Med Tech Talks Podcast

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Professor Anne Kelso AO, CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). At NHMRC, Anne’s key focus areas have been the restructure of the organisation’s grant program, developments in NHMRC’s peer review processes, and progressing initiatives to improve gender equity in health and medical research.This year, Anne will be stepping down as CEO of NHMRC after eight years. .In this episode, you will hear about: The role of the NHMRC in the Australian research ecosystem.Professor Kelso discussing some of the highlights of her career and the lessons she has learnt. Some of the mentors she has had on her journey, including legendary Australian scientists Professor Sir Gustav Nossal AC and the late Professor Donald Metcalf AC.Learn more about: The NHMRCProfessor Anne KelsoUpdated version 05/08/22

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by one of Australia’s most successful med tech expats, Dr Jeremy Buzzard,  CEO of Enteralia Bioscience and co-founder of Induction Bio.  Jeremy also notably was a partner at McKinsey and Co., where he led the firm’s global healthcare strategy and corporate finance practice. Jeremy is on the record as being involved in more than 25 major transactions that were executed with an aggregate value of $56Bn USD.In this episode, you will hear about:The missions of Enteralia Biosciences and Induction BioJeremy's reflections on his time at Harvard University and McKinsey and Co. His thoughts on the key learnings Australia can take from the US med tech market to improve our innovation outcomes.  Learn more about:Enteralia Biosciences Updated version 05/08/22

Storytelling is an important part of successful innovation and entrepreneurship.  Corrie McLeod is a med tech innovation and communications expert who understands the power of effective storytelling from her experience as founder and publisher at InnovationAus.  InnovationAus is an independent publication that reports on the impact of government policy on Australia’s technology sectors, including financial services, cyber security, manufacturing and med tech ecosystems. In this episode you will hear: The mission of InnovationAus and how this platform aims to galvanise innovation in Australia. The importance of storytelling in the med tech commercialisation journey  Corries thoughts on how Australia should use innovation to boost the economy.   Learn more: -          Take a look at the InnovationAus websiteUpdated version 05/08/22

The “valley of death” is often seen as a barrier to innovation. Dr Emma Ball, Head of Illumina for Startups (Australia, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa), challenges this idea on this week’s episode of Med Tech Talks. Dr Ball helps create and grow start-ups in the field of genomics and is an angel investor.In this episode: Hear the mission of Illumina and Illumina for StartupsLearn what an angel investor looks for in a startup.Hear Dr Ball’s thoughts on how Australia can improve its innovation culture. Learn more about: llumina for Startups grantsIlluminaUpdated version 05/08/22

Australia ranks 25th in the world for innovation as per the Global Innovation Index, but only ranks 32nd for translation of research. In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs speaks with experienced med tech entrepreneur and founder of Chatsworth Associates, Andrew Maxwell, about what Australia should do to improve the translation of our research. Andrew has a remarkable record in the international business arena, with a history of successful company launches and business growth in the biotech sector. In this episode, you will hear about: Andrew's career pathway that lead him to founding Chatsworth Associates, a boutique advisory firm providing strategic advice to emerging and high growth companies in the biomedical and med tech industry.Hear from Robert and Andrew as they discuss the roles that governments, industry and superannuation funds can play in boosting the med tech ecosystem as well as the impact that large companies can have in growing our economy. His thoughts on the med tech ecosystem and the path forward for Australian innovation.Learn more about: Andrew Maxwell and the team at Chatsworth Associates.Chatsworth AssociatesUpdated version 05/08/22

Cochlear Ltd is an Australian med tech success story and a shining example of how we can build successful innovation in Australia. Established to commercialise the cochlear implant developed by Bionics Institute founder and bionic ear pioneer, Professor Graeme Clark and his research team, Cochlear holds 60% of the global cochlear implant market.In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs was joined by Dig Howitt, CEO and President of Cochlear Ltd and a renowned international leader in med tech.Robert and Dig discuss how Cochlear’s mission is set to ensure continued leadership in the hearing implant landscape.  They go on to explore what we can learn from the Cochlear blueprint to help build Australia from innovation.In this episode, you will hear about:  ·         Dig’s journey to becoming CEO of Cochlear and his lessons in leadership·         The mission of Cochlear Ltd and how they plan to avoid market disruption·         How Australia can use the cochlear blueprint to improve the commercialisation of home-grown innovation.More information: -          View the Cochlear Ltd website-          Read the story of bionic ear pioneer, Professor Graeme ClarkUpdated version 05/08/22

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 TechnologiesThe research at DBS TechUpdated 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 entrepreneurMore information: Learn more about Professor Karlheinz Peter Find out more about Nirtek Read some publications from Professor Peter Updated version 05/08/22

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 companiesAdvice 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.Updated version 05/08/22

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-BionicaNeo-Bionica’s mission, and how its team can accelerate the journey to market for medical devicesHow Australia can better understand global markets to increase commercialisation success of our innovations.More information:Learn more about Neo-Bionica: Neo-BionicaFind out more about Dr Ludovic Labat and his team at Neo-BionicaUpdated version 05/08/22