|
|
The ICT for Life Sciences Forum has been established by its foundation sponsors who are active in supporting multidisciplinary research in the life sciences.
The Melbourne School of Engineering at the University of Melbourne has an international reputation for its research, teaching, academic staff and graduates. The School boasts 14 Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering, 7 Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science, 4 Federation Fellows, 2 Fellows of the Royal Society, 2 Laureate Professors and 2 Australian Prime Minister’s Prize winners.
Our School is recognised for excellence in engineering and is by highly regarded in annual world rankings by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Our research activities are focussed to benefit society in areas of global importance – biomedical engineering, information and communications, materials and sustainability. Our researchers collaborate with leading national and international industry partners and medical research institutes.
The Melbourne Engineering Research Institute (MERIT) sits within the School with the goal to advance its status as one of the top-ranking engineering schools in the world. MERIT consolidates the School’s research into four independent but closely aligned research themes, unified by the common goal of ‘engineering research for the benefit of society’. It is working to deliver leading research in the areas of bio-informatics, computational modelling, biomechanics and medical imaging to address such issues as immune system function, spread of infection, epilepsy and cancer treatment.
NICTA is Australia’s national research centre of excellence in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). NICTA’s Victoria Research Laboratory has world class research expertise in optical and high-speed wireless communications, sensor networks and software engineering and is one of the largest ICT R&D centres in Victoria.
Recognising the increasing application of ICT in the Life Sciences to create new devices, processes, tools and products for improved prevention and care, the Victoria Research Laboratory in 2006 established highly collaborative research projects in the area of ICT for life sciences with the vision to create technology which contributes to the development and implementation of personalised medicine. The Laboratory is working with collaborators and partners to address a number of significant problems in personalised medicine:
• Bionic eye – the design and development of a retinal implant that will restore functional sight to people who suffer from Macular Degeneration, a major cause of blindness;
• Cancer genomics – the development of software tools to support genetic analysis.
A number of smaller research activities in ICT for Life Sciences are also supported.
Through its educationprogram, NICTA is playing a key role in the education of upcoming generation of researchers applying ICT to life sciences problems.
The Bionics Institute is an independent, not-for-profit medical research organisation specialising in the field of medical bionics. Our researchers and clinicians work on
multi-disciplinary collaborative projects related to Bionic Hearing, Bionic Vision, and Neurobionics.
The Institute focuses on the clinical applications of its innovative technology, as well as strong commercial outcomes that benefit people from all walks of life. We're constantly seeking for new ways to improve medical bionics devices around the world, and in turn strengthen the Australian economy through innovation and training for each new generation of researchers.
The reserach undertaken by the Institute in collabration with its partners, includes:
• a bionic eye that will provide independence for the blind and will eventually allow them to read large format print
• nanotechnology based targeted drug delivery systems for the efficient delivery of therapeutic drugs without adverse side effects
• intelligent brain implants designed to monitor, diagnose and treat a variety of neurological disorders including epileptic seizures
• high-fidelity bionic ears that will improve speech understanding in noise and unleash the gift of music for deaf patients.
Based in Melbourne, the Institute has an international reputation for scientific rigour and research excellence. Bionic Ear research began in the late 1960s at The University of Melbourne and this important relationship continues with the many of our staff working alongside Department of Otolaryngology researchers. The Institute is formally affiliated to the University.
The Institute has a close working relationship with surgeons, audiologists and other hearing professionals as well as Bionic Ear users themselves. This means we are in constant contact with people who can give immediate feedback on the research based on their personal experience.
Other strengths include our strong multidisciplinary team, a track record of successful spin-off companies, freedom from commercial constraints and our overriding commitment to patient safety and wellbeing.
The Institute values collaborations with other leading research organisations both in Australia and overseas and is accredited by the NHMRC as an independent research institute.
The Florey Neuroscience Institutes represents the Brain Research Institute, Howard Florey Institute and National Stroke Research Institute coming together as leaders in brain and mind research.
Florey Neuroscience Institutes employs 700 research scientists that collectively undertake world-class research into Stroke, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Addiction, Depression, Brain & Spinal Cord Injury, Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease.
Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick provides strategic advice for technology companies at all stages of product development from early stage through to utilization and enforcement. Since its inception in 1888, the Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick group has grown to incorporate a patent and trade mark attorney firm, a litigation firm and a research and investigation company which work together to provide a seamless and comprehensive service.
We provide a complete suite of intellectual property services from drafting patent applications and pursuing patent monopoly rights in Australia and overseas to patentability and freedom to operate searching, IP auditing, patent litigation and all kinds of intellectual property agreements including technology transfer, licensing and collaborative research agreements. With more than 45 patent attorneys and litigation specialists having technical qualifications and experience in diverse areas ranging from defence electronics and ICT to molecular and cell biology, physical sciences, chemistry and mining, Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick meets the needs of clients with cutting edge technology emerging from a multi-disciplinary approach to innovation.
Melbourne Ventures Pty Ltd is the technology commercialisation company of the University of Melbourne. We offer a comprehensive commercial advisory and technology commercialisation service to the academic community of the University of Melbourne and its affiliate organisations. We make available to University staff the requisite skills and resources to ensure that technologies developed at the University are, where appropriate, given the best possible opportunity to succeed in the commercial marketplace
The Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing (VPAC) is a leading, independent Advanced Computing R&D service provider, is a not for profit registered research agency established in 2000 by a consortium of Victorian Universities. It provides expert services, training and support in Advanced Computing as well as professional R&D services in the application of Advanced Computing in the fields of Engineering, Geophysics, Health, Life Sciences, Spatial Information and Grid Computing. VPAC aims to help Australian researchers utilize Advanced Computing to create innovations that will place Australia at the forefront of scientific research and development.
VeRSI, the Victorian eResearch Strategic Initiative, is an eResearch Program set up and funded by the Victorian Government to accelerate and coordinate the uptake of eResearch in Victorian universities, government departments and other research organisations. It is a collaborative joint venture between Melbourne, Monash and La Trobe Universities and the Department of Primary Industries.
VeRSI is promoting the uptake of eResearch by fostering relationships with the research community; providing critical enabling infrastructure; developing tangible examples of relevance to the research community; and promoting awareness.
VeRSI has a particular focus on supporting research in the life sciences with nine of the eleven exemplar use-cases undertaking research in this area. The work that VeRSI is doing supports research topics as diverse as metabolomics and physiotherapy by the development of collaborative environments and provision of data management solutions. Through these projects, and many others, they are working with Victoria's leading research institutes to ensure that information and communication technology is best used to enhance Victoria's research outputs.
RMIT University is one of Australia's original and leading educational institutions, producing some of Australia's most employable graduates. As an innovative, global university of technology, with its heart in the city of Melbourne, RMIT has an international reputation for excellence in work-relevant education and high quality research, and engagement with the needs of industry and community.
With more than 70,000 students studying at RMIT campuses in Melbourne, in Vietnam, online, and at partner institutions throughout the world, the University is one of the largest in the country. It has built a
worldwide reputation for excellence in professional and vocational education and research. A vibrant alumni community now stretches across more than 100 countries.
The College of Science, Engineering and Health has internationally-recognised expertise in a diverse range of
disciplines and incorporates the fields of Sciences, Engineering, IT and Health and Medical Sciences.
Comprising ten academic Schools (eight Higher Education schools and two TAFE schools), the College delivers a broad range of programs at apprenticeship, certificate, bachelor, masters and PhD levels. Many programs articulate between TAFE and Higher Education, creating pathways for further study.
The College is focused on providing practical solutions to real-life problems, developing and applying new knowledge and new ways of thinking about the environment and sustainability, health and wellbeing, and advanced technologies through education, research and projects, in collaboration with a wide range of partners.
As an internationalised university of technology and design, RMIT brings unique capabilities and solutions to research through a trans-disciplinary approach that considers both the technological and social dimensions of the work at hand.
Research at RMIT is particularly focused on solving the critical global problems affecting communities and the environment in the following areas: designing the future, smart technology solutions, sustainability
and climate change challenges, and the future of cities.
For information on current research see:
www.rmit.edu.au/research
|
|
|
Our sponsors 
