Bionics Institute

{{Infobox institute

| name = The Bionics Institute

| endowment =

| dissolved =

| website = {{url|bionicsinstitute.org}}

| address =

| coor = {{coord|-37.80953|144.97804|display=title,inline|format=dms|type:landmark_region:AU-VIC}}

| country = Australia

| province =

| state = Victoria

| city = {{VICcity|East Melbourne}}

| location = 384-388 Albert Street

| former_name = Bionic Ear Institute

| owner =

| subsidiaries =

| num_members =

| debt =

| budget = A$10.8 million {{small|(2019)}}

| image = File:RGB horizontal.jpg

| focus = Medical bionics

| caption = The Bionics Institute logo

| latin_name =

| motto = Innovation for Life

| founder = Professor Graeme Clark

| established = {{start date and age|1986}}

| mission = Medical translational research

| president =

| key_people =

| chairman = John Stanhope {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}}

| head_label = CEO

| head = Robert Klupacs

| faculty = {{unbulleted list|University of Melbourne|University of New South Wales|La Trobe University|University of Wollongong|St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne|Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital}}

| adjunct_faculty = {{unbulleted list|{{nowrap|Centre for Eye Research Australia}}|National ICT Australia|CSIRO|ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science|Bionic Vision Australia|HEARing CRC}}

| staff = approx. 100

| footnotes =

}}

The Bionics Institute is an Australian medical research institute focusing on medical device development. It is located in Melbourne, Australia.

History

The Bionics Institute was founded in 1986 by Professor Graeme Clark AC. Professor Clark is widely recognised for his role in the development of the cochlear implant,{{Cite web |title=Professor Graeme M. Clark AC |url=https://nae.edu/128659/Professor-Graeme-M-Clark-AC |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=NAE Website |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Professor Graeme Clark AC |url=https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/professor-graeme-clark-ac |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Australian of the Year |language=en}} a device that can restore hearing to deaf individuals. From 2005 to 2017, the Bionics Institute was under the leadership of Professor Rob Shepherd AM. During his tenure, the Institute's research focus expanded to include a variety of clinical areas, such as neurological conditions, blindness, and inflammatory bowel disease.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

In 2017, Robert Klupacs was appointed as the Institute's CEO.{{Cite web |title=Mr Robert Klupacs, Chief Executive Officer - Bionics Institute |url=https://www.bionicsinstitute.org/team-members/mr-robert-klupacs/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.bionicsinstitute.org |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Robert Klupacs, CEO Bionics Institute |url=https://rotaryclubofmelbourne.org.au/event/38836/robert-klupacs-ceo-bionics-institute |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=rotaryclubofmelbourne.org.au}}{{Cite web |title=Robert Klupacs, CEO, Bionics Institute |url=https://www.innovationaus.com/podcasts/robert-klupacs-ceo-bionics-institute/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=InnovationAus.com |language=en-AU}} Under his leadership, the scope of the Institute's research was broadened to encompass auto-immune, chronic, brain, hearing, and vision disorders.{{Cite web |title=Scholarship for life sciences students promotes innovation |url=https://www.labonline.com.au/content/life-scientist/news/scholarship-for-life-sciences-students-promotes-innovation-1156974275 |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.labonline.com.au |language=en}} Additionally, Klupacs emphasised the importance of commercialising the Institute's research, facilitating the creation of several spin-off companies.{{Cite web |last=Hendry |first=Justin |date=2023-05-29 |title=Biotech success starts with a precinct approach |url=https://www.innovationaus.com/biotech-success-starts-with-precinct-mindset/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=InnovationAus.com |language=en-AU}}

The Institute's primary mission is to advance medical technologies through research and the development of medical devices, to transform the lives of individuals with disabilities and solve medical challenges.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-08 |title=About Us - Bionics Institute |url=https://www.bionicsinstitute.org/about/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.bionicsinstitute.org |language=en-AU}}

Location

The Bionics Institute has two campuses, one located in East Melbourne and the other in nearby Fitzroy. Mollison House (East Melbourne) is the site of the institute's administrative team as well as the bulk of its human research. The second campus exists in the Daly Wing of St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne which houses the institute's wet labs and device fabrication facilities.{{cite web |url=http://www.bionicsinstitute.org/Pages/contact/contact-us.aspx?source=/ |title=Contact us |publisher=Bionics Institute |access-date=4 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827172328/http://www.bionicsinstitute.org/Pages/contact/contact-us.aspx?source=%2F |archive-date=27 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Research

