Launch Week! iPREP Biodesign Round 2

The second round of iPREP Biodesign for 2020 kicks off this week with four local healthcare companies each taking on a team of PhD students to solve an unmet need. The program will see 11 PhD students spend 7 weeks working on an industry problem in the healthcare sector and will receive weekly mentorship on learning and applying the Biodesign process along the way.

The four industry partners taking on iPREP teams include:

• OncoRes Medical: A medical device company developing an imaging device to help surgeons identify tumours and healthy tissue

• VitalTrace: A local medtech company originating from the inaugural year of Perth Biodesign’s medtech course, working to develop improved fetal monitoring during labour and delivery.

• DiagNose: Founded by another Perth Biodesign graduate, developing a point-of-care diagnostic for acute bacterial sinusitis.

• South Metropolitan Health Service - Running two innovation projects within Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Four iPREP Biodesign teams took part in the previous round in early 2020, engaging with industry groups including South Metropolitan Health Service, Child and Adolescent Health Service, IBN Group and Cervical ChinUp. The round was met with excellent feedback by participants and partners and even resulted in a job offer for two participants who now work as Research Assistants for South Metropolitan Health Service.

A very special thanks to all our supporters who have facilitated a fantastic collaboration between iPREP WA and Perth Biodesign!