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Bionics challenge bringing cutting edge science to health care

A Queensland Bionics challenge has uncovered potentially life-changing developments for people suffering chronic diseases and disabilities.

Aug 20, 2021, updated Aug 20, 2021
Queensland Bionics aims to provide healthcare solutions

Queensland Bionics aims to provide healthcare solutions

The Bionics Challenge 2021 is a Queensland-led competition with national and state-level prizes which Bionics Queensland said aimed “to unleash new waves of life-changing bionic discoveries” and propel advanced healthcare solutions for those living with road accident trauma, chronic conditions, diseases and disabilities.

Bionics Queensland chief executive Dr Robyn Stokes said the challenge has invited bionic thought-leaders across the nation to foster homegrown innovation and accelerate healthcare solutions globally.

Morgans Financial is chipping in some of the prize money and mentoring to help the successful projects get to commercialisation while the Motor Accident Insurance Commission is paying out most of the prize money.

“The challenge presents an opportunity for local innovators to progress their projects and help millions of people – not only through the prize money, but also through meeting and collaborating with other innovators across a variety of fields,” Stokes said. 

Among the finalists is UQ senior lecturer in physiotherapy Dr Anna Hatton who has developed bionic shoe insole technology.

Her app-controlled vibrating insoles were designed with advanced sensors to provide reliable feedback to those who are no longer able to depend on their nervous systems for stability. 

The targeted vibrations allow for better stability and the mobile app interface provides insights and walking actions to significantly reduce the likelihood of falls and injury.

A second finalist is from Queensland Brain Institute neuroscientist Dr Matilde Balbi who has developed brain stimulation therapy for stroke survivors.

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Balbi and her team at QBI developed a non-invasive brain stimulation therapy that modulates neuronal activity through electrical currents individual to the patient, which aims to reduce stroke lesion volume and improve motor impairments following a stroke.

Brisbane innovators Amy-Rose Goodey and Casey Pfluger aim to improve the lives of Australians living with autism, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, dementia, depression and epilepsy.

Founded by biomedical and neuroscience researcher Casey Pfluger, the team at Cortex have developed a high-quality brain computer interface headset that measures brain activity and uses neurofeedback and game software to reduce symptoms of a range of neurocognitive conditions.

The headset allows an individual living with a condition such as ADHD to monitor their brain activity in real time. When brain activity reaches an optimal level, the individual is rewarded within the game – encouraging those living with a condition to self-regulate.

 

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