Round 1
Round 1 Projects
Customa
Project 1: StomaSegv2 - Improved Segmentation of Ostomy for Rapid, At-Home Scan to Cutting Template
About
Customa Pty Ltd is a medical technology company that has developed a revolutionary bespoke stoma seal. Stomas created are unique to each patient. With recent progress made in additive manufacturing techniques, rapid prototyping software and biopolymer technology; our research efforts have led to the development of a workflow to produce 3D-printed patient-matched stomal seals that are tailored to the individual characteristics of a patient’s stoma. Our aim is to reduce or eliminate leakage and improve the quality of life of ostomates.
Project
More than 50,000 Australians live with an ostomy, a surgical diversion of their gastrointestinal tract due to complex health issues and/or cancer. These ostomies can be temporary or permanent and despite being a necessary life-saving intervention, they have a profound change on lifestyle and quality of life.
One of the major influences on quality of life is the possibility of leakage which Customa is seeking to reduce by allowing ostomates to scan their stoma and surrounding skin to generate a customised cutting template for a closer fit and less leakage area.
For this project students are tasked with improving our proprietary AI model for the identification and segmentation of the stomal region to further improve the fitment and optimise for on-device processing.
A successful project should result in a lightweight, mobile-optimised AI model that is able to work with a broader range of skin tones that are more representative of the global population.
Benefits
Customa stands to benefit from the project by leveraging the domain expertise of students who have an exceptionally deep understanding of federated (distributed) AI models on mobile devices and other translational knowledge from parallel fields of study.
Students participating with Customa will get a taste of life as a startup, with access to our resources and the ability to rapidly iterate on different ideas and not only research about an approach but also put it into practice through a process of trial and error.
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Keyaben Patel
Curtin University
School of Elec Eng, Comp and Math Sci (EECMS)
Skills: Automated model optimization; resource-ware AI system design; federated & privacy-preserving learning; mathematical modelling & algorithm development; cross-disciplinary communication & problem solving.
Jian He
Murdoch University
School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences
Skills: Teamwork; clinical trial; scientific writing; bioinformatics & molecular genetics; data analysis .
VariVac
Engineering a High-Reliability Vacuum Canister Lid for Medical Applications
About
VariVac™ is developed and commercialised by International Medical Research Pty Ltd, an Australian medical device company focused on improving postoperative and wound care outcomes. The VariVac system was clinician-designed in Australia to address limitations in traditional wound drainage, offering adjustable and constant low-vacuum suction with three selectable levels for precise fluid management after surgery. The technology is patented and Australian-owned, with products including the VariVac canister, thumb grip trocar, and the portable VariVac Arc NPWT device. The company works with distributors both within Australia and internationally to bring our devices to healthcare settings that value clinician control and patient safety.
Project
VariVac is developing the next generation of the VariVac canister lids for our low vacuum variable closed wound drainage system. The current canister lid design meets functional requirements but has limitations in long-term vacuum retention, component complexity, and vacuum control precision. To maintain competitive advantage and improve product value, we seek to advance the design for improved reliability, cost efficiency, and clinical performance.
The goal of this project is to design, prototype, and validate a next-generation vacuum canister lid that improves long-term vacuum retention, reduces part complexity and manufacturing cost, and enhances vacuum accuracy and control .
Benefits
For students, this project provides direct exposure to cutting-edge MedTech innovation, gaining practical experience with prototyping and development, bench-testing, and a strong understanding of medical manufacturing technologies.
VariVac benefits from fresh technical insights and academic rigor in their prototype development, assessment, and validation.
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Zahra Rahimimotlagh
Curtin University
School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Skills: Computational fluid dynamics; fluid-structure interaction & thermal and fluid flow analysis; ANSYS Structural, ANSYS Fluent, SolidWorks/ Inventor; time management; teamwork & collaboration.
Nipuna Wijayathunga
Edith Cowan University
School of Engineering
Skills: Robotics (perception, programming, integration); mechatronic system design & integration; industrial automation & control systems (PLC programming); mechanical design & product development (SolidWorks, AutoCAD); Machine Learning & sensor fusion for robotics.
VitalTrace
Project 1: Biosensor Process Optimisation and Scale-Up for Consistent Manufacturing
About
VitalTrace is a Perth-based medical device company developing a novel biosensor to monitor fetal wellbeing during childbirth. The company operates within the maternal healthcare sector and is progressing its technology toward clinical trials and eventual market deployment. Its multidisciplinary team spans biosensor R&D, manufacturing, product development, and data science.
