September 3, 2024

New Ears project wins Australia India Science, Research and Development prize

Project is developing 3D printed living ears to treat patients with congenital ear deformity

University of Wollongong researcher Distinguished Professor Gordon Wallace and his collaborator ear, nose and throat surgeon Associate Professor Payal Mukherjee, have been named winners at the 2024 India Australia Business and Community Alliance Awards (IABCA) in Canberra, receiving a prestigious award for their joint research.

The pair were awarded the Australia India Science, Research and Development prize for New Ears, a project between the pair to create 3D printed living ears to treat patients with microtia, a congenital deformity where the external ear is underdeveloped.

The project brings together collaborators RPA Institute of Academic Surgery (IAS), the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and the Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone (AMTZ).

The award recognises Professor Wallace and Associate Professor Payal Mukherjee for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of science, technology and research.

“This award recognises an amazing team of researchers from Australia and India that have come together to tackle a global medical challenge,” Professor Wallace said.

“We are not there yet but shoulder to shoulder we will push on until the discovery to deployment journey delivering ‘New Ears’ is completed.”

The 2024 IABCA Awards Ceremony Gala was hosted at Parliament of Australia with the Prime Minister of Australia the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator Don Farrell, and the High Commissioner of India to Australia His Excellency Gopal Baglay, all present on the night. The global award finalists were selected from 400 nominees across diverse sectors.

“It was an honour to be in the room with so many leaders across diverse sectors who have made substantial contributions across the two countries,” Associate Professor Mukherjee said.

“We thank DFAT for funding the start of our journey of collaboration with India and hope that this collaboration will foster further exchanges and fellowships between the two countries

The India Australia Business and Community Alliance was established in 2014 and builds awareness and understanding between Australia and India, aiming to strengthen the two countries relationship.

Professor Wallace and Associate Professor Mukherjee have also come together to establish Beyond Science, a clinician led and clinician run training program to incrementally develop a comprehensive Australian-first medical technology translation program for Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.

The program facilitates connections and collaborations for emerging scientists, engineers and clinicians in order to accelerate their journey along the translational pathway to develop research discoveries and innovations into clinical applications. Read more about Beyond Science here.