Members

Bionic Ear Institute (VIC)

Director: Professor Robert Shepherd
Deputy Director: Professor Peter Blamey
Public Relations and Fundraising Manager: Ms Glenis Cook

Principal Affiliations
University of Melbourne

Principal Areas of Research
The Bionic Ear Institute is a leader in the practical application of biotechnology in medicine. The Institute’s technological and clinical expertise spans brain and auditory function, the protection and regeneration of damaged nerves, implantable device technology, mathematical modelling and signal processing. The Bionic Ear Institute collaborates extensively with scientists, engineers, clinicians and surgeons to develop a multidisciplinary approach to research outcomes. It has an internationally recognised team of research scientists from areas including biology, physiology, audiology, neuroscience, speech science, engineering, materials science, and mathematics. 

Our experience and discoveries with the bionic ear have lead to developments in the emerging field of medical bionics and we are now focussing on four key research areas:

• A bionic eye that will provide independence for the blind and will eventually allow them to read large-format print.
  
• Nanotechnology based targeted drug delivery systems for the efficient delivery of therapeutic drugs without adverse side-effects.
  
• Intelligent brain implants designed to monitor, diagnose and treat a variety of neurological disorders including epileptic seizures. 
  
• High-fidelity bionic ears that will improve speech understanding in noisy environments and unleash the gift of music for deaf patients.

Using a multidisciplinary approach, along with proven experience of working from conception to commercialisation, our research aims to deliver technologies to secure better health outcomes for people, reducing the burden of disease and disabilities.