Author: csfh-control

Chief Investigator Dr Javad Foroughi has been featured by the NSW Office for Health and Medical Research (OHMR) for his work developing a next-generation soft robotic heart device that could improve treatment options for people living with heart failure.

The innovative device is designed to wrap around the heart and mimic the natural squeezing and twisting motion of cardiac muscle, helping the heart pump blood more effectively. Unlike conventional ventricular assist devices, the soft robotic sleeve sits outside the heart and does not come into direct contact with blood, potentially reducing complications associated with clotting, bleeding and infection.

The project is supported through a NSW Health Cardiovascular Collaborative Grant and builds on Dr Foroughi’s long-standing research into soft robotics, advanced materials and biomedical devices. The funding will help accelerate development of the technology and support its progression towards future clinical trials.

Heart failure affects an estimated 64 million people worldwide, and current treatment options remain limited for many patients. The soft robotic sleeve aims to provide mechanical support to the heart while offering a safer and more adaptable alternative to existing technologies.

This work exemplifies the ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health’s commitment to translating cutting-edge engineering research into technologies that improve health outcomes and quality of life. By combining expertise in soft robotics, sensing technologies, advanced manufacturing and healthcare innovation, Hub researchers are helping shape the future of patient-centred medical devices.

Read the full NSW Office for Health and Medical Research Story:

https://medicalresearch.nsw.gov.au/about/news/2026/new-robotic-heart-device

Researchers from the ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health have achieved outstanding success in the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects 2025 Round 2, contributing to three funded projects that will advance innovation in digital health, wearable sensing, artificial intelligence and diagnostic technologies.

Working alongside Hub Partner Organisations Santevation Pty Ltd, Tibovini Medtech Australia, Micromax Pty Ltd and Tiger Pharm Pty Ltd, Hub researchers have helped secure more than $2.17 million in competitive ARC funding to support industry-focused research with real-world impact.

The successful projects reflect the breadth of expertise across the Hub and highlight the value of collaboration between researchers and industry partners in addressing significant health and technology challenges.

Advancing portable diagnostic technologies

Researchers Associate Professor Ming Li, Dr Shuhua Peng, Dr Shuai He and Dr Wei Huang are part of the project Right on the Spot: An Integrated Portable Platform for Antibiotic Detection (LP250200876).

Administered by UNSW in partnership with Santevation Pty Ltd and Tibovini Medtech Australia, the project received $759,911 in ARC funding and aims to develop portable technologies that improve the detection of antibiotics, supporting better healthcare and monitoring outcomes.

Harnessing AI for intelligent monitoring

Professor Raad Raad and Dr Antonio Fantasia are investigators on Non-intrusive Monitoring Using WiFi and AI (LP250200353), administered by the University of Wollongong in partnership with Micromax Pty Ltd.

Supported by $583,954 in ARC funding, the project will explore how artificial intelligence and wireless technologies can be used to develop intelligent monitoring systems without the need for wearable devices or direct physical interaction.

Supporting the future of wearable health technologies

Professor Dewei Chu, Associate Professor Ming Li, Dr Tao Wan and Dr Chao Liu are contributing to Powering Wearable Sweat Sensors for Continuous Biomarker Detection (LP250200616).

Administered by UNSW in partnership with Tiger Pharm Pty Ltd, the project received $833,580 in funding and seeks to advance wearable sensor technologies capable of continuously monitoring biomarkers through sweat, supporting the future of personalised and preventative healthcare.

Celebrating broader research excellence

The Hub also congratulates Chief Investigator Professor Yuantong Gu, who secured ARC Linkage funding for Revolutionising Brickmaking: From Traditional Practice to AI Smart Design (LP250200913), administered by Queensland University of Technology in partnership with Brickworks Building Products.

