The University of New South Wales has announced the launch of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health, which will focus on the manufacturing and development of wearable medical devices.
The launch of the research centre was led by Senator Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing, who said that the hub will position Australia at the forefront of connected health, with new products made locally in Australia, creating jobs in design, testing, evaluation and manufacturing.
The hub, funded under the ARC’s Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP), brings together 26 Australian companies and seven universities to create a national end-to-end ecosystem for the design of clinical-grade sensors and predictive analytics.
Professor Chun Wang, the newly-launched hub’s director and head of UNSW’s School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, said the centre would integrate existing strengths in sensors, security, software systems, data analytics, and digital health.
“Connected health sensors are emerging as a transformational technology to address a wide range of pressing issues, such as remote health management of chronical diseases for at-risk populations, rehabilitation and chronic disease management of frail and older people, monitoring acute pain and blood lactate level in athletes, and smart rehabilitation and treatment of neurological diseases,” Prof. Wang explained.
Meanwhile, ARC CEO Ms Judi Zielke PSM welcomed the launch of the research hub, highlighting the importance of research hubs for fostering innovation, creating new technologies, and opening up opportunities for Australians and our industry in the economic and social spheres.
“I am very pleased to see the official launch of the ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health, which promises developments in wearable sensor technologies that will lead to better health outcomes for Australians,” Ms Zielke said.
Pictured left to right: UNSW Scientia Professor Justin Gooding, UNSW & NeuRA Prof. Kim Delbaere, RMIT Prof. Madhu Bhaskaran, Senator Tim Ayres, UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Prof. Attila Brungs, UNSW Scientia Prof. Chun Hui Wang, Dr Peter Tyree, UNSW Prof. Stephen Foster, ARC CEO Judith Zielke, UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Enterprise, Prof. Nicholas Fisk, and UNSW Scientia Prof. Nigel Lovell.
