Three QUT researchers from the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) will head to San Diego in June to represent the university at BIO2008, the largest biotechnology event in the world.
The Queensland University of Technology experts were chosen as the successful recipients of the bluebox/IHBI Early Career Researcher 2008 Fellowships based on the innovative research they were undertaking.
Mr Cameron Brown, from the Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering, Dr Tony Parker, from the Faculties of Science and Health, and Dr Simon Rizzi from the Faculty of Science will all attend.
Mr Brown is undertaking research in orthopaedic surgery decision making tools focussing mainly on a way of detecting arthritis in its early stages.
He is in the process of developing a surgical tool for detecting and characterising the condition in order to help surgeons choose the appropriate medical treatment.
"At the moment we have the ideas, method and preliminary designs, but getting it to a commercial stage is quite difficult, so one of the things we are looking forward to in Bio2008 is the opportunity to interact with other researchers and medical device companies," he said.
"Bio2008 is the perfect place to meet these people; it is a place where a lot of established companies come together.
"Getting commercial interest would be ideal, but even getting feedback will be great."
Dr Parker is looking at injury prevention diagnostics, focussing on musculo-skeletal fatigue and injury in heavy industrial workers.
He said it was the first time he has been to a conference of this nature and he was looking forward to the opportunity.
Dr Rizzi, who is working on delivery systems for therapeutic proteins for wound healing, said he was looking forward to getting an overview of what is going on in the Biotech business around the world and in particular related to the wound healing market.
"We are so focussed on our work, and often we can lose a sense of what is going on in the biotech-industry worldwide, so I am looking forward to seeing what else is going on out there," he said.
"This opportunity is really just great, and I really must thank bluebox and IHBI."
Media Contact: Sharon Thompson, QUT Media Officer - 3138 4494 or sharon.thompson@qut.edu.au