These achievements demonstrate the strength of the Hub’s interdisciplinary research community and its commitment to translating cutting-edge research into practical solutions. Through strong partnerships with industry, Connected Sensors for Health researchers are helping drive innovation in sensing technologies, digital health, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

Congratulations to all investigators, partner organisations and research teams involved in these outstanding outcomes.

Read more about the ARC Linkage Projects 2025 Round 2 outcomes

 

The Health Translation Hub (HTH) Open House was a highly successful event, welcoming more than 1,200 visitors through the doors to experience the space in action and explore what the future of healthcare could look like. The Open House attracted a diverse audience, including members of the public, students, researchers, clinicians, industry representatives, and community partners, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere throughout the building.

Visitors engaged with a wide range of interactive experiences across the Hub, including virtual reality health simulations, clinical skills demonstrations, pharmacy and optometry clinics, robotics displays, data visualisation, and the Future of Health exhibition. Together, these experiences showcased how research, education, clinical practice, and industry collaboration are being integrated to drive real-world health impact and improve patient outcomes.

Showcasing Connected Sensor Innovation

The ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health was proud to contribute two interactive installations to the Open House, highlighting how connected sensor research is being translated into practical health applications. The Hub’s installations attracted strong interest throughout the Open House.

Balance Function Assessment and Training System

The Balance Analyser was especially popular among visitors. Developed by UNSW researchers in collaboration with Santevation, the sensor-based balance and mobility assessment and training system which allowed attendees to experience firsthand how sensor-driven technologies can support balance monitoring, mobility training, and future clinical and community health applications.

mmWave Radar–Based Human Pose Estimation

The Hub also showcased mmWave radar–based human pose estimation, a privacy-preserving, unobtrusive technology developed by Apostele in collaboration with UNSW researchers, including HDR student Jonathan Williams, the demonstration allowed visitors to experience how movement can be monitored without cameras or wearable devices. It highlighted the potential of radar-based sensing to support future health applications such as rehabilitation, fall prevention, and remote monitoring.

Engaging the Community and Driving Translation

The strong engagement with both installations reflected widespread interest in connected sensing technologies and their potential role in next-generation healthcare. The hands-on demonstrations enabled valuable feedback from a broad audience, helping inform future development while reinforcing the Hub’s commitment to translating collaborative research into practical technologies with real-world impact.

The Open House provided a powerful platform to connect researchers, industry partners, clinicians, and the community, and to demonstrate how innovation in connected sensors can contribute to better health outcomes. The ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health looks forward to building on this momentum as it continues to support research translation, industry collaboration, and the development of technologies that improve health and wellbeing.

The ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health is proud to be part of the inaugural Future of Health exhibition at the newly opened UNSW Health Translation Hub (HTH) at the Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct. The Hub’s participation showcases our latest connected sensor technologies and demonstrates how sensor-driven innovation can support better health outcomes. Our work features prominently in the exhibition, highlighting advances in connected sensing that are already improving patient care and enabling new models of health monitoring with smart-powered systems as well as wearable sensors for health monitoring.

The opening of the UNSW Health Translation Hub (HTH) marks a major milestone for UNSW and the Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct. Designed as a visionary health space, the HTH brings together researchers, clinicians, educators, industry partners, and the community to accelerate discovery and translate innovation into real-world health impact.

The official opening of the exhibition was an inspiring celebration of collaboration and innovation, reflecting the type of cross-sector engagement needed to shape the future of health. We extend our sincere thanks to the UNSW Health Translation Hub precinct and exhibition teams for bringing this space to life.

The Future of Health exhibition is open to the public weekdays from 8:00am to 6:00pm and will run until March 2026. We encourage Hub members, partners, and the wider community to visit and experience this immersive showcase of health innovation. This exhibition is open to the public weekdays from 8:00am to 6:00pm until March 2026, and we encourage Hub members, partners, and the wider community to visit and experience this immersive showcase of health innovation!

