QUT scientists have developed an advanced deep learning framework specifically designed to detect shoulder abnormalities, including fractures, arthritis, and deformities, in X-ray images. This cutting-edge framework achieves an impressive accuracy rate of 99.2 percent. By leveraging this technology, clinicians can swiftly and accurately diagnose shoulder issues, especially in emergency situations where timely decisions are critical.
Key Points:
Challenging Musculoskeletal Issues: Musculoskeletal conditions affect a staggering 1.7 billion people worldwide, causing pain and debilitation. Detecting abnormalities in the shoulder using X-rays can be particularly challenging.
Deep Learning Framework: The proposed framework utilizes deep learning techniques to analyze X-ray images. It addresses previous limitations related to performance and transparency.
Feature Fusion Technique: The process involves combining features extracted from seven deep neural models. This fusion technique enhances the accuracy and overall performance of the framework.
Validation and Trustworthiness: The framework has been rigorously validated to ensure reliable decision-making. It outperforms both previous computer methods and human doctors, including orthopedic surgeons and radiologists.
In a testament to the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Joint Biomechanic’s commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders, we are proud to highlight the outstanding achievements of Dr. Maxence Lavaill, Mr. Luka Bai, Dr. Marco Branni, and Miss Natalia Muhl Castoldi. These exceptional individuals have not only excelled academically but have seamlessly transitioned into impactful roles within the medtech and academic industry, transforming the orthopaedic landscape in Australasia.
Our mission at the centre is clear – to empower, train, and mentor emerging leaders who will drive innovation in the orthopaedic industry. Through strategic partnerships with industry giants such as Logemas, Materialise, Zimmer Biomet, Australian Biotechnologies, and Stryker, we offer placement and training opportunities that bridge the gap between academia and industry.
Dr. Marco Branni, a shining example of our success, has recently been hired as a biomechanical engineer at Akunah. His work focuses on revolutionizing pre-operative patient care algorithms, and he is actively involved in developing software products approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Dr. Maxence Lavaill, another standout achiever, has submitted an AQIRF grant with Stryker, with the outcome pending. The collaboration between academia and industry, particularly through initiatives like AQIRF and Advanced Queensland grants, is integral to building crucial industry ties and driving impactful research.
These successes extend to postdoctoral positions secured by Natalia and Max with Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Their academic journey has been enriched by a special training environment, including surgical observation facilitated by clinical partners Adj. Prof. Ashish Gupta and Dr. Kenneth Cutbush, in collaboration with partner institutions Greenslopes Private Hospital and St Andrews War Memorial Hospital. This unique exposure ensures that our students not only understand the industry intricacies but also empathize with patient needs, equipping them to solve the unique problems within the sector.
The centre takes immense pride in its 100% employability track record as it stands at the end of 2023, a testament to the quality of training and mentorship provided. As we celebrate these achievements, we remain committed to supporting our current and future PhD candidates, offering mentorship and unique training opportunities in 2024 and beyond. The success stories of Dr. Maxence Lavaill, Mr. Luka Bai, Dr. Marco Branni, and Miss Natalia Muhl Castoldi underscore our dedication to shaping leaders who will leave an indelible mark on the orthopaedic industry.
The ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics Symposium was a wonderful display of the centre’s current research to the wider academic community and industry partners. We heard throughout the day several informative presentations on the centre’s work, starting with the clinical presentation presented by Dr Jashint Maharaj for the clinical update, followed by the Seed Grant updates given by Dr Bart Bolsterlee, and Dr Maxence Lavaill Stepping in for Dr Dermot O’Rourke. Later in the day, there was a rapid-fire presentation giving more exact details on each project and celebrating the individuals who contributed exceptional effort to the centre in an award ceremony.
Dr Bart Bolsterlee delved into “Biomechanical Characteristics of The Human Supraspinatus Tendon In vivo Under Physiological Loading.” His presentation outlined the project’s aim, which is to establish a proof-of-principle for an anatomically and physiologically relevant computational model (finite element model) of the supraspinatus muscle-tendon complex.
