Jillian Skinner med rel: Scholarship success for innovative minds

Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research Jillian Skinner last night announced the inaugural winners of two prestigious international postdoctoral scholarships valued at $448,000 over two years.

Sheridan Gho and Michael Weaver – from the University of Wollongong – will travel to San Francisco to participate in the NSW-QB3 Rosenman Scholar Program.

Ms Gho, an exercise physiologist, and Mr Weaver, an engineer, worked together on developing the concept of a wearable sleeve that manages the painful condition of lymphoedema in breast cancer patients by actively massaging lymphatic problem areas while patients go about their daily tasks.

Mrs Skinner made the announcement at the NSW Medical Device Commercialisation Training Program graduation at the National Innovation Centre in Eveleigh.

“Tonight I offer my congratulations to Sheridan and Michael, who shone during the intense three-month training program,” Mrs Skinner said.

“They demonstrated entrepreneurial literacy, persistence and a commitment to understanding how to close the gap between the development of a device and bringing it to market.”

The three-month training program – funded by the Office of Health and Medical Research (OHMR) – was open to post-doctoral researchers, doctoral, PhD and masters candidates who complete their degrees in 2014.

Twenty candidates undertook the program with Australian Technology Park Innovations (ATP Innovations), a technology incubator with a proven record in driving the commercialisation of medical devices.

Sheridan and Michael were chosen from the 20 to participate in the NSW-QB3 Rosenman Scholar Program.

Mrs Skinner said Sheridan and Michael will spend two years at the Rosenman Institute in San Francisco, where they will work with clinicians and mentors recognised for expertise in medical device innovation and translation.

“Last year, while in the US, I was fortunate to meet Dr Reg Kelly of the Rosenman Institute. I was so inspired by the Institute’s program of bio-tech garages – or start-up incubators – I asked if an opportunity could be found for NSW to join the program,” Mrs Skinner said.

“These incubators allow start-ups access to rental laboratory spaces close to the University of California in which they can lay the foundations for their innovative ideas and devices to move towards commercialisation.

“The NSW Government is proud to fund these two scholarships, knowing the knowledge Sheridan and Michael gain now will be shared with many others on their return.

“Medical devices have an extraordinary capacity to transform lives – but this can only happen if they are taken from the laboratory to market, where their impact can best be felt.”