Perth Biodesign is a 6 month course running from May until November annually, in which multidisciplinary teams identify unmet clinical needs and work towards providing a solution, whilst learning about the medical device development process.
The Team
Dr Matthew Oldakowski
Course Director
Matt is a biomedical engineering researcher and medical device entrepreneur with a mechanical engineering degree from The University of Western Australia. In his PhD studies at Curtin University he co-developed an expandable orthopaedic screw which spun-out into REX Ortho. He is also a co-inventor and co-founder of Cervical ChinUp. Matt recently returned from Stanford University where he trained as a Global Faculty in Training Fellow at the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign, as well as being an Endeavour Executive Fellow. He now works across Curtin University and St John of God Hospital to establish bioengineering capability, in addition to being Perth Biodesign’s co-Course Director for Accelerating Australia.
Intan Oldakowska
Course Director
Intan is a biomedical engineer and entrepreneur focused on developing medical devices. A graduate of the University of Western Australia in Mechanical Engineering and Commerce, she is a Research Associate at Curtin University where her PhD studies have focused on developing a novel expandable orthopaedic screw, which has spun-out into REX Ortho. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Cervical ChinUp. A SPARK Co-Lab Design Course 2016 alumnus, Intan recently returned from Stanford University, where she helped at the Otoinnovation Lab and observed the Stanford Biodesign Innovation classes, before returning to be Perth Biodesign's co-Course Director.
Dr Maud Eijkenboom
Faculty
Maud is the Executive Officer for Accelerating Australia, a national, cohesive one stop shop for biomedical innovation and entrepreneurship. Dr Eijkenboom is an R&D and commercialisation executive with 20 years multinational, ASX-listed, private, start-up, incubator, spin-out and consulting experience in the life sciences industry. She has invented and/or developed a wide range of technologies, including drugs, devices, biologics, veterinary, complementary medicines, cosmetics, nutraceuticals and agrochemicals. She was Chief Scientific Officer for ASX-Listed entities and R&D executive for Bayer HealthCare in Germany. Maud is passionate about creating flow between universities, the healthcare system, industry and the community to improve quality of life. Maud has scientific qualifications in preclinical neuropsychology and neurobiology. She is an Expert in the Commercialisation Australia Expert Network and previously an advisor to the Innovation Centre of WA.
Kristen Houston
Faculty
Kristen Houston received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology from the University of Western Australia. She has a diverse range of experience across a number of industries and most recently worked for John Beech and The Executive Connection where she created the website for consulting company Guided Innovation. Kristen is involved in the general coordination and support of the Perth Biodesign course as well as the marketing, communications and general support of Accelerating Australia
Expressions of interest for Perth Biodesign 2019 are now open!
Use the form below to ask a question or submit an Expression of Interest.
Thank you to the generous supporters of the Perth Biodesign course