Dr. Maxence Lavaill’s presentation of Dr. Dermot O’Rourke’s work, “Toward Precision Tracking of the Shoulder Joint Using Ultrasound Tomography,” was equally captivating. His presentation detailed the protocol’s development, focusing on the accuracy of the ultrasound-based system in determining bone positions concerning the motion capture system. This has profound implications for enhancing routine clinical assessment, post-op rehabilitation, and experimental shoulder biomechanics.
The end of session one was a panel discussion themed “Leadership in the Face of Change: Innovation & the Future of Med-Tech in Australasia,” where esteemed speakers shed light on leadership, innovation, and navigating healthcare’s technological landscape. This was led by Adj Prof Dr Ashish Gupta, with esteemed panel members Professor the Hon Greg Hunt, Dr Vu Tran, Ms Chris Went, Distinguished Prof. Lyn Griffiths, and Hon Kate Jones. Their discussions encompassed fostering innovation, navigating technological advancements, and addressing regulatory changes within the healthcare sector. Watch the panel discussion below:
Key moments noted in the panel were when the Hon Kate Jones emphasised the pivotal role of technology in the future and encouraged collaboration in leadership and self-development encouraging leaders to “surround[sic] yourself with brighter minds than you are, [that] is where the magic happens.” This idea was supported and extended by Distinguished Prof Lyn Griffiths, who underscored the need to embrace and cultivate different types of leaders and to recognise and support people who have the inclination to lead.
Further to the conversation on what makes a good leader, Dr Vu Tran weighed in on the importance of communication and soft skills and gave an insightful view on problem framing encouraging us to ask “not if we can, but how”.
With the change in discussion to planning, Professor The Hon Greg Hunt reflected on the pandemic response, acknowledging technology’s role in preparing and executing a swift response, noting that the telehealth system was finalised over 10 days in March 2020. This prompted the following advice that “unexpected moments often lead to significant developments, emphasising the importance of being open to the unforeseen”, by Chris Went.
Further insight in the discussion were key elements in active engagement, with Professor the Hon Greg Hunt’s asserting leadership is creating a dialogue which is then effective summarisation and communicates the plan with everyone in a way that brings engagement.
These takeaways are important points for building strong leadership, with the centre continuously reviewing ways to foster a culture of support for centre research and students, as it’s imperative for research projects to have strong drivers behind them.
Following session 1 and an exciting networking lunch with the attending industry, clinical and government guests, the centre showcased its research with rapid-fire presentations. Nine projects were presented, providing an opportunity to share insights into their work and develop concise communication skills.
Presentations:
Insights into Different Optimization Methods for Solving the Shoulder Muscle Redundancy Problem presented by Dr Maxence Lavaill. His presentation provides glims into his research project that aims to create a method in which to validate the predictions of muscle and glenohumeral joint contact forces using EMG and GHJ-CF measurements.
Three-Dimensional Architecture of Human Rotator Cuff Muscles presented by Yilan (Olivia) Zhang. Her research is focused on creating a more detailed arcuate model of the human rotator cuff muscles, though more varied and sensitive using measures (PCSA).
Shoulder Morphologic Variations presented by François Bruyer-Montéléone. His research on Information on the variation in the population of muscle activation patterns, i.e. internal biomechanical loads to improve our understanding of the musculoskeletal system by using statistical shape models.
AI for Industry presented by Dr Laith Alzubaidi. Unveiling the potential of AI in shaping the future of industry and the trustworthy requirements necessary to move AI from the lab to the real world.
Forward Prediction of Target Localisation Failure Through Pose Estimation Artefact Modelling presented by Morgan Windsor. Explored the potential for a system where surgical robots can detect when localisation failures are likely to occur, enabling a robot to anticipate and avoid them.
Developing a Tissue Engineered Scaffold for Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery presented by Dr El Eleonore Bolle, Sepideh Shemshad, Asawari P, Stephanie Michelena, A collaborative effort to enhance healing outcomes post rotator cuff repair surgery by using computational modelling techniques and use of, induced pluripotent stem cell model which mimics features of ageing cells to investigate factors leading to the formation of scar tissue in ageing rotator cuff tissues following tears.