Key areas of innovation include optimisation of sensor chemistry and fabrication, scaling manufacturing processes with quality control and validation, development of integrated hardware systems, and implementation of data infrastructure and analytics. VitalTrace’s end users include clinicians and healthcare providers, with a strong focus on delivering reliable, scalable, and clinically relevant solutions.
Project
This project supports the optimisation and scale-up of a biosensor fabrication process to improve manufacturing consistency and reliability. Students will contribute across microfabrication, manufacturing, formulation, and data by assisting with process review, benchmarking, experimental studies, and data analysis. The project aims to identify key sources of variability and provide high-level recommendations to support robust processes, improved quality control, and readiness for scalable manufacturing.
Benefits
Students benefit from hands-on experience in a multidisciplinary medical device environment, exposure to real-world challenges in R&D, manufacturing, and data analysis, and development of skills in experimental design, problem-solving, and teamwork.
VitalTrace benefits from improved understanding of process variability and key influencing factors, support for optimisation of fabrication and manufacturing processes, strengthened quality control and data-driven decision-making, and contribution toward scalable, consistent, and reliable manufacturing systems.
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Afroja Rahman
Murdoch University
School of Agriculture and Life Science
Skills: Experimental design & research execution; molecular biology & laboratory techniques; data analysis & interpretation; scientific communication & collaboration; problem‑solving & adaptability.
Ananda Buckley
Curtin University
School of Diagnostics and Therapeutic Sciences
Skills: Quantitative data analysis & interpretation; experimental design & protocol optimisation; troubleshooting complex systems; translating technical findings into clear insights' high attention to detail with big picture awareness.
Ankita Modi
Curtin University
School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Skills: Project design, conceptualisation, planning & experimental design; project execution, testing, evaluation, implementation, data analysis & troubleshooting; biomaterials, tissue engineering & wet lab (microbial & tissue culture); quality control & risk mitigation; teamwork, collaboration, adaptable, curiosity driven & goal oriented.
VitalTrace
Project 2: Targeted Data Analysis for Improving Sensor Accuracy
About
VitalTrace is a Perth-based medical device company developing a novel biosensor to monitor fetal wellbeing during childbirth. The company operates within the maternal healthcare sector and is progressing its technology toward clinical trials and eventual market deployment. Its multidisciplinary team spans biosensor R&D, manufacturing, product development, and data science.
Key areas of innovation include optimisation of sensor chemistry and fabrication, scaling manufacturing processes with quality control and validation, development of integrated hardware systems, and implementation of data infrastructure and analytics. VitalTrace’s end users include clinicians and healthcare providers, with a strong focus on delivering reliable, scalable, and clinically relevant solutions.
Project
This project focuses on improving the accuracy and reliability of a biosensing device across both production and real-world use.
One area involves leveraging manufacturing data to ensure consistent device performance at scale. The other focuses on enhancing signal quality assessment to enable reliable physiological measurements.
Together, the work supports the development of robust, scalable sensing technology for practical healthcare applications.
Benefits
This project is designed as a two-way learning opportunity. The intern gains exposure to industry best practices in data science within a real-world environment, while the organisation benefits from fresh perspectives and technical contributions to existing data challenges.
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Shajib Dey
Edith Cowan University
School of Medical and Health Sciences
Skills: Machine learning & predictive modelling; bioinformatics & omics data analysis; Python, R & reproducible pipeline development; biostatistics, biomarker discovery & data interpretation; scientific communication and cross-functional collaboration.
MTPConnect
Project 1: WAGES Insight Engine: An Intelligent Evaluation Tool for Tracking Outcomes
About
MTPConnect is an independent, not-for-profit Australian organisation established in 2015 to champion the nation’s life sciences sector. It supports start-ups, entrepreneurs and SMEs to translate research from the laboratory to the market, delivers innovation programs for state and federal governments, and helps Australian companies build international connections and access global markets through trade missions and strategic collaborations.
The WA Grants Excellence Service (WAGES), administered by MTPConnect, is a three-year program funded by the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund. The program aims to improve the competitiveness of grant applications submitted by Western Australian researchers, innovators and start-ups to federal funding schemes.
