New Institute to improve health through development of medical technology

MIME Director, Professor Rosenfeld

A generous scholarship funded by Monash Health will help enable important biomedical research at a new and unique collaboration, the Monash Institute of Medical Engineering (MIME).

Established to forge stronger research partnerships between clinicians and engineering, IT, scientific and biomedical researchers, the collaborative translational research at MIME is specifically directed at improving human health.

The Monash Health Foundation has given $75,000 towards funding two PhD scholarships at MIME; with additional contributions by the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health and the Faculties of Engineering and IT at Monash University, a total of six MIME PhD scholarships will be available at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP).

This is an exciting opportunity for postgraduate students to embark on a cross-disciplinary PhD to develop new medical technology within a dynamic and supportive research environment, MIME Director and renowned neurosurgeon Professor Jeffrey V. Rosenfeld said.

"MIME is very appreciative of the support from the Monash Health Foundation and the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health to establish these scholarships," added Professor Rosenfeld.

“The most exciting innovations in medicine today emerge from interdisciplinary research in medicine, engineering, IT and science” said MIME Chief Operating Officer Dr Heather St John. 

“Research at PhD level often results in high impact publications, new inventions and the generation of new intellectual property and commercial outcomes.”

“Our aim at MIME is to address the key scientific and technical challenges needed for the next generation of medical technologies to directly improve patient outcomes,” added Dr St John.

“These include the development of new medical devices, diagnostics, imaging systems, delivery technologies, surgical tools and Health IT systems.”

While MIME headquarters is located at Monash University’s Clayton campus, Monash Medical Centre is the base of the largest clinical node.

“Our clinical leaders have critical insights into the key medical challenges that need to be solved,” said Monash Health Chief Executive Shelly Park.  “We welcome and support the opportunity to bring together our clinicians and researchers to tackle the complex challenges in this field.”

The area of medical technology is inherently multidisciplinary, and PhD students will be supported by research experts from at least two disciplines relevant to their project, for example, clinical research and engineering, biomedicine or IT.

Importantly, all MIME research projects will be developed with a clear understanding of the clinical and patient need they aim to address, as well as the clinical context in which the technology will ultimately be deployed.

MIME is currently seeking suggestions from Monash Health clinicians as to potential PhD project topics that they would be willing to champion or co-supervise. Where required, MIME will assist in finding the complementary engineering or IT expertise needed to support the student in undertaking the project. A formal call for projects will be issued within the next three weeks.

For more information about MIME and research opportunities, please contact heather.stjohn@monash.edu