How do We Activate Our Deltoid Muscles? Presented by Dr Wolbert van den Hoorn. He aims to map the neural drives of deltoid muscle activity by changing the level at which we observe this activity. This was achieved by High-density electromyography.
Wearable Magneto-Inertial Measurement Units for Shoulder Kinematics presented by Arthur Fabre. He introduces a wearable system for upper limb and shoulder kinematics assessment to validate a novel MIMUs-based measurement method to obtain shoulder joint angles.
Neuromuscular Control of the Shoulder Muscles presented by Yuyao (Amy) Ma. Her research aims to provide insight into how neuromuscular control of the shoulder is coordinated by the motor cortex of the brain in healthy individuals as a foundation for future investigation of people with pain.
The culmination of the event was the acknowledgment of the success of outstanding members of the centre research community, with awards provided to high achievers across collaboration, research excellence, and outstanding teamwork.
Congratulations to the recipients:
Dr Wolbert Van Den Hoorn received the Engagement and Collaboration Award. This category pays tribute to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional skills in fostering collaboration and engagement within our research community.
Dr Laith Alzubaidi received the Research Excellence and Performance Award. This award acknowledges individuals who have shown remarkable research performance based on key performance indicators across the 2023 calendar year. Dr Alzubaidi was further recognised for his recent promotion to Academic Level B, an outstanding achievement.
Dr Maxence Lavaill received the Best Team Player Award. This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional teamwork and cooperation in their research endeavours.
Yilan (Olivia) Zhang and Natalia Mühl Castoldi received the Director’s HDR Award: Best Research Performance. This award recognizes outstanding research performance among Higher degrees by Research candidates.
Morgan Windsor Director’s HDR Award: Best Centre Citizen. This award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated outstanding citizenship within the centre.
The centre operations team would like to extend their appreciation to the industry partners of the centre (Stryker, Melissa Anenden; Materialise; Monica Russell and Michael Mathews; Logemas; Dr Denny Wells; Greenslopes Private Hospital; Justin Greenwell, and Zimmer Biomet with Laura Zieth, Nicholas Flanigan, and Australian Biotechnologies) for their attendance and commitment to impactful, translational research with the centre.
The success of the day would not have been realised without centre manager Rosa Armitage putting in an incredible effort to ensure smooth logistics. Thank you also to Prof. YuanTong Gu and Mr Michael McArdle their welcome address, Prof Peter Pivonka for your overview of projects.
The BIOTech Futures 2023 National Symposium was held at the University of Sydney on Monday the 23rd of October. This event is one of our premier engagement events of the year at the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics as we strongly believe that the education of our future researchers and innovators is essential to meet the problems of our changing world. The BIOTech competition provides a substantial platform for high school students to hone such problem-solving skills and to present innovative ideas supported by mentors.
This saw the progression of our Queensland teams that placed at the QLD BIOTech competition as held at the Queensland University of Technology in early May at the centre. The QASMT, Mansfield SHS and Stretton SC teams presented alongside 327 students from NSW, QLD and VIC, in addition to international teams from New Zealand, Jordan, Romania and the USA and were supported by 120 academic mentors across 103 research projects.
The Mansfield team presented their innovative biotechnology solution with their ‘Sun Shield:Empowering Australian Youth Through AI-Assisted Digital Sun Safety’ app. This was a great show of innovation from the team comprising of Isabella Zhang, Taryn Robinson, Eliza Sawyer, Bhavy Garg and Xin Zhou and led by mentor Mr Luke Hipwood and their teacher Dr Akram. This was an amazing result to see them win the workshop award for creating a robotic arm, as well as their success winning the national prize for best prototype.
The QASMT team, our QLD champions, also presented their impressive idea from their research on virology and medtech innovation to protect against air-borne viruses and to effectively treat them with the ‘An All-In-One disposable mask that administers antiviral RNA medicine nano-nebulization’. The team was under the mentorship of Dr Adi Idris, and teacher Jack Batson with students Hermaan Chen, (Sonny) Song Xiang Zhao, & Harry Lee.