Free for WA researchers, innovators and start-ups, WAGES provides practical, high‑impact support through expert‑led grant development workshops and tailored, one‑on‑one feedback on grant applications. By strengthening proposal quality and strategic alignment, WAGES aims to improve participants’ chances of securing competitive grant funding and accelerating their pathway to impact.
Project
The project aims to design and prototype an intelligent evaluation tool that enhances the ability of WAGES to measure its impact on research and innovation outcomes across WA.
WAGES currently captures program impact primarily through participant feedback surveys. While valuable, this approach may not fully capture all outcomes such as successful grant awards, research‑industry partnerships, commercialisation activity, or investment outcomes — many of which are publicly available across diverse data sources.
The project aims to develop a prototype tool that will automatically identify, aggregate and interpret publicly available information relating to WAGES participants’ achievements over time. By integrating and analysing these data, the tool will provide a richer, more comprehensive picture of individual and sector‑wide outcomes associated with WAGES participation.
The prototype will support evidence‑based reporting, continuous program improvement and long‑term sustainability, enabling WAGES to more effectively demonstrate its value to stakeholders while strengthening its contribution to Western Australia’s life sciences and health innovation ecosystem.
Benefits
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Chamila Wijekuruppu
Edith Cowan University
School of Business and Law
Skills: Academic writing, literature synthesis, and analytical argumentation; analytical &methodical approach to problem solving; producing high quality reports, briefs, and strategic documents; attention to detail & accuracy; collaborative relationship building & cross team coordination.
Yuxin Chen
University of Sydney
School of Biomedical Engineering
Skills: Microfluidics & blood experiments; cell culture & confocal imaging; programming (Python, C , FPGA/Verilog; literature research & scientific reporting/writing; interdisciplinary collaboration.
Louis Fernandes
CQUniversity
Aerospace Engineering and Technology
Skills: Commercial strategy/ ROI analysis; stakeholder alignment; complexity management; metric development; report generation; strategic reporting.
Polycarp Yakoi
Murdoch University
School of Biomedical Engineering
Skills: Software engineering & full-stack development; Aavanced AI & predictive modeling; analytical problem-solving & quantitative reasoning; communication, adaptability & professional maturity; reporting & academic writing.
MTPConnect
Project 2: The Westside Collaboration Space: Business Model for
Operating the Space
About
MTPConnect is Australia’s Life Sciences Innovation Accelerator. An independent, not-for-profit organisation established in 2015 to champion Australia’s life sciences sector by backing start-ups, entrepreneurs and SMEs to bring new medical products from research labs to the market, delivering innovation programs for state and federal governments and helping Australian companies make international connections and access global markets through trade missions and strategic collaborations.
Project
The Westside Collaboration Space is soon to be fitted out on Level 3 of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research Building. This space will provide a venue to bring together stakeholders from across the QEII Medical Centre campus and beyond, to collaborate on biomedical and health research and innovation.
In addition to the health service providers, medical research organisations and ecosystem facilitators based at the QEII Medical Centre, important stakeholders will include start-up companies, service providers, clinicians and community members, all of whom will have a range of uses for the space. Extensive stakeholder engagement has already been carried out to build the case for establishing Westside, as well as co-designing the physical layout of the space with input from the Westside Advisory Group.
It is now important to ensure the business model for operating the space is finalised in consultation with broader stakeholders in the lead up to practical completion, so that it is fit for purpose in the current operating environment.
Benefits
Student gains new knowledge and skills related to innovation ecosystem building and evaluation including ecosystem enablement, stakeholder consultation and engagement, and understanding the economic benefits of and priorities for the health and biomedical industry.
This work will assist MTPConnect and WALSIH to accelerate strategic planning and progression of Westside presinct development.
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Sugat Bajracharya
University of Western Australia
School of Agriculture and Environment
Skills: Impact & economic evaluation; structural equation modelling; large-scale survey data compilation, cleaning & analysis; behavioural economics; applied research methodologies.
ProGenis Pharmaceuticals
Optimization of Nucleic Acid Isolation Protocols from Rodent Tissues
About
ProGenis Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on the development of RNAbased medicines targeting nucleic acids for the treatment of serious diseases. The company ooperates within the growing precision medicine sector, using advanced molecular biology and drug discovery platforms to identify novel therapeutic candidates. ProGenis works with preclinical research models, including rodent systems, to evaluate efficacy, safety, and target engagement.