The Bionics Institute's research is focusses their research into three areas of study: auto-immune and chronic conditions;{{Cite web |date=2021-11-08 |title=Melbourne invention 'size of a thumbnail' could treat rheumatoid arthritis |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-mornings/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment-bionics-institute/13623118 |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |date=2022-04-11 |title=Autoimmune and Chronic Condition Research - Bionics Institute |url=https://www.bionicsinstitute.org/our-research/autoimmune-and-chronic-disease/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.bionicsinstitute.org |language=en-AU}} brain conditions;{{Cite web |date=2022-04-11 |title=Brain Research - Bionics Institute |url=https://www.bionicsinstitute.org/our-research/brain-research/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.bionicsinstitute.org |language=en-AU}} hearing impairment and vision loss.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-11 |title=Hearing and Vision Research - Bionics Institute |url=https://www.bionicsinstitute.org/our-research/hearing-and-vision-research/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.bionicsinstitute.org |language=en-AU}}

=Auto-immune and chronic conditions=

The application of electricity for the purpose of modifying nerve function has emerged as a fundamental method for treating various auto-immune and chronic ailments that have limited responsiveness to traditional pharmaceutical treatments. Such conditions include Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes{{Cite news |last=Dodd |first=Tim |date=8 November 2022 |title=Medical technology and medical devices rely on advanced research |work=The Australian |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/medical-technology-and-medical-devices-rely-on-advanced-research/news-story/ce1f1e067ef9ce3fb8253dfaf1fb2ee8 |access-date=20 October 2023}} and incontinence.

=Brain conditions=

Various devices have been developed with the purpose of enhancing outcomes for individuals with neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and stroke. Additionally, the Institute develops neural prosthetics, which aims to improve bodily functions and brain function through the use of implanted devices.{{Cite web |last=Deutsch |first=Sophie |date=2023-07-19 |title=New bionic limb uses AI to decode motor commands |url=https://createdigital.org.au/new-bionic-limb-uses-ai-to-decode-motor-commands/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Create |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=Post |first=Hippocratic |date=2023-07-15 |title=New bionic limb research redefining possibilities |url=https://www.hippocraticpost.com/innovation/new-bionic-limb-research-redefining-possibilities/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=The Hippocratic Post |language=en-GB}}

=Hearing impairment and vision loss=

Hearing impairment research at the Bionics Institute is a field of study dedicated to addressing various forms of hearing loss and developing solutions to improve auditory function. The Institute focuses on advancing medical technology and addressing the needs of individuals with hearing impairments. One key area of research at the Bionics Institute is the development of a medical device geared towards optimising language development in hearing-impaired infants.{{Cite journal |date=November 2017 |title=In the news |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=125519661&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |journal=Australian Women's Weekly |pages=14–17}} According to one 2006 study, the device aims to provide necessary auditory stimulation for language acquisition has resulted in improved speech and language skills.{{Cite journal |last=Nowak |first=Rachel |date=2006-11-25 |title=Ear implant success sparks culture war |url=https://eds.s.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=d20f85e1-2b2a-4272-a1f6-a0f9cccbbaac@redis&bdata=Jmxhbmc9ZW4tZ2Imc2l0ZT1lZHMtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=23455821&db=f6h |journal=New Scientist |volume=192 |issue=2579 |pages=16–17 |doi=10.1016/S0262-4079(06)61175-5|url-access=subscription }} Another area of study involves the use of light to enhance the selectivity of auditory nerve stimulation, particularly in the context of cochlear implants{{Cite journal |date=2009-01-03 |title=Cochlear implants prevent 'scrambling' in deaf brains |url=https://eds.s.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=8efc3f2c-c38c-4117-a97f-52702762d4ae@redis&bdata=Jmxhbmc9ZW4tZ2Imc2l0ZT1lZHMtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=36112735&db=f6h |journal=New Scientist |volume=200 |issue=2688 |pages=13}} and other neural stimulation devices;{{Cite journal |date=2004-09-18 |title=How to regrow lost hearing |url=https://eds.s.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=cb0dd7af-cd12-4aef-b705-eb335d345b79@redis&bdata=Jmxhbmc9ZW4tZ2Imc2l0ZT1lZHMtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=14558959&db=f6h |journal=New Scientist |volume=183 |issue=2465 |pages=13}} Additionally, the Institute has developed objective tests for tinnitus.{{Cite journal |last=Lu |first=Donna |date=2020-11-28 |title=AI can tell if you have tinnitus |url= |journal=New Scientist |volume=248 |issue=3310 |pages=20}}{{Cite web |last=SCIMEX |date=2022-05-04 |title=Tinnitus test paves the way to new treatments |url=https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/ground-breaking-tinnitus-test-paves-the-way-to-new-treatments |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Scimex |language=en}}

Funding

The Bionics Institute is funded through a combination of government funding, private donations, and contract research.{{Cite book |last=Bionics Institute |url=https://www.bionicsinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/annual_report_2018-2019.pdf |title=Annual Report 2018-2019 |publisher=Bionics Institute}} In 2019, the institute's annual expenditure was $10.8 million.{{cn|date=June 2022}} In 2019, 26.5% income was from Government Grants and 18.6% income was from donations and bequests.

