WA innovators improving health and medical outcomes

Researchers and companies affiliated with The University of Western Australia have received almost $4 million in funding to develop and commercialise innovations that improve health and wellbeing.

The projects received grants through the State Government’s Future Health Research and Innovation Seed Fund.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Anna Nowak said the funding was a great outcome for many UWA researchers, spin-out companies and industry partners.

“UWA is helping to design and develop so many innovative treatments and products that have the potential to benefit not only the WA community but patients around the world,” Professor Nowak said.

“The funding demonstrates the strong connection and collaboration between UWA researchers and some of the most innovative biomedical industry companies in WA.”

Associate Professor Mark Fear, from UWA’s School of Biomedical Sciences and Burn Injury Research Unit, received funds for a feasibility study of a non-invasive test to assess the skin healing potential for treatment of burn injury patients.

Associate Professor Matt Payne and Professor Tobias Strunk, from UWA’s Medical School, were funded to commercialise a novel rapid combined culture and molecular microbiological test for early detection of sepsis.

Associate Professor Matthew Piggott, from UWA’s School of Molecular Sciences, in collaboration with commercial partner Emyria, will use the funding to advance their drug discovery program for Parkinson’s disease.

The team aims to develop a non-psychoactive MDMA analogue to enhance the treatment of parkinsonian symptoms.

Associate Professor Elena Juan Pardo is a biomedical engineer at CoraMetix, the spin-off company of research being undertaken at Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and supported by UWA.

CoraMetix received funds to advance the manufacturing of a next-generation heart valve using polymeric materials and automated 3D printing to deliver lifetime durability.

Researchers at Telethon Kids Institute and UWA formed a start-up company called Setonix Pharmaceuticals.

Co-founders Associate Professor Joost Lesterhuis, Telethon Kids Institute Cancer Centre head, and Associate Professor Piggott, together with the Setonix team are using funds to progress the development of a cancer immunotherapy booster in a pill.

Graduate Dr Nikhilesh Bappoo, who completed his PhD at UWA and Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, is the co-founder director and Co-CEO/CTO of VeinTech, a medical device company aiming to improve patient and physician experience in vascular access practices.

VeinTech was funded for the clinical validation and commercialisation of VeinWise, a handheld ultraportable ultrasound innovation to assist with visualising veins to target for cannulation.

Research Fellows Dr Matt Oldakowski and Dr Intan Oldakowska, senior lecturers at UWA’s School of Engineering, are Chief Technical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer at REX Ortho.

The company received funding to support the development of the F-REX Screw: an expandable screw designed to improve the outcomes for hip fracture patients and significantly reduce the need for revision surgeries.

Inspiring Holdings’ team includes paediatric respiratory clinician Professor Barry Clements, from UWA's Medical School and Telethon Kids Institute.

The company received funding to develop a novel nebuliser spacer device to improve the delivery of inhaled medicines for people suffering from respiratory conditions.

Australian Institute of Robotic Orthopaedics, a UWA research partner, also received funds for the development of a precision laser-assisted knee implant for advanced osteoarthritis.