The Hub’s 2025 Annual Meeting was held at NeuRA (Neuroscience Research Australia) on 31 October, and brought together Hub investigators, industry partners, affiliates, HDR students, and early-career researchers for a highly engaging day of collaboration and knowledge exchange. The meeting provided an important opportunity to reflect on progress across the Hub, strengthen partnerships, and explore pathways for translating connected sensor research into real-world health impact.

Opening Remarks and Invited Speakers

The meeting opened with remarks from Hub Director Chun Wang, who highlighted the Hub’s momentum and the importance of strong collaboration across academia, industry, and healthcare. Invited speakers Toby Hodgson (Medical Technology Association of Australia), Mary-Beth Brinson (Wavewise Analytics), and Edwina Lim and Ben Wright (Mimetic MedTech Foundry) shared valuable insights into commercialisation, funding pathways, and innovation in connected health technologies, offering perspectives on navigating the journey from research to deployment.

 

Presentations from our Industry and Affiliate Partners

The program also featured talks from industry and affiliate partners, who discussed how cross-sector collaboration supports translation from research to real-world impact. Speaker presentations included Mark Flynn (Global Edge Medtech Consulting), Kat Robinson and Lynette Reeves (Miroma Project Factory), Katja Beitat (Cicada Innovations), and Victoria Bicknell and Isabelle Stringer (ANDHealth), highlighting the importance of partnerships in building successful health technologies.

Project highlights across our Research Projects

A key feature of the meeting was updates from each industry research project, with teams presenting progress, outcomes, and next steps across the Hub’s diverse portfolio. These updates showcased the strength of collaboration between researchers and partners and the breadth of connected sensor technologies being developed to address real healthcare challenges.

Poster Session and Pitch Competition

The day concluded with a poster session and a fast-paced pitch competition with an impressive 15 of our HDR Students and Early Career Researchers, led by Pitch Master Justin Gooding and judged by Victoria Bicknell (ANDHealth), George Bou-Rizk (Genesys Electronics Design), and Nigel Lovell. HDR students and early-career researchers demonstrated creativity, clarity, and a strong focus on impact in articulating their research.

🏆 Congratulations to the Pitch Competition awardees and to all that participated.
🥇 Cong Nguyen
🥈 Sylvia Chen
🥉 Michael Abraham Listyawan
⭐ Highly Commended: Nathan Scott

 

The 2024 Annual Meeting was a success, filled with inspiration, collaboration, and shared vision for the future. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the spirit of  partnership that defines our Hub. We look forward to another year of progress and success as we continue our journey together.

Congratulations to Hub Chief Investigator Dr Javad Foroughi, alongside Hub Director Scientia Professor Chun Wang and collaborator Dr Liao (Leo) Wu, who have been awarded a $750,000 NSW Health Cardiovascular Collaborative Grant.

This significant funding supports the development of a soft-robotic artificial heart muscle, an innovative technology designed to provide more effective and adaptive cardiac support for patients living with end-stage heart failure. The project represents a powerful example of how multidisciplinary engineering research can translate into solutions for some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare.

Building on Dr Foroughi’s 2024 NSW Health Fellowship Project, the team is advancing the design of a soft-robotic ventricular assist sleeve that mimics the natural motion of heart muscle. Unlike conventional rigid mechanical devices, this soft, flexible system is designed to work in harmony with the heart, offering the potential for improved patient comfort, reduced complications, and more personalised support.

At the core of the project is the integration of advanced materials, soft robotics, and connected sensing technologies, enabling real-time monitoring and responsive actuation. By combining expertise across engineering, materials science, and clinical collaboration, the research aims to deliver a next-generation cardiac support technology that bridges the gap between laboratory innovation and clinical application.

This award recognises the strength of the team’s collaborative approach and the translational focus of the research. With support from NSW Health, the project moves a significant step closer to real-world impact, reinforcing the ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health’s mission to develop connected technologies that improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients.

The ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health is proud to celebrate Professor Madhu Bhaskaran, Deputy Director of Research, on being named one of Australia’s Top 100 Innovators for 2025 by The Australian. This prestigious recognition acknowledges her outstanding contributions to engineering, health technology, and innovation with real-world impact.

A multi-award-winning electronics engineer, Professor Bhaskaran is internationally recognised for her pioneering work in electronic skin and wearable and ‘nearable’ sensor technologies. Her research is transforming healthcare and aged care by enabling smart, non-invasive monitoring, advanced functional materials, and flexible electronics that can integrate seamlessly with the human body. These innovations are helping to address critical challenges in health monitoring, rehabilitation, and long-term care.

Professor Bhaskaran’s work has already paved the way for significant advances, including improved prosthetic technologies, better management of chronic infections, and continuous, non-invasive monitoring of vital health signals. By combining bold, creative ideas with rigorous engineering and translational focus, her research continues to bridge the gap between fundamental science and practical healthcare solutions that have the potential to improve—and save—lives.

Leadership, Advocacy and Impact Beyond the Lab

Beyond her technical leadership, Professor Bhaskaran is a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion in STEMM. As Co-Chair of Women in STEMM Australia, she works to connect, empower, and champion women and girls across science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. Through this role, she is helping to shape a more inclusive and diverse innovation ecosystem for future generations.

Reflecting on the recognition, Professor Bhaskaran emphasised the collective effort behind the achievement, crediting her Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group and the many industry partners she collaborates with for their shared commitment to impactful research and innovation. The award highlights not only individual excellence, but also the power of collaboration in driving meaningful technological and societal change.

Congratulations, Madhu, on this outstanding and well-deserved achievement.

 

UNSW biomedical engineer, Associate Professor Matthew A Brodie, opens in a new window has developed a new app, which is helping tens of thousands of individuals combat difficulties in walking. With the help of research fellow and Director of Parkinson’s NSW, Martin Ostrowski, the two have focused their efforts on assisting those suffering from health concerns that impact their ability to walk. These include but are not limited to Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, dementia and sleep issues. The “Walking Tall” app has been translated into multiple languages and made freely available for the worldwide community to use via the App Store, opens in a new window and Google Play, opens in a new window – with the aim of providing some immediate relief for people suffering from gait impairments.

One foot in front of the other

There are more than 320 million people worldwide with treatable motor impairment. These health concerns are issues in their own right, but they can also lead to reduced physical exercise. “We wanted to create technology that could help people walk because insufficient physical exercise is a major risk factor for a number of conditions,” says Associate Professor Brodie.

“This is what’s inspired me to create research that one day could potentially help over 100-million people walk with confidence.”

The Walking Tall app, which initially received trial funding from the Michael J Fox Foundation, and Shake It Up Foundation Australia, opens in a new window, works by delivering a simple metronomic beat across three different walking speeds that have been designed to trigger movement. Further developments were made in partnership with the ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health (Connected Sensors Hub), and with the software team at UNSW’s Tyree Institute of Health Engineering. With every-day use of the app, individuals can not only learn to walk better but walk for longer, reduce falls and improve overall mobility.

“It’s giving hope to people through something that actually works now – and when we add new elements, it will be even more powerful,” says A/Prof. Brodie.

The full story is available at UNSW Engineering.

On 14 November, members of our Hub convened in Sydney for the 2024 Annual Meeting. The event provided a vibrant platform for networking, bringing together our Hub members in person to learn about the ongoing projects. While it is impossible to capture all our discussions here, we will use this article to provide a peek into the day that emerged.

The day was graced with three guest speakers sharing their industry insights and scientific expertise. Ms Emma Hossack, from the Medical Software Industry Association, spoke about complex health connectivity and gave us a glimpse into that environment, which will lead to an improved ecosystem in future.

