Med Tech Talks Podcast

Navi Medical is an Australian medtech company with a very clear and compelling mission: to improve outcomes for some of the most vulnerable patients in our healthcare system—critically ill newborns and children. The company was founded on a simple but striking reality: many of the devices used in neonatal and paediatric care today are not designed for children at all, but adapted from adult medicine. 

In response, Navi has focused its efforts on developing purpose-built technologies for paediatric care, working closely with clinicians in neonatal and paediatric intensive care units to understand real-world challenges and design sol...

In this latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Dr Andrew Nash, former CSO of CSL. 

CSL is an Australian success story and one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies. CSL has a remarkable history spanning over a century, and a global reputation for developing and delivering life-saving medicines, particularly in immunology, haematology, and vaccines.

As Chief Scientific Officer, Andrew led CSL’s global research and early development strategy, playing a pivotal role in advancing innovative therapies from discovery through to clinical development, and ultimately to patients around the world.
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In this latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Brendon Gardner, CEO of The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (Eye and Ear) in Melbourne.

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital is Australia’s only specialist eye, ear, nose and throat hospital and has been operating since 1863.

The Eye and Ear sees over 250,000 patients a year and offers over 110 different outpatient clinics for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of vision and hearing loss. The hospital also has a 24-hour emergency department for patients requiring urgent care and treatment.

Br...

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Dr Alastair Hick, Chief Commercialisation Officer at Monash University.

With a PhD in Chemical Ecology and an MBA from the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge, Alastair has a wealth of experience both in Australian and overseas markets and brings an ecosystem approach to commercialisation and innovation.

At Monash University, Alastair has been responsible has developed a successful IP commercialisation program and an also oversees The Generator, a hub that develops the entrepreneurial talent of Monash’s students, staff, and alumni. 

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Scott Kirkland, CEO and Managing Director of EMVision Medical Devices. 

EMVision (ASX:EMV)  is an ASX listed, Australian med tech company focused on developing portable brain imaging devices using electromagnetic (EM) technology. It was spun out of University of Queensland in 2017 and had its IPO in late-2018.

EMVision’s primary product is a portable scanner designed to quickly and non-invasively detect and monitor neurological conditions like stroke. 

Unlike traditional imaging methods such as CT or MRI, EMVision’s technology allows for bedside...

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Justin Zenanko, co-founder, CEO and president of SynerFuse™, a medical device company based in the United States developing an innovative solution to reduce chronic back pain and improve patient quality of life. 

Justin and his team have patented the SynerFuse e-TLIF™ procedure which aims to make traditional spine implant surgery more successful and cost effective by combining neuromodulation at the time surgeons are performing fusion back surgery. SynerFuse has completed a proof-of-concept study of 15 patients and they're coming up to a 12-month review of post-surgery resul...

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Dr Amir Zalcenstein, Managing Director of SYNthesis BioVentures. SYNthesis BioVentures is a registered early-stage venture Capital Limited partnerships fund, focused on early-stage therapeutics investing in projects from discovery through preclinical proof of concept and IND enabling studies. 

Amir and the team are investing in small molecule therapeutics, biologics and cell and gene therapies for conditions with significant unmet need. Their aim, to accelerate the development of cutting-edge therapies and technologies, ultimately improving patient outcomes and delivering value to their investors. 

Along with a Ph...

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Dr Anne-Laure Puaux, inaugural CEO of WEHI Ventures and Head of Business Development at WEHI.

WEHI Ventures manages 66ten, a first of its kind pre-seed and seed strategic investment fund of $66 million, dedicated to ideas developed by or in collaboration with, WEHI. With a grand vision of investing $66 million over 10 years in groundbreaking medical innovations, 66ten is the largest internal pre-seed and seed fund created by an Australian medical research institute, established to bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and commercial viability.

Before...

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Dr Megan Baldwin, Founder, Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of Opthea Limited. 

Opthea limited is a global biopharmaceutical company aspiring to become the leader of therapeutic innovation in retinal diseases. They have a world class team of ophthalmology experts working to develop breakthrough therapies for those who suffer from retinal disease.  

Megan has over 20 years of experience focusing on angiogenesis and therapeutic strategies for cancer and ophthalmic indications. With a PhD in medicine from the University of Melbourne, and having conducted her po...

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Bronwyn Le Grice, CEO and Managing Director of ANDHealth.

Bronwyn has over 20 years executive experience in health technology commercialisation, venture capital, capital raising and industry advocacy.  

