Swinburne’s new Health Innovation Research Institute

Swinburne has named its new Health Innovation Research Institute after internationally acclaimed academic leader and researcher in health and medical sciences, the late Professor Don Iverson.

Professor Iverson was Swinburne’s inaugural Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, between March 2014 and October 2015.

The Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute will bring together Swinburne’s key strengths in health, sciences, engineering and design through interdisciplinary research that aims to identify, understand and solve real-world health challenges across the human lifespan.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Aleksandar Subic says that the Institute will be outcomes and impact focused.

“The Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute will focus on developing innovative health technologies, citizen-centric health care and flipped health care solutions that will improve people’s quality of life and create real impact”, Professor Subic says.

“The Institute will act as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration, linking the STEM disciplines, health sciences and humanities, with the broader health sector and med tech industry to maximise impact.”

Bringing together research expertise

Institute research participants will include researchers from across the university, including the following research centres and labs:

• Centre for Human Psycho-Pharmacology
• Brain and Psychological Sciences Centre
• Centre for Micro- Photonics
• Centre for Quantum Optics and Spectroscopy
• ARC Industry Training Centre in Biodevices
• Key Lab in Big Data & Data Analytics
• Key Lab in Internet of Things
• Key Lab in Advanced Visualisation
• Digital Innovation Lab
• Neuro-imaging Research Facility 

The Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute will also serve as the main hub for Swinburne's research partnership and engagement with the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD) in Melbourne, which was championed by the late Professor Don Iverson.

Leading the way in health innovation

For many years, Swinburne has partnered with industry to develop high impact health innovations and translational research outcomes, including:

• Working with the Royal Children’s Hospital to develop software for NAO robots working in paediatric rehabilitation, helping children stay engaged with their rehabilitation
• Partnering with start-up Bondi Labs, which specialises in using digital technology to address global health challenges
• Using the university’s Magnetoencephalography (MEG) machine, Swinburne's neuroscience researchers have pinpointed abnormal brain regions responsible for epilepsy, offering promise for improved surgical treatment
• Swinburne has opened the first Living Lab in Australia with a focus on ageing, health and design, which this week received official acceptance into the European Network of Living Labs 
• An Australian-first device that can measure changes in brain activity as anaesthesia is delivered to a patient, which has been certified by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), was developed at Swinburne
• Researchers at Swinburne are using a unique hydrogel material to develop the next-generation of condoms

Remembering the legacy of Professor Don Iverson

The Donald Iverson Memorial Fund has been established to allow colleagues and friends who wish to celebrate Don’s life through making a gift to education. Donations to this fund will ensure that his enthusiasm for innovation in health research can continue.

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