Training in personalised medical devices licensed to Praxis Australia

Praxis is an education and training provider for the healthcare, clinical trial, research, academic, medical technologies and pharmaceutical sectors.

Personalised medical devices (PMDs) include medical implants that have been customised to an individual patient’s anatomy and function. They are frequently used in the orthopaedic, oral maxillofacial, cranial facial and dental fields. They are often considered the only available option for the treatment of serious bone and joint conditions.

The ARC Training Centre for Medical Implant Technologies (CMIT) at the University of Melbourne - led by Centre Director Professor Peter Lee - recognised the need to keep stakeholders up-to-date with developments in the medical device industry.

Professor Lee explains that CMIT brings together world-leading biomedical engineers, scientists, and clinicians and connects these experts with global and Australian partners from the medical devices industry.

“Collectively, we strive to develop industry and clinical best practices, new products, processes and solutions. A training module that covers regulatory and clinical trial frameworks is essential for those seeking to enter the medical technologies (Medtech) sector."

PRAXIS Australia has partnered with the consortium to develop and deliver the course content. Their customers who take up the various courses PRAXIS offers include clinicians, pharmaceutical and Medtech companies, government officials, and entrepreneurs.

“The pace of development in training for those engaged with medical technologies is unprecedented and keeping up to date with PMDs is important not just for clinicians but for those involved in regulating and administering healthcare, and for anyone who might be wanting to invest in leading tech,” PRAXIS CEO Melanie Gentgall says.

Professor Richard de Steiger, Epworth Victor Smorgon Chair of Surgery at the University of Melbourne and Deputy Director of the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry says personalised medical devices form a niche, but increasingly important part of the device market, and enable some surgeries to be performed that were not possible several years ago.

“With the increasingly complex regulatory environment, this module provides a timely resource for all stakeholders interested in this exciting field," Professor Steiger says.

The ARC Training Centre for Medical Implant Technologies acknowledges the support of the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Research Program.

Professor Lee wishes to thank: Associate Professor Jia-Yee Lee, Enterprise Fellow (Medtech) at CMIT, Associate Professor David Ackland, Deputy Director of CMIT, Professor Nik Zeps, Chair of the CMIT Industry Advisory Group and Professor Richard De Steiger, orthopaedic surgeon at Epworth Healthcare for developing the module.