Members of the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD) National Assembly, former governors-general, Sir Peter Cosgrove, and Dame Quentin Bryce made a special visit to the ACMD BioFab recently to see it in action.
The role of the National Assembly is to elevate the work of the ACMD through their support, helping to raise awareness in the community around the innovative research work being done here.
Sir Peter Cosgrove and Dame Quentin Bryce experienced first-hand how the ACMD supports and prioritises the collaboration between scientists, engineers, and clinicians to accelerate healthcare solutions.
From left, ACMD CEO Erol Harvey and Sir Peter Cosgrove on a tour at the ACMD Biofab.
During the tour they each had the chance to speak with ACMD researchers. They learned about some of the important projects being led by our ACMD partners that are currently underway. They gained insights into innovative new technologies the research teams are embracing in their work.
Some of the equipment Sir Peter and Dame Quentin saw in action included 3D printers with the ability to produce complex 3D structures, a bioprinter enabling researchers to print organoids and a high-tech light sheet microscope, the first of its kind in Australia.
The Light sheet microscope can provide never before seen three-dimensional (3D) detail of fully intact tissue and organ samples, enabling researchers to gain an entirely new perspective.
Dame Quentin Bryce with ACMD researcher Associate Professor Anita Quigley.
Sir Peter said the valuable research and unique collaborative partnerships that the ACMD is fostering and developing is incredibly important for the future of all Australians.
“The ACMD is energising the medtech industry in Victoria and helping boost skills through its dedicated program offerings. It will be a global leader in medical innovation and revolutionise the way we bring medical breakthroughs into everyday health practice to benefit patients in need,” said Sir Peter Cosgrove.