An ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics has been established at the Queensland University of Technology this week with a $4 million research grant announcement.
The centre will focus on research to improve the treatment of Australians suffering from osteoarthritis and other joint-related orthopaedic disorders. This centre is a collaborative effort between QUT, The University of Queensland, The University of New South Wales, orthopaedic surgeons and the medical device and biomechanics industry. The training centre will attract a total of $7.7 million in cash and in-kind support from partners and involve collaboration with 12 participating organisations across three countries.
[caption id="attachment_2584" align="alignnone" width="600"]
l/r QUT Professor YuanTong Gu, Professor Graham Kerr and Professor Peter Pivonka, with researcher Maxence Lavaill, (seated) observe motion-imaging from volunteer Roderick Verberne, in the IHBI Gait Lab. The Gait Lab will be part of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics.[/caption]
The centre will establish QUT and Queensland as a biomechanics hub in Australia. Professor Pivonka said “It will advance and translate fundamental biomechanics research to marketable products and therapeutic strategies which will bring new opportunities for the growing Australian medical technologies industry,” “This will improve the lives of people who are affected by joint related musculoskeletal disorders.
Professor Gu said the centre would put Australia at the forefront of joint biomechanical technology in orthopaedics and fast track innovation in the fields of science, health and biotechnology. “This centre will train high-quality young scientists and engineers to develop Australia’s next-generation biomedical engineering workforce.”
QUT Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Margaret Sheil AO said the establishment of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics would have the dual purpose of progressing personalised medicine and establish a state-of-the-art training centre for the future leaders in biomedical engineering. “This centre, based at QUT, will bring together leaders from many research centres and leading surgeons working together in a rapidly changing field,” Professor Sheil said.
Peter Pivonka said QUT lead investigators Professor Gu, Professor Peter Pivonka and Professor Graham Kerr have partnered with expert shoulder surgeons Dr Ashish Gupta and Dr Ken Cutbush and leading national and international research groups in biomechanics.