Monday, May 06, 2024
A strategic partnership has been forged to merge expertise in biomedical engineering, healthcare, medicine, and technology development with one of Australia’s leading Medtech companies.
Focus is on creating a clinical testing ground for novel materials, designs, and methodologies in orthopedic implants and devices. By leveraging combined talents, it aims to bolster scientific and industrial leadership within Australia's burgeoning Medtech sector, ultimately bringing forth innovative medical implant technologies tailored to enhance health outcomes and quality of life.
This collaboration not only solidifies Melbourne's emergence as a Medtech research and commercialization hub but also reinforces the pivotal roles of RMIT and the University of Melbourne in this sector. It aligns with substantial investments made by both universities and the Victorian Government in Medtech training and skill enhancement initiatives.
Joint endeavors include the Victorian Medtech Skills and Devices Hub and cutting-edge facilities at the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery, set to become Australia's premier biomedical engineering research translation center by 2025.
Distinguished Professor Milan Brandt of RMIT's Advanced Manufacturing Precinct, renowned for his extensive collaborations with medical device manufacturers like Signature Orthopaedics, highlighted the potential for this partnership to yield groundbreaking medical innovations with significant patient benefits, both locally and globally.
While prior collaborations between the partners have been successful, the upcoming projects under this trilateral partnership will be unveiled in the near future. Professor Peter Lee from the University of Melbourne's Department of Biomedical Engineering emphasized that these projects would serve as prime examples of how university researchers and students can engage in impactful research that directly addresses societal needs.
Lee stressed the importance of early involvement with implant manufacturers and clinicians to identify and address project challenges, accelerating research for clinical application and ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Signature Orthopaedics stands as Australia's sole manufacturer of implantable orthopedic devices. Their rapid expansion to Europe and North America underscores the growing demand for their products, which encompass a wide range of orthopedic solutions, including hip and knee replacements, spinal implants, osseointegration, osteosynthesis, and soft tissue repair.
Source: rmit.edu.au
