iPREP Biodesign
A 7 week industry and PhD engagement program run in collaboration between iPREP WA (Industry and PhD Research Engagement Program) and Perth Biodesign to support the training of PhD students in healthcare innovation based on Stanford Biodesign methodology. iPREP WA is the only established program in Australia with the unique attributes of using multidisciplinary teams of PhD students to work on industry-defined real-world problems with clear benefits to universities, students and industry.
The iPrep Biodesign teams spend 7 weeks working on an industry problem in the healthcare sector and receive weekly mentorship on learning and applying the Biodesign process.
Participation in the program provides PhD candidates with excellent networks and contacts in industry plus skills in project management, team work, design thinking and leadership as well as the opportunity to solve real problems in healthcare.
Health-related organisations benefit from value-for-money consultancy, innovative solutions to business problems, increased engagement with all five universities to optimise knowledge translation, and the potential to recruit outstanding PhD graduates.
“What a difference 6 weeks of iPREP placement have made. The program enabled me to firstly recognise the skills acquired through my PhD and understand their transferability and applicability in fields outside my PhD specific area of interest. The iPREP program also equipped me with the skills to pursue career opportunities outside academia. Most importantly, by participating in this placement, in a field that required different skill sets to complete the project, I recognised my true passion.”
- Wissam Chiha, iPREP Biodesign graduate
Our Team
Michelle Luca
iPrep Biodesign Program Coordinator
Michelle is a experienced hospital pharmacist affording extensive knowledge of clinical pharmacology and medication management. She has worked across many WA public hospitals following the completion of a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Curtin University of Technology in 2010. Michelle has many years of managerial experience and focused to improve patient care through implementing best practice guidelines.
In her new role as iPREP Biodesign Program Coordinator, she is responsible for the general organization of the iPREP Biodesign Program. Michelle coordinates the recruitment of healthcare industry partners, processes student applications, matches students to healthcare industry partners, mentors students throughout their placements, coordinates participation from the five universities across WA and promotes iPREP Biodesign activities.
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Intan Oldakowska
Perth Biodesign 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.
Kevin Pfleger
Director Biomedical Innovation
Kevin is Director Biomedical Innovation at The University of Western Australia and MTPConnect WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub. He is also Deputy Director of the Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Chief Scientific Advisor to Dimerix and Chair of the Accelerating Australia Executive Committee. Kevin also serves on the Life Sciences WA Committee, the WA Branch Committee of AusBiotech and the Management Committee of the WA Health Translation Network. Kevin is the Project Lead for the X-TEND WA Perth Biodesign program led by The University of Western Australia on behalf of a cross-sector consortium. This currently funds Perth Biodesign for Medtech, iPREP Biodesign and Biodesign Bootcamps.
Administered by
Sponsors
The New Industries Fund is managed by the Department
of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