Innovation is centred on gene modulation, RNA therapeutics, and streamlined laboratory workflows that accelerate discovery. As a research-driven organisation, ProGenis values high-quality data, reproducible methods, and efficient experimental processes. Its clients and stakeholders may include investors, research collaborators, regulatory bodies, and future healthcare partners seeking next-generation therapeutic solutions.
Project
The objective of this project is to standardize and qualify nucleic acid isolation procedures from mouse tissues, including liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle. Extraction protocols will be optimized in a tissue-specific manner to ensure reproducibility, maximize yield, and maintain nucleic acid integrity across tissue types. Extracted samples will undergo comprehensive analytical quality assessment prior to downstream qPCR analyses designed to evaluate pathway modulation and confirm target engagement.
Students will be engaged in optimizing tissue-specific extraction protocols through systematic experiments, documenting each step to ensure reproducibility. They will also perform quality assessments on the extracted nucleic acids using spectrophotometry and gel electrophoresis. Additionally, students will prepare samples for quantitative PCR analyses to evaluate pathway modulation and confirm target engagement.
Benefits
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Jessica Titchner
Curtin University
School of Health Sciences
Skills: Quantitative data analysis & statistical interpretation; Python & R; lab based skills (DNA, RNA, protein works); method development under time and resource constraints; strong collaborative capability, clear and effective communication, structured, solution-oriented approach to resolving challenges; evidence-based decision-making from complex datasets.
Dimerix
Assessment and Development of Pipeline Programs Supporting Portfolio Progression Decisions
About
Dimerix is an ASX listed biopharmaceutical company developing innovative new therapies in areas with unmet medical needs. Dimerix lead asset (DMX-200 for FSGS) is currently in a Phase 3 clinical trial and has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by major regulators.
Project
Dimerix maintains a diversified portfolio of programs at varying stages of development. As resources must be allocated efficiently across multiple assets, there is an ongoing need for robust, objective analysis to support portfolio decision‑making.
The student placement is designed to support strategic portfolio evaluation through a range of analytical activities.
These include market and competitive landscape assessments to provide context for individual programs and broader portfolio positioning. The outcomes of this work will contribute to internal portfolio review processes, supporting informed decision‑making related to program prioritisation, development strategy, and long‑term portfolio planning.
Benefits
The student will gain practical experience in strategic analysis within a biopharmaceutical development environment, building skills in market assessment and portfolio evaluation. In turn, Dimerix expects to benefit from dedicated analytical support to inform portfolio review activities and ongoing development and prioritisation decisions.
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Julyan Tan
University of Western Australia
School of Biomedical Sciences
Skills: Preclinical assay development; translational pharmacology; quantitative data analysis & experimental design; scientific communication & stakeholder engagement; independent project management and adaptability.
Customa - Syngenis
Project 2: Oligo Discovery Tool – Utilising AI to Discover Oligonucleotide Candidates
About
Customa is a West Australian medical startup that is primarily focused on the development of software assisting chronic conditions management.
Syngenis, based in Bentley Technology Park, is a sovereign manufacturer of synthetic DNA and RNA and specialises in the field of custom oligonucleotides. Syngenis currently supplies universities, start-ups, and pharmaceutical companies with custom Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASOs).
Project
Syngenis is currently involved in the manufacturing of custom oligonucleotides, short synthetically generated strands of DNA/RNA that can be used for numerous applications within molecular genetics but are especially relevant in the development of new diagnostic tests and drug development.
Collaborating with Syngenis on this project, Customa is providing practical deployment of AI tools to develop an early-stage software program for determining where in a target sequence is best suited for oligonucleotide development.
Project involves development of an early-stage software platform to visualise oligonucleotide structures and provide all of the possible combinations / binding points to a given DNA sequence (if any).
Our iPREP student will be conducting a broad ranging literature review of the use of AI within the development of synthetic RNA and DNA which will be followed by the practical development of a software platform to predict possible candidate sequences to match the target sequence(s).
Benefits
Working with Syngenis and Customa, and with our teams of molecular chemists, commercial advisors, and software developers presents an opportunity for the student to broaden their understanding of industry whilst still being highly relevant to their field of study.
For Syngenis and Customa this is an opportunity to get a pair of fresh eyes on a large, highly complex problem set and to take an academic approach and rigour to the task with literature reviews and the discovery of new approaches that might be applicable.
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My Ngo
Edith Cowan University
School of Medical and Health Sciences
Skills: Data analysis (genomics & transcriptomics); experimental design; structured thinking; independent problem-solving; molecular biology techniques.