Med Tech Talks Podcast

Engineering prowess is a key attribute when it comes to developing and commercialising a med tech device, but what attributes make a successful engineer? 
 
 In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Dr Paul Minty shares the one key attribute that elevates the best engineers above the rest in the med tech industry. 

Dr Paul Minty is COO of the highly innovative company, Deep Brain Stimulations Technologies Pty Ltd, which was established in 2019 to commercialise an adaptive deep brain stimulation system for Parkinson’s disease.

DBS Tech's system uses a novel brain signal called  Evoked Resonant Neural Activity (ERNA), to help surgeons implant electrodes in anaesthetised patients during Parkinson’s surgery with greater accuracy.

This will transform the experience of patients, as they currently need to be awake during surgery so that they can report on symptoms and guide placement of the electrode.

In this episode, you will hear about: 

• Paul’s unique career trajectory that has led to him becoming the COO of DBS Technologies.
• The incredible work being undertaken at DBS Technologies that aims to enhance the experience of deep brain stimulation for patients with Parkinson’s disease.
• His thoughts on the med tech ecosystem and the path forward for Australian innovation.
  
  

Learn more about: 

• Deep Brain Stimulation Technologies
• The research at DBS Tech

Updated version 05/08/22

Heart disease remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and many factors prevent clinicians from accurately predicting who is at risk of a heart attack. 

Professor Karlheinz Peter may have the solution that could save many lives.  

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs talks to internationally renowned interventional cardiologist Professor Karlheinz Peter, Deputy Director of the Baker Institute at the Alfred Hospital; and Chief Medical Officer at med tech company, Nirtek. 

Professor Peter and the team at Nirtek are developing intracoronary guidewire technology that can provide cardiologists with critical preventative health information. 

When steered into the arteries of the heart, their device aims to use near infrared light to identify dangerous, rupture-prone plaques before they lead to heart attacks. 

In this episode, you will hear about:  

• Professor Peter’s research into “intelligent drugs” and interventional cardiology that has spanned over 30 years.  
• How his team once foresaw an international pharmaceutical disaster 
• His insights into where further investment is needed in order to increase innovation in Australia 
• His learnings as a medical specialist, academic, researcher and entrepreneur

More information: 

Learn more about Professor Karlheinz Peter 

Find out more about Nirtek 

Read some publications from Professor Peter 

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A bionic eye implant might, at one stage, have seemed like something out of a science fiction movie.  

Not anymore.  

An Australian bionic eye shows promise of giving functional vision back to people who have lost their sight due to a genetic condition called retinitis pigmentosa. 

Being developed by Bionic Vision Technology (BVT), the bionic eye system came out of research at the Bionics Institute, the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), CSIRO and ANU.  

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by BVT CEO Dr Ash Attia to discuss the research commercialisation journey of the bionic eye, and the upcoming large-scale clinical trials of this revolutionary technology. 

In this episode you will hear about:

• When will the bionic eye be available to patients?  
• Ash's insights on the difference between good and great companies
• Advice on how entrepreneurs should build a company to have lasting success.

More information:

Learn more about Bionic Vision Technologies.

Find out more about Dr Ash Attia and his team at BVT.

Learn about the development of Australia's Bionic eye.

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In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs (CEO of the Bionics Institute) chats with Dr Ludovic Labat (CEO of Neo-Bionica) about how Australia should approach the global med tech market to increase our innovation output. 

Dr Labat is the inaugural CEO of Neo-Bionica, an initiative of the Bionics Institute and the University of Melbourne.  

Neo-Bionica is the first company of its kind in Australia, with the bioengineering expertise, specialised fabrication skills and regulatory experience required to create first-in-human prototypes for clinical trials. 

Specialising in neuromonitoring and neuromodulation technologies, Neo-Bionica aims to position Australia as leaders in medical device prototype and manufacturing.

In this episode you will hear about:

• Ludovic's journey to becoming CEO of the highly innovative start-up Neo-Bionica
• Neo-Bionica’s mission, and how its team can accelerate the journey to market for medical devices
• How Australia can better understand global markets to increase commercialisation success of our innovations.

More information:

Learn more about Neo-Bionica: Neo-Bionica

Find out more about Dr Ludovic Labat and his team at Neo-Bionica

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In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs CEO of the Bionics Institute, chats with Sarah Meibusch, a partner at one of Australia’s largest venture capital firms, One Ventures, about the current life science venture capital climate and how industry stakeholders can best present their organisations to venture capitalists. 

Sarah Meibusch specialises in sourcing life science companies and, using her global entrepreneurial and executional experience, plays a key role in shaping their future. 

In this episode you will hear about:

• Sarah's journey to becoming a venture capitalist
• How industry stakeholders can best prepare themselves to be successful with venture capitalists
• Sarah's thoughts on the current VC climate in Australia
  
  

More information:

Take a look at One Ventures' website

Learn more about Sarah Meibusch here

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In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs CEO of the Bionics Institute, chats with Professor Kate Hoy (Head of Cognitive Disorders Treatment Program, Bionics Institute) about how she is pioneering a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). 

