University of Western Australia: Biodesign Australia brings medical device innovation leaders to Perth

More than 30 biodesign leaders from around the globe converged on Perth to discuss best practices in running medical innovation programs as part of a four-day conference organised by Biodesign Australia, a network administered by The University of Western Australia.

The BioMedical Engineering Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Alliance Asia Pacific involved participants from Stanford University, Texas Medical Center, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Israel, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.

The theme of the conference was Actionable Collaboration with a focus on how biodesign programs across the APAC region and the local WA medtech ecosystem could collaborate.

It included a biodesign strategy retreat in Yallingup, a biodesign showcase at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research attended by more than 200 people and a directors’ meeting at City of Perth Council House.

In opening the biodesign showcase Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson MLC said the McGowan Government was pleased to support the amazing impact the Perth biodesign community has had on home grown medical innovators and the State’s economy.

“And, most important of all, the patients whose lives are improved by innovative medical devices that address real unmet clinical needs,” Mr Dawson said.

Conference co-chair Mrs Intan Oldakowska said it was exciting to bring biodesign colleagues to Perth and connect them to the world-class WA medtech ecosystem.

Keynote speakers for the conference were Adjunct Professor Anurag Mairal, Director of Global Outreach at Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign; and William McKeon, President and CEO of Texas Medical Center.

Stanford Biodesign is one of the most successful collaborations between academia and the medtech industry globally and the Texas Medical Center is the largest medical city in the world.