Wollongong's important role in new medical bionic centres
Apr 14, 2005
The University of Wollongong's Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) will provide selected bionic materials for The Bionic Ear Institute's world's first Australian Centre for Medical Bionics and Hearing Science announced by Prime Minister John Howard.
The announcement came at the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the first bionic ear implanted in a child. The Prime Minister said that the Federal Government would contribute $5 million towards the new centre. The government's contribution will assist in raising further funds for important research into new generation Bionic Ears and hearing aids, nerve and spinal repair, coronary artery disease and epilepsy. IPRI is the leading partner and main administrative centre for the Australian Research Council Centre for Nanostructured Electromaterials. The centre involves a partnership between IPRI, The Bionic Ear Institute's Australian Centre for Medical Bionics and Hearing Science, Monash University, Massey University and the University of Akron. The inventor of the Australian Bionic Ear, Professor Graeme Clark, has heralded the building of a new Bionic Ear to give deaf children near-normal hearing, using a range of new technologies including 'smart plastic'.Professor Clark said he was looking forward to the Centre becoming a leader in a range of Bionic therapies, and working with researchers from a number of organisations, such as those from the University of Wollongong. Bionic Ear researchers last year used natural nerve growth factors to prevent damaged nerve cells from degenerating, and induced them to grow again. IPRI scientists have discovered how to make a 'smart plastic' coating which can be applied to the bionic ear electrode to control movement and provide controlled release capabilities. IPRI Director, Professor Gordon Wallace, said a small electric current causes the plastic to release a growth factor (protein) in a controlled manner. “The electric current and growth factor work together to help protect and regenerate the nerves in the inner ear. We may even be able to control the direction of regrowth - train the nerves so to speak,” Professor Wallace said. Professor Wallace highlighted how the same technology has the potential for spinal cord repair. He said researchers at both the Bionic Ear Institute and the University of Wollongong were investigating the use of 'smart plastic' to provide a scaffold between severed sections of the spine.
Meanwhile, hot on the heels of the Prime Minister's announcement of $5 million in funding for medical bionics involving the University of Wollongong comes news today (Thursday 14 April) of a new $12 million centre (involving $6 million in Victorian Government support) that will further bolster the research team's efforts (including UOW's Intelligent Polymer Research Institute).
Victoria's Acting Premier and Minister for Innovation, Mr John Brumby, announced $57 million funding for 17 successful projects in its Major Science and Technology Infrastructure Program - one of which involves the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute through the new centre, VicBionics. A biocompatible and biodegradable plastic may be the key to creating a new generation of medical devices and high technology jobs in the medical bionics field. The plastic, called Novasorb, is one of the key technologies to be applied and commercialised in a range of medical devices by VicBionics. VicBionics - the Victorian Centre for Medical Bionics - will complement the Australian Centre for Medical Bionics and Hearing Science announced this week by the PM. VicBionics includes the Graeme Clark Bionic Ear Institute, St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne) Centre for Neurosciences and Neurological Research, CSIRO Molecular Sciences in Clayon, CSIRO Textile Fibre Technology in Geelong, UOW's Intelligent Polymer Research Institute and PolyNovo Biomaterials Pty Ltd.Plans for VicBionics includes research into: * New coatings that will reduce the risk of infection from pacemakers, joints and other implantable devices * New generation arterial stents that will reduce the risk of embolism and arterial blockages * Nerve and spinal cord repair * A new generation bionic ear giving near-normal hearing * Devices for early treatment of epileptic seizures
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