovative biomaterials: including materials
design and fabrication technologies to meet patient-specific needs.
(3)
Sensor and telemetry technologies: for
continuous assessment and optimisation of the healing process while capturing
data for refining the technology or implant.
Tangible outcomes of the Training Centre will include the
development of next-generation implants, such as embedded bioelectronic sensors
to assess and optimise the healing process.
The new ARC
Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Innovative BioEngineering is
receiving A$4.42 million over five years from the Australian Government
through the ARC Industrial Transformation Training
Centres scheme.
The Centre is led by Distinguished Professor Hala Zreiqat
from the University of Sydney. The Centre will also collaborate with participating
organisations, including the University of New South Wales, Swinburne
University of Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Harvard University
(USA), Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, Royal Prince Alfred
Hospital, and Osseointegration Group of Australia.
As reported
earlier in late April, Australia also welcomed the
ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Advanced Manufacturing of
Medical Devices (AMMD Hub) which focuses on research partnerships that will
develop cost-competitive technologies for the rapid production of medical
devices to improve health of Australians and grow the country’s medical
devices industry. The AMMD Hub is housed at the University of Queensland.
