Swinburne helps accelerate medical innovations through ACMD partnership

Australia’s first hospital-based medical discovery centre has opened in Melbourne, bringing researchers, engineers, clinicians and industry partners together to fast-track the development of new medical technologies that improve patient outcomes.

Based in the St Vincent’s Hospital in Fitzroy, the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD) brings Swinburne University of Technology together with clinicians, medical institutions and other universities to develop new technologies and drive the transformation of health systems through research, collaboration and education.  

“The ACMD represents the kind of collaborative, impact-focused research environment that is central to what we do here at Swinburne,” says Swinburne Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Professor Karen Hapgood. 

“By bringing engineering, health and clinical expertise together, this partnership is accelerating the development of medical technologies that will help improve patient care and support the future of healthcare.”  

The ACMD features cutting-edge laboratories, a human kinetics lab, 3D printing facilities, engineering workshops, a clinical simulation lab and dedicated education facilities to train the next generation of clinical, nursing, allied health and biomedical research leaders. 

Medical technologies that improve lives 

Swinburne's role in the ACMD builds on strengths in biomedical engineering, biofabrication, medical bionics, photonics, health innovation, allied health and assistive technology.

"Through our involvement in the ACMD precursor facility, BioFab3D, and the State-funded MedTechVic Hub at Swinburne, our researchers have already shown how universities, hospitals, industry and communities can work together to turn advanced science into practical health solutions," says Swinburne's Pro-Vice Chancellor, Flagship Initiatives, Professor Alan Duffy.   

“This capability spans the full translation pathway, from new biomaterials, neural interfaces and optical sensing technologies, through to robotics, disability innovation and human-centred design, helping accelerate medical technologies that improve lives," Professor Duffy says.

Among others, the streams of research that Swinburne will be conducting within the ACMD include: 

• Biomaterials and biofabrication which support the development of new approaches to tissue repair, implants and regenerative medicine, led by Professor Simon Moulton

• Neural engineering and medical bionics, which contribute to future technologies that can interface with the nervous system, led by Professor Tatiana Kameneva 

• Optics, sensing and photonics, which support new tools for detecting, measuring and treating diseases, led by Professor Paul Stoddart

• Connecting health research with real-world clinical and community outcomes, led by Professor Gavin Lambert and the Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute 

• Assistive technology, co-design and lived-experience innovation, led by Professor Rachael McDonald and MedTechVic.