Commercialistion

Professor Graeme Clark, the founder of the Bionics Institute, played a prominent role in the development of Australia's cochlear implant,{{Cite web |title=Clark, Graeme M - Faculty of Medicine Online Museum and Archive |url=https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine/museum/mwmuseum/index.php/Clark,_Graeme_M |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.sydney.edu.au}}{{Cite web |last=Fraser |first=Thomas |date=2023-05-01 |title=Bionic ear pioneer Professor Graeme Clark honoured by Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland |url=https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/may/professor-graeme-clark-awarded-honorary-fellowship-of-royal-college-of-surgeons-in-ireland |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Newsroom |language=en}} which was later commercialised by Cochlear Pty Ltd.{{Cite journal |last1=Clark |first1=Graeme M |last2=Clark |first2=Jonathan |last3=Cardamone |first3=Tina |last4=Clarke |first4=Maria |last5=Nielsen |first5=Prue |last6=Jones |first6=Rob |last7=Arhatari |first7=Benedicta |last8=Birbilis |first8=Nick |last9=Curtain |first9=Roger |last10=Xu |first10=Jin |last11=Wagstaff |first11=Sheryl |last12=Gibson |first12=Peter |last13=O'Leary |first13=Stephen |last14=Furness |first14=John |date=September 2014 |title=Biomedical studies on temporal bones of the first multi-channel cochlear implant patient at the University of Melbourne |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1179/1754762814Y.0000000087 |journal=Cochlear Implants International |volume=15 |issue=Suppl 2 |pages=S1–S15 |doi=10.1179/1754762814Y.0000000087 |pmid=24915284 |s2cid=25115227 |issn=1754-7628|url-access=subscription }}

Building upon this success, the Bionics Institute has also produced several spin-off companies including Epi-Minder, which focuses on the commercialisation of an epilepsy seizure monitoring device;{{Cite web |title=Predicting seizures in epilepsy |url=https://neo-bionica.com/track-record/predicting-seizures-epilepsy/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ahveninen |first=Anna |date=2023-03-16 |title=Epi-Minder and the University of Melbourne |url=https://research.unimelb.edu.au/industry/epi-minder-and-the-university-of-melbourne |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Research |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Holland |first=Daryl |date=2023-07-25 |title=Case study: Monitoring epileptic seizures {{!}} Melbourne Research |url=https://research.unimelb.edu.au/industry/case-studies/monitoring-epileptic-seizures-with-an-implantable-device |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Research |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Epiminder Project |url=https://www.acmd.org.au/epiminder |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=ACMD |language=en-US}} DBS Tech which specialised in adaptive deep brain stimulation systems for Parkinson's disease;{{Cite web |date=2022-05-11 |title=Deep Brain Stimulation Technologies - Bionics Institute |url=https://www.bionicsinstitute.org/our-research/deep-brain-stimulation-technologies/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.bionicsinstitute.org |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Deep Brain Stimulation Technologies Pty Ltd : MTPConnect |url=https://www.mtpconnect.org.au/Category?Action=View&Category_id=247 |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.mtpconnect.org.au}} and Neo-Bionica (launched 2021),{{Cite journal |date=2023-09-29 |title=MarketLine Company Profile: The University of Melbourne |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=173028615&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |journal=University of Melbourne MarketLine Company Profile |pages=1–22}} a company dedicated to the design and manufacturing of specialised medical devices and implants for human clinical trials.{{Cite web |last=Melbourne |first=St Vincent’s Hospital |title=St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne |url=https://www.svhm.org.au/newsroom/news/neo-bionica-lab-opens-at-st-vincent-s |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.svhm.org.au |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Katherine |date=2023-05-23 |title=Neo-Bionica to make prototype implantable medical devices |url=https://research.unimelb.edu.au/strengths/updates/news/neo-bionica-will-make-prototype-implantable-medical-devices-in-australia |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Research |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kevey |first=Donna |date=2022-02-23 |title=New manufacturing facility takes Victorian bioengineering expertise to the world |url=https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2021/september/new-manufacturing-facility-takes-victorian-bioengineering-expertise-to-the-world |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Newsroom |language=en}}

Collaborations

=The University of Melbourne, Medical Bionics Department=

In July 2012, the School of Medicine and Dentistry at the of University of Melbourne established the Medical Bionics Department{{Cite web|title=Medical Bionics Department|url=https://mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/our-organisation/institutes-centres-departments/medical-bionics-department|last=Udani|first=Bhavi|date=2020-04-29|website=Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences|language=en|access-date=2020-06-02}} in collaboration with the Bionics Institute.

The Medical Bionics department launched its inaugural PhD program in 2013. Professor James Fallon serves as the head of the Medical Bionics Department at the University of Melbourne.{{Cite web |title=Professor James Fallon, CTO and Head of Research Operations - Bionics Institute |url=https://www.bionicsinstitute.org/team-members/professor-james-fallon/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.bionicsinstitute.org |language=en-AU}}