Professor Hoy has built an internationally renowned program of clinical research investigating non-invasive brain stimulation. By stimulating key regions of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease, TMS offers the potential to restore healthy neural networks. 

In this episode you will hear about:

• Kate's journey to becoming an internationally renowned neuropsychologist
• What transcranial magnetic stimulation is and how it could be the key to resolving Alzheimer's disease
• Kate's thoughts on how scientists can become more effective communicators

More information:

Professor Hoy's Alzheimer's research is the focus of the Bionics Institute's Christmas appeal. To support our research, visit our Alzheimer's Christmas appeal.

Take a look at the Bionics Institute Alzheimer's research page: A new treatment for Alzheimer's

Learn more about Professor Kate Hoy: Professor Kate Hoy

Updated version 05/08/22

Over 200 prominent med tech executives, investors and researchers gathered to discuss why Australia lags behind so many other countries for med tech innovation, entrepreneurship and competitiveness. 

Hear how we can bridge the gap between research and commercialisation from our invited expert speakers and panelists:

- Dr Andrew Nash - Chief Scientific Officer, CSL

- Professor Michelle McIntosh - Director Medicines Manufacturing Innovation      Centre and Theme Leader at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

- Dr Megan O’Connor - Managing Director, Kantara Consulting

-  George Kenley - Chief Operating Officer, Seer Medical

More information
To find out more about commercialisation of research through medical device spin-off companies at the Bionics Institute, go to: Our Impact 

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In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs CEO of the Bionics Institute, chats with Dr Megan O'Connor (founder and managing director of Kantara Consulting) about the economic opportunities supported by improved communication and collaboration between business, academia and political worlds in Australia.

Dr O’Connor established Kantara Consulting to support Australian life-science companies make an impact on the world. At the core of what she and her team does is communication – advocating for the biotech industry and helping organisations share details of their work with government, industry and investors. 

In this episode you will hear about:

• Megan's incredible PhD experience at Lund University, Sweden
• The foundation and mission of Kantara Consulting
• Megan's thoughts on how Australia can learn from international leader's policies to drive medical innovation

More information:
Take a look at the Kantara Consulting website: Kantara Consulting

To find out more about commercialisation of research through medical device spin-off companies at the Bionics Institute, go to: Our Impact 

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In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs CEO of the Bionics Institute, a world leader in the development of medical devices, talks to Lusia Guthrie, an experienced company director, founder, former CEO, technology developer and med tech entrepreneur.

Listen to Lusia Guthrie as she describes herself as the 'accidental entrepreneur' detailing  her journey from the laboratory into industry where she founded LBT Innovations. Lusia commercialised a number of products and developed LBT Innovations into a global brand that now trades on the Australian stock exchange (ASX). 

Lusia is passionate about innovation and has a proven track record of driving concepts from early ideation stages through to commercial product launch. She is currently the inaugural Chair of Neo-Bionica. She is also Chair of the Australian Lung Health Initiative, Non-Executive Director at WearOptimo, and serves on several university and government industry advisory committees.

In this episode you will hear about:

• Lusia's journey from the laboratory bench to executive chair
• How chess can be used as a metaphor for driving successful business
• Lusia's thoughts on building Australia from innovation.

More information:
Take a look at Lusia Guthrie's biography on the Propper and Co website: Lusia Guthrie

Take a look at the Neo-Bionica website: Neo-Bionca

To find out more about commercialisation of research through medical device spin-off companies at the Bionics Institute, go to: Our Impact  

Updated version 05/08/22

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs CEO of the Bionics Institute, a world leader in the development of medical devices, talks to Professor Michelle McIntosh, Director of the  Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre and Theme Leader at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. MIPS was recently named #1 in the QS world university rankings for pharmaceutical sciences for 2022. 

Professor McIntosh is an award-winning scientist who is known for her inhaled oxytocin research, which aims to transform maternal healthcare, particularly in developing countries where price, injecting capabilities and cold-storage capabilities may present barriers to safe and effective childbirth. 

Professor McIntosh's career has seen her win numerous awards, such as the Monash Vice-Chancellor’s award for Excellence in Research Impact . She has presented her work on inhaled oxytocin to the United Nations General Assembly in New York and her work was recognised  former US Secretary of State and presidential candidate, Hilary Clinton. 

In this episode you will hear about:

• Michelle's journey from PhD student to  acclaimed scientist at MIPS
• Some insights into her research and the potential of inhaled oxytocin to transform maternal healthcare in developing countries
• Michelle's thoughts on building Australia from innovation

More information:
Take a look at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences website: MIPS

Take a look at Professor Michelle McIntosh's Monash University Profile: Professor Michelle McIntosh

To find out more about commercialisation of research through medical device spin-off companies at the Bionics Institute, go to: Our Impact  

Updated version 05/08/22