The Graeme Clark Institute (GCI) for Biomedical Engineering was created in 2017 to coordinate biomedical engineering activities across the University of Melbourne. We are dedicated to transforming healthcare with biomedical engineering solutions that deliver global health, societal and economic benefits.
Since October 2022, the Graeme Clark Institute (GCI) for Biomedical Engineering has led the MedTech Platform that draws on engineering strengths in research, teaching and engagement at Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies (FEIT) to develop solutions, applications and devices that help meet medical needs.
Learn more about the GCI and MedTech Platform in the following video:
To find out our aims, and organisational and governance structure, visit:
Message from the Director
Being positioned at the University of Melbourne and the Parkville Biomedical precinct offers a huge depth of biological science and engineering expertise within the Graeme Clark membership, making it possible for us to deliver new high impact technologies that solve long-standing health issues that are underserved by existing technologies
- Professor David Nisbet
Professor Graeme Clark AC Lasker Laureate
The Graeme Clark Institute for Biomedical Engineering is proud to be named in honour of Professor Graeme Clark AC Lasker Laureate.
Professor Clark pioneered one of the world’s greatest biomedical engineering achievements, the multi-channel cochlear implant or bionic ear – the first device to allow severely-to-profoundly deaf people understand speech and the first restoration of a human sense.
His groundbreaking achievements encapsulate the vision of the Graeme Clark Institute for Biomedical Engineering – to transform healthcare through biomedical engineering solutions that deliver global health, societal and economic benefits.
Featured content
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GCI Staff
The Graeme Clark Institute for Biomedical Engineering is operated by a compact and dedicated team
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Research Theme Leads
The Research Theme Leads help develop and promote innovative, internationally relevant and interdisciplinary research at the institute
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Advisory Board
The Advisory Board provides high level advice and strategic direction to the institute
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Steering Committee
The Steering Committee oversees the GCI's general operations, research programs and priorities
Research
The Graeme Clark Institute draws on the collective medical, engineering and scientific capabilities of the University of Melbourne, supported by healthcare and research partners from the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct and beyond.
Key areas of biomedical engineering expertise within the Institute include tissue engineering, nanomedicine, biomimetics, biomechanics, medical bionics, implant systems, biosignals, medical robotics, mechanobiology, computational engineering, systems and synthetic biology, biomedical imaging, and health informatics.
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Biomechanics and Medical Implants
3D printed replacement joints and bones designed and specifically built for patients.
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Electroceuticals, Bionics and Neuroimaging
Enhancing the treatment, diagnosis, and understanding of neurological and cardiovascular conditions using advanced technologies and computational methods for improved patient outcomes.
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Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine
Treating injuries and diseases by harnessing the body's own healing capabilities.
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Digital Health Technologies and Simulation (To be updated)
Digital Health Technologies involve sensors, computing platforms, software, AI, data integration and HCI. Simulations involve models to physiological processes, disease, environmental context, to improve translational research.
Engagement
The Graeme Clark Institute partners with healthcare and research organisations, industry and government to solve today’s challenges and develop new technologies for tomorrow. We work with our partners to translate research into innovations that leads to improved health outcomes.
From Patent to Patient - Research will not help the community if it does not leave the lab!
Professor David Nisbet, GCI Director
Engagement with researchers from industry partners, clinical hospitals and other institutions will help us continue to translate scientific discoveries and harness the power of research within The University of Melbourne. We expect that these multidisciplinary collaborations will lead to a multitude of outcomes, starting from more traditional scientific discoveries to more rarely generated industrial outputs such as start-up companies and national leadership in outreach and think-tank activities in the biomedical and medical technology sectors. Please join us in our vision to bioengineer a better world!
Good Research Should Excite the Mind and Lead to Community Benefits.
Emeritus Professor Graeme Clark AC
The Graeme Clark Institute is providing excitement and community benefit while enabling individuals and organizations to share in the achievements. It is modelled on the success we had with a multi-disciplinary approach to creating the multi-channel cochlear implant (bionic ear) the first restoration of a human sense and means of developing spoken language in a deaf child. It is also supported by a world class university with an enviable track record. Furthermore, research in biomedical engineering is one of the last great frontiers in medicine. But the Institute needs more financial resources to achieve these objectives as quickly as possible and welcomes the generosity of donors.
Research Support Initiatives
The Graeme Clark Institute for Biomedical Engineering (GCI) was created with Strategic STEM-M Funds to coordinate biomedical engineering activities across Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS), and Faculty of Science (FoS). The GCI brings together expertise and capabilities from medicine, engineering, and science, including the life sciences, computer sciences, mathematics and the social sciences.
The GCI Research Support Initiatives are created to provide financial support to researchers in the biomedical engineering field with the goal to enhance interdisciplinary research, foster collaboration, celebrate excellence and support diversity and inclusion.
Schemes, Awards and Scholarships
Please find further details on the GCI Research Support Initiatives below.
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GCI Top-Up Scholarship - CLOSED
A research support initiative with the aim to enhance interdisciplinary research in the biomedical engineering field. Top-up scholarships are intended to supplement a Research Training Program scholarship or other university awards.
STATUS: CLOSED FOR 2024 -
GCI Travel Support Scheme - CLOSED
A research support initiative with the aim to provide Graduate Researchers and Early-Career Researchers with financial support to attend national and international conferences or visit another institution as part of their research projects.
STATUS: CLOSED FOR 2024 -
GCI Women in STEM Student Award - CLOSED
A research support initiative with the aim to acknowledge, celebrate achievements and also provide opportunities for women graduate researchers at the University of Melbourne who are contributing to the innovation and leadership in biomedical engineering field.
STATUS: CLOSED FOR 2024
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GCI Proof-of-Concept Funding Scheme - CLOSED
This scheme is to support researchers within the medtech field who are employed by the University of Melbourne across different faculties to translate their research into viable commercialisation projects or start-ups.
STATUS: CLOSED FOR 2024
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GCI Internal Seed Funding Scheme (Members Only) - Not running in 2024
This scheme is to provide financial support to ECRs and MCRs within the GCI membership who are employed by the University of Melbourne. The funding is for small to medium sized projects within the biomedical engineering and medtech research field.
STATUS: CLOSED FOR 2024
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GCI Internal Industry Collaboration Funding Scheme (Members Only) - CLOSED
This new scheme aims to provide financial support to GCI researchers including graduate researchers employed/enrolled at the University of Melbourne. The funding is for small to medium sized projects within the biomedical engineering and medtech research field.
STATUS: CLOSED FOR 2024
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GCI Cross-Faculty Seed Funding Scheme - CLOSED
The GCI Cross-faculty Seed Funding Scheme is created in partnership with the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS), and Faculty of Science (FOS) to provide financial support to early to mid- career researchers who