We get an update on the development of Australia’s world-first Bionic Eye System. Similar to Cochlear’s bionic ear, it involves a visual implant to give functional vision to people who’ve lost their sight due to the genetic condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa.  

The consortium behind this innovation, which has just been granted a Breakthrough Device designation from the US FDA, includes Bionic Vision Technologies, the Centre for Eye Research Australia, the Bionics Institute, CSIRO’s Data61 and the University of Melbourne.

Dr Ash Attia, the CEO of Bionic Vision Technologies and Associate Professor Penelope Allen, a Principal Investigator at the Centre for Eye Research Australia join the podcast to discuss the importance of the bionic eye breakthrough.

MTPConnect co-hosts are Caroline Duell and Dr Gerard Gibbs, Senior Director of our BioMedTech Horizons program which is providing $1 million of MRFF funding to support this project.