Representing QLD in the competition, Stretton SC (comprised of Judy Abdelrahman, Sandy Gadelrab, Bielle Soon & Nandini Bhagwati) were also proud to compete in the best report and best prototype categories for their project “Understanding Consumer Perspectives on Microplastics: Survey Insights for Sustainable PCCPs” under the mentorship of Dr Jan Zhang and teacherAndreea Ryalls.
A key highlight of the day was the additional networking and educational opportunities provided by plenary speaker Prof. Hugh Durant-Whyte, the NSW Chief Scientist who provided the Welcome Address, as well as presentations from D/Prof. Fang Chen, Executive Director of University of Technology Sydney Data Science with their talk “Embracing Technology Advancement for Transformative Impact,” and Prof. Ali Abbas, the Sydney Najno Director of Waste Transformation Research Hub and Laboratory for Multiscale Systems.
As best captured by BIOTech Futures Founder & Director Prof. Hala Zreiqat AM’s resonant words, the event is a significant developmental opportunity for young Australians as “ambitious students have the ability to develop innovative ideas and technologies that can change the world. BIOTech Futures rewards those who have the persistence and tenacity to develop their ideas.”
Overall, it was great to see our partner University of Sydney and industry sponsors Melbourne Bioinnovation Student Initiative and ARC CMIT to collaborate on such a large-scale project to deliver an educational experience that inspires the next generation of researchers and innovators. Thank you to the judging panel A/Prof. Mate Biro from UNSW (University of New South Wales), Prof. Chris Little from USYD (University of Sydney), Prof. Lenka Munoz from USYD and Ms Betty Zhang of the Melbourne Bio Innovation Student Initiative (MBSI) for the advice and insight into the field.
The ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics looks forward to supporting the QLD chapter in 2024.
We are thrilled to announce the remarkable achievement of Centre Director Prof. Yuantong Gu and Postdoc Dr. Laith Alzubaidi at the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics, who have been ranked in the top 2% of scientists globally by Stanford University for 2022. This recognition not only underscores their individual contributions but also highlights the center’s commitment to research excellence and the exceptional quality of work being produced.
The ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics has long been at the forefront of cutting-edge research, and this recent accolade further solidifies its standing in the academic community. The centre has been actively involved in advancing knowledge across various disciplines, including Applied Mathematics, Nanoscience, Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing, and Information & Communication Technologies.
In a recent journal excerpt discussing citation metrics, the importance of standardized information on citations, h-index, and other indicators is emphasized. The Training Center for Joint Biomechanics has contributed significantly to the scientific community by creating a publicly available database of top-cited scientists. This database provides crucial insights into the impact of research outputs, including co-authorship-adjusted metrics and a composite indicator (c-score).
Moreover, the centre has been a pioneer in joint biomechanics and deep learning algorithms for medical image analysis. Dr. Laith Alzubaidi, a Postdoc at the center specializing in Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing and Information & Communication Technologies, has been instrumental in advancing these research areas. His work at the intersection of deep learning and medical image analysis has showcased the potential for transformative applications in healthcare.
At the core of the centre’s research philosophy is a commitment to excellence, and this recognition by Stanford University serves as a testament to that commitment. Achieving a position in the top 2% of scientists is no small feat and is indicative of the impact that training centre has on the global research landscape.
The importance of research excellence is not only measured by individual achievements but also by the collective impact of research outputs and ranking publications.
In conclusion, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Centre Director Prof. Yuantong Gu and Postdoc Dr. Laith Alzubaidi on this well-deserved recognition. As we continue to push the boundaries of knowledge, we look forward to witnessing further breakthroughs and contributions from the centre in the realms of joint biomechanics, deep learning algorithms, and beyond.
For more details on this achievement, you can visit the following links:
Congratulations to Natalia Mühl Castoldi, a dedicated affiliate PhD student who was awarded first place in the QUT Faculty of Engineering and University Competition 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) with her presentation, ‘Backs to the Future: Modelling Scoliosis on October 6, 2023.
This is a significant achievement, marking the end of her PhD journey at QUT as she submitted her final thesis the day prior.
The 3MT was originally envisioned by Prof Al McEwan, the previous Director of the University of Queensland’s Graduate School who was inspired by QLD’s time of drought and 3-minute shower timers to create the elevated pitch competition back in 2008.
The skill of effectively communicating research and its significance to diverse audiences is a crucial attribute for any accomplished researcher. QUT’s Graduate Research Education & Development hosts the annual Graduate Research Student Showcase, which includes the international competition, Three Minute Thesis (3MT) as part of our commitment to world-class researchers who can refine their academic, presentation, and research communication skills.
Participants are tasked with the challenging assignment of summarizing their research and its significance in a concise three-minute presentation aimed at a non-specialist audience. Natalia’s dedication and innovative research have garnered recognition from the judging panel, with the inclusion of biochemical effects in her model. This inclusion creates a more accurate model that can be used to investigate a wider range of theories of the cause of scoliosis. Once aetiology can be attained the treatment for scoliosis will improve dramatically, increasing positive outcomes for people with the diagnosis.
Her ability to convey complex concepts succinctly within three minutes is impressive and gained her the ‘People’s Choice’ award at the Faculty of Engineering level competition, and to a very engaging presentation in the Asia-Pacific competition.
Further, congratulations goes to runner-up Jacqueline Roots for her presentation ‘One ultrasound to unlock independence.’
Overall it is fantastic to see the development of skills in the centre’s PhD students. This is an incredible acknowledgment for Natalia, the centre and her superiors who oversaw the project Prof. Peter Pivonka, Prof Vittorio Sansalone, A/Prof Laura Gregory, Dr Maria Antico, and Dr Dermot O’Rourke.
Updates in the World of Medical Imaging with the rollout of Mimics Innovation Suite (v26).
On the 26th of September, Mr. Gagan Deep from industry partner Materialise presented an update of the Mimics Innovation Suite (MIS 26) for the Centre and the QUT Mimics network. Mimics is an advanced tool for 3D medical imaging with systems emphasis on anatomical geometry, giving users the ability to scale projects for orthopaedic, cranio-maxillofacial, and cardiovascular, with it being used in over 20,000 scientific and medical publications.
The updates of the Software include:
Increased level of precision described as that to Akeen to a surgeon’s scalpel. This is easier and more accurate when working with medical imaging data.
Fast generation of Surgical Guides including, drilling holes, flanges, cut slots, and guide bridges and the ability to connect files to hospitals PACS. This will make surgical planning faster and more accurate with health professionals being able to dedicate more time to patients and other preparations.
The toolbox in MIS 26 allows you to import medical image data (DICOM) and automatically create an accurate segment anatomy 3D model. These models are your starting point for advanced 3D analysis, personalized device design, Finite element meshing, and 3D printing. The easy transfer of data across platforms gives flexibility to the analysis that can be performed and insights that can be attained for research.
Display and navigation have improved more user-friendly and intuitive experience. Less time spent navigating and function view projects in augmented reality gives a conception of the model so users can more easily spot errors in their design and visual estimation.
These resources that are most relevant to the centre have the facilitation of anonymization, segmentation, and computational modelling of bones and muscles giving expertise centre members the skills needed to excel in the robotic healthcare industry and meet key goals of training technology systems to assist in accurate personalised patient care.
As part of our partnership, the centre is delighted to continue to collaborate with Materialise to offer further Mimics 26 training to their university partners in 2024 as a key resource for our development of surgical planning software and approaches to enhance personalised patient care.
QUT’s ITTCs Join Forces to Enhance Transdisciplinary Training – Connect and Share: Transdisciplinary insights for enhancing research
On Monday, September 11th, three of QUT’s Industrial Transformation Training Centres came together in true transdisciplinary fashion to deliver a collaborative initiative: ‘Connect and Share: Transdisciplinary insights for enhancing research.
This event, presented by the dynamic collaboration of the research centres at QUT – ARC BITA, Australian Cobotics Centre, Australian Cobotics Centre and the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics provided a platform for PhD students to share insight across-disciplinary research for furthering all fields of study.
ARC BITA is aimed at building transformative capability in people, data, and solutions to support Australian organisations to achieve higher returns on technology investment with a focus on behavioural economics, social marketing, and social psychology. Australian Cobotics Centre’s aim is to design and research Collaborative Robotics to Advanced Manufacturing for products including medical devices and steel making and disciplines including Engineering, Business, and Health.
The speakers gave insights into different approaches that they have found useful in their careers. Professor Glenda Caldwell, from the Australian Cobotics Centre, showed us how embracing one’s unique perspective can turn problems into opportunities for overcoming challenges. Dr Stephen Whyte, Chief Investigator at ARC BITA, delved into the art of asking the right (or wrong) questions in a transdisciplinary environment and unravelled the mysteries of cognitive behavioural bias. Dr Tom Williamson, Robotics Manager at Stryker R&D Lab and Industry Partner to all three centres, shared his insights on the vital collaboration required to transition from engineering projects to impactful solutions in healthcare.
For us at the ARC ITTC for Joint Biomechanics where we collaborate with orthopaedic surgeons and clinicians, we echo Dr Tom Williamson’s message that to go beyond assessing the technical feasibility of engineering solutions a transdisciplinary approach must be taken for real-world implementation. Most importantly, all stakeholders should be consulted in the initial stages of any project to ensure solutions meet technical, system, and end-user constraints.
Embracing transdisciplinary approaches is paramount to our mission of transforming the orthopaedic industry. By bridging the expertise of Biomechanical engineers and skilled surgeons we unlock a world of innovation and solutions that transcend traditional boundaries in the fields of pre-operative planning and post-operative patient care.
Members of the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics and QUASR had the privilege of attending the 15th International Congress on Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (ICSES) in Rome, held from September 5th to 8th, 2023.
The ICSES Conference is one of the centre’s key events to share and promote the innovative and impactful biomechanical and biomedical engineering research at the centre that is transforming the orthopaedic industry, and to get direct input from medical industry giants and clinical end-users. Our clinical team and surgical fellows exhibited their exceptional dedication and expertise through a series of presentations and posters, underscoring the profound impact of the centre’s work on the future of orthopedic surgery and patient care.
Notably, centre affiliate researcher and surgical fellow Dr Jomaa Mohammad presented “Short-term Revision Rates of Different Types of Shoulder Replacements in Patients under 55 Years with Primary Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis: Analysis of the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.” This comprehensive investigation explored a comparison of Range of Motion between 2-year Clinical Outcomes and Predictions of Preoperative Planning Software for Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty. Additionally, the findings of clinical outcomes for arthroscopic Brachial Plexus neurolysis in cases of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome were also presented.
Clinical Chief Investigator, Adjunct Professor Dr Ashish Gupta, delivered an informative presentation on the developments in Akunah management and planning software ‘Reflect Complex.’ This software was developed in collaboration with remarkable alumni from the centre , and it was discussed during his presentation on “Shoulder Registry: Data-Driven Care with AI.” We are honoured to be part of the translational success of our research, extending its impact on the orthopedic industry.
In addition to these presentations, our team displayed a series of posters, each contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge in the field:
Notable Posters:
‘Comparison of Shoulder Range of Motion between those estimated using a mobile phone (2D) and motion capture (3D)’
“Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty in Acute Proximal Humeral Fractures – The DFER Approach.”
“The Onlay Grammont – Metaphysical Fixation with Undersized Stems Reduces Humeral Stress Shielding in Reverse Shoulder Replacement.”
“The New Muscle Coordination Following a Latarjet Procedure Increases Joint Stability: A Theoretical Study.”
“All-Arthroscopic Muscle Advancement Procedure for Massive Retracted Rotator Cuff Tears – Clinical and Radiological Outcomes.”
“Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analysis of Glenoid and Coracoid Process in an Australian Population.”
“Quantifying the Difference in Glenoid Component Position Between Total Shoulder Arthroplasty and Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.”
“Deep Transfer Learning Approach for Shoulder Abnormalities Detection Using X-Ray Images.”
We take immense pride in our clinical team and surgical fellows for their unwavering dedication and innovation, as their contributions continue to pave the way for a brighter future in orthopedics. Congratulations to the team members representing the centre, including Adj. Prof. Dr Ashish Gupta, Dr Kenneth Cutbush, Dr Mohammad Jomaa, Sarah Dr Whitehouse, Dr Freek Hollman, Dr Roberto Pareyon, Dr Kristine Italia, Dr Laith Alzubaidi, Dr Maxence Lavaill, Dr Marco Branni, Dr Asma Salhi, Luke Gililland, Marine Launay, Dr Jashint Maharaj, Angus Lane, Dr Helen Ingoe, Prof Peter Pivonka, Prof Graham Kerr, A/Prof Saulo Martelli, Xiaolong Fan, Prof Yuantong Gu, and Dr Wolbert van den Hoorn.
Participation in world-class clinical conferences such as the International Congress on Shoulder and Elbow Surgery is a key collaborative and networking opportunity for our academic experts to meet leading clinicians and industry partners in their field, such as the opportunity for Dr Wolly can den Hoorn to present his Range of Motion and MyMobility app progress with centre industry partner, Zimmer Biomet. Clinical conferences provide an opportunity to share high-quality work and facilitate engagement with the global scientific community. These interactions, discussions, and presentations encourage collaboration that leads to further development within the field, benefiting the medical system and patients who require joint and muscle procedures.
Together we hope to enhance the strength of orthopaedic and MedTech research and development, bringing our insights back to Australasia and to forge ahead with new and exciting translational project ideas.
The Annual IAB industry advisory board meet to drive innovation at the centre
On the 24th of August, a milestone was achieved as we gathered in person for the inaugural Industry Advisory Board (IAB) meeting, marking a significant stride forward for the collaboration between the Centre and our esteemed Industry Advisory Board Members.
The Industry Advisory Board, a distinguished group of independent experts, was established to provide invaluable insights, recommendations, and direction to the Centre’s Executive Committee. This is important because there is a commutation between the centre and industry to ensure that centre activities reach the goals set by reviewing research priorities, partnerships, skill and education development, and strategic growth for the centre.
Comprising accomplished individuals from the realms of orthopaedics, biomedical, engineering medical technologies, the board’s membership is a testament to their unparalleled expertise and ability to guide the Centre’s
The discussion spanned a range of critical topics, including Training and employability of Centre Members, Centre Culture and cohesiveness, Diversity of Stakeholder Engagement and interactions Performance Measures, and Future Outlook.
The Board’s deliberations generated recommendations that hold the potential to fuel our Centre’s evolution with a focus on the last 2 years of the centre, and how to increase visibility, clinical impact and industry collaboration going forward.
It is with great honour that we acknowledge our exceptional Industry Advisory Board Members, including Prof. David Sonnabend, Dr. Dimity Dornan AO, and Mr. Peter Cooke, who are integral to steering our Centre towards excellence. Their collective wisdom, combined with Prof. Karen Reynolds’ visionary leadership, sets the stage for our Centre’s promising future. We also thank Mr Michael McArdle, the Queensland University of Technology Executive Director for welcoming the Committee and highlighting our commitment to industry engagement and partnerships for innovative, real-world outcomes.
Following the meeting, Prof. Karen Reynolds shared her insights as Director of the Medical Device Partnering Program based at Flinders University and highlighted many success stories. The MDPP supports the development of novel medical devices and assistive technologies and accepts proposals at any stage of development if there is technical and commercial merit, offering project development support and connectivity to key stakeholders across all aspects of the commercialisation process.
We thank our Industry Advisory Board Members for their unwavering commitment to advancing medical technologies, fostering innovation, and shaping the future of healthcare and the orthopaedic industry in collaboration with the centre.