In 2017, she founded ANDHealth – which is now one of Australia’s leading health technology commercialisation organisations.  

It’s flagship ANDHealth+ program has a successful track record in taking businesses to scale, with companies selected in the program raising over $150 million in dilutive and non-dilutive funding, creating 400+ jobs, undertaking 72 clinical studies and impacting over 700,000 patients over the...

In this episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Alon Greenspan, Managing Partner at Mind Ventures.

Mind Ventures is touted as the world’s first mental health-focused for-profit venture fund. Seeded by the Black Dog Institute, Mind Ventures invests in scalable, evidence-based solutions across the mental health spectrum, from illness to well-being.

Alon has a wealth of international global tech M&A and venture capital experience, having previously worked at Jelix Ventures, Herzog Fox, and Arnold Bloch Liebler. With degrees in commerce and law, he is also an active angel investor and st...

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Stephen Tomisich, Co-founder and CEO of Trajan Scientific and Medical.   

Based in Melbourne, Trajan develops and manufactures analytical science instruments, devices and solutions for health care, as well as for food and environment analysis – the only company of its kind listed on the ASX. 

Stephen has a strong acquisition strategy, having grown Trajan from a kitchen table concept in 2011 to a global collaborator. Over the last 13 years, Trajan has acquired twelve businesses across the US, Europe and Asia; developing Trajan’s key capabil...

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Dr Chris Smith, a partner at Brandon Capital - Australasia's leading life science venture capital firm.

Chris has extensive experience in the global biotech industry. With a PhD in immunology and an MBA specialising in innovation and entrepreneurship from the University of Cambridge; he has also previously been a business development manager with CSL; and is currently a Director of Aravax, Denteric, Ena Respiratory, MycRx, Q-Sera and Axelia Oncology, just to name a few.

In this episode, you will hear more about:<...

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Professor Steve Wesselingh, CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

An infectious disease physician and researcher in HIV vaccine development and the impact of the microbiome on human health, Steve has a wealth of medical experience, clinical leadership, and national and international success.  

The NHMRC is Australia's lead agency, driving innovative health and medical research to improve the health of all Australians. 

Along with providing an ethical framework for health and medical research in our country, the NH...

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Dr Dean Freestone, Co-Founder of Seer Medical. 

A modern Australian innovation success story, Seer Medical was founded in 2017 and specialises in the early detection and diagnosis of epilepsy.  

The company has developed a highly innovative, portable video-EEG-ECG recording system that patients can take home with them, rather than being limited to hospital use. 

Dr Freestone was one of three co-founders of Seer and was CEO until 2023. Today, he holds a board position at Seer Medical.  

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In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by the Honourable Jaala Pulford, Chair of MTPConnect, Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne, and former Minister of the Parliament of Victoria. 

Jaala is well known for her career in public service where she has held several significant portfolios, including Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Small Business and Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy. 

In her role as Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Jaala was at the forefront of agendas to boos...

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Associate Professor Fiona Brownfoot, specialist obstetrician at the Mercy Hospital for Women, clinician scientist at the University of Melbourne and Co-Founder of Kali Healthcare.   

Kali Healthcare is undergoing an exciting commericalisation journey and aims to transform pregnancy monitoring through the development of a wearable device that will allow expecting mothers to monitor foetal heartbeats at home.  

In her role as Associate Professor of Obstetrics at the University of Melbourne, she heads the Obstetric Diagnostics and Therapeutics Group – a multidisciplinary team of sc...

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Professor Max Ortiz Catalán,  Head of the Neural Prosthetics Research Program at the Bionics Institute. 

In additional to his role at the Bionics Institute, he is also the Founder of the Center for Bionics and Pain Research (CBPR) in Sweden – a multidisciplinary engineering and medical collaboration between Chalmers University of Technology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg.

Professor Ortiz Catalán’s mission is to develop and clinically implement technologies to eliminate disability and pain due to senso...

In the latest episode of Med Tech Talks, Robert Klupacs is joined by Dr Devinder Chauhan, a highly respected retinal ophthalmologist and Founding CEO of Macuject. 

Macuject is a digital health company that harnesses AI to provide imaging and data solutions for ophthalmologists to them make clinical decisions when treating age-related macular degeneration.  

Dr Chauhan founded Macuject in 2017 and is currently making the transition from clinician to entrepreneur as he and his team aim to roll this product out in eye clinics both domestically and internationally to improve visual outcomes for patients worldwide.
 
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