- Game-changing prosthetic eardrum being
developed in WA
- Medical innovators share $1 million from
WA Innovation Fellowships Program
- State's
Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund helps medical innovators
In a
world first, Western Australian innovators are developing the first prosthetic
device for the repair of chronic ruptured eardrums.
Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson said the pioneering project was
one of eight successful WA Innovation Fellowships winning a share of $1 million
from the Cook Government's groundbreaking Future Health Research and
Innovation Fund.
Ear
Science Institute Australia's Dr Filippo Valente was awarded more than $140,000
to further develop ClearDrum, a prosthetic eardrum implant.
This
cutting-edge innovation represents a major advancement in the treatment of
chronic ear conditions, with the potential to significantly improve patient
outcomes.
Dr Valente has led the research and development of ClearDrum since 2020.
The WA Innovation Fellowships grant will assist in further preparations for
manufacturing of ClearDrum devices.
Other funding recipients include
pioneering AI-powered eye screening to identify heart disease and developing an
innovative treatment to increase muscle mass and reduce fat via a subcutaneous
injection.
The Cook Government established the FHRI Fund in 2020, which is backed
by the State's almost $1.8 billion sovereign wealth fund. This has resulted in
nearly $250 million being available over the next four years to support health
and medical research and innovation in Western Australia.
More details on this
year's successful WA Innovation
Fellowships Program recipients are available on the FHRI Fund
website.
Comments attributed to Medical Research
Minister Stephen Dawson:
"WA's incredible innovators continue to produce groundbreaking and life-changing
technology, such as this amazing collection of work being carried out by this
year's successful Innovation Fellowship recipients.
"On behalf of the Cook Government I congratulate all the recipients. We
proudly support the work these incredible innovators are undertaking here in WA
which contributes to improving the health outcomes of Western Australians.
"Innovative projects like these are life changing for people who suffer
from debilitating medical conditions and diseases."
Eight Fellowships have been awarded as outlined in
the table below.