Professor Ray H. Baughman from the University of Texas at Dallas, gave us talk on the application of carbon nanotubes yarns for health uses. Carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns are useful for many applications including electrical energy storage, mechanical energy harvesting and strain sensing that requires no electrical energy input.

Dr Atsushi Otake from Keio University, Japan, focused on his contribution of diamond microelectrode for biomedical applications. Since 2021, he has been a member of Prof. Yasuaki Einaga’s group at Keio University, focusing on environmental and biomedical applications of diamond electrodes. His contributions are globally recognised in the field of diamond electrochemistry.

Project highlights across our research themes

A highlight of the meeting was the presentations from 15 research and industry partners, showcasing their work across our research themes, including Santevation, Vlepis, Nutromics, nthalmic, and NeuRA (Neuroscience Research Australia), among others. These presentations ignited a renewed excitement for ongoing research and emphasised the importance of working together to drive innovation.

Security, privacy and regulation: talks and Q&A

 The meeting also included invaluable insights from regulatory and industry experts. Our speakers Tracey Duffy, First Assistant Secretary, Medical Devices & Product Quality Division, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Dr Katja Beitat, Group Executive, Health Incubators & Programs, Cicada Innovations, and Minta Chen, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance, Annalise.ai presented on the intricacies of developing wearable devices and software.

They highlighted the critical importance of identifying challenges early when dealing with security, privacy and regulation emphasising the necessity of engaging with stakeholders to foster meaningful innovations that can transform healthcare.

Poster session wrap-up

As the day progressed, we celebrated the dedication of our early career researchers through a series of poster presentations. Participants showcased their work in 1-minute thesis-style and our industry judges had the challenging task of selecting outstanding contributions.

Congratulations to our winners: 🥇 An Trương, 🥈 Essam Dief, and 🥉 Steven Phu. Their exceptional research stood out among many impressive submissions.

 

 

 

 

The 2024 Annual Meeting was a success, filled with inspiration, collaboration, and shared vision for the future. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the spirit of  partnership that defines our Hub. We look forward to another year of progress and success as we continue our journey together.

Chief Investigators Scientia Professor Justin Gooding and Professor Kim Delbaere were elected Fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences’ (AAHMS) in 2024 for their significant and continuing research in their field.

Academy President Professor Louise Baur said: “Our new Fellows have a truly exceptional body of work, with each of them considered international leaders in their respective fields.”

“Our Fellowship represents the breadth and diversity of Australia’s health and medical expertise, allowing us to draw on independent, expert and evidence-based advice to drive change and improve health for all.”

Scientia Professor Justin Gooding FAA, FTSE, FAHMS

Justin is one of a small number of researchers who are members of all three STEM based learned academies: the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
On his achievement, he said: “It is very humbling and somewhat overwhelming. I feel it is testament to the ability of my team to do research that spans basic science to commercialising devices that provide tangible benefits to people and biomedical researchers.”
Prof. Gooding’s current project is a smart patch being commercialised by a company in Melbourne with support from his team. The smart patch goes on a patient’s arm, allowing doctors to detect drug levels continuously and in real time, ensuring drug levels are right for the patient and not the average person. He describes it as “the most exciting, game changing technology that will come in our lifetime”.

Professor Kim Delbaere FAHMS

Throughout her career, Professor Kim Delbaere has made major contributions to identifying risk factors for falls and sub-optimal ageing. With a background in physiotherapy, she has dedicated her research to falls prevention, exercise interventions and the use of innovative health technology.
Her vision is to empower older Australians to understand and navigate better health trajectories through self-management. In addition to her research, she uses advocacy and commercialisation strategies to broaden the impact of her work.
“I am truly honoured to have been elected by my peers for this fellowship. My work has always been about translating research into real-world solutions that improve the lives of older adults,” Prof. Delbaere said.
“By working closely with consumers, healthcare professionals and policymakers, we are making evidence-based falls prevention strategies accessible and empowering older Australians to live more confidently and independently.”

UNSW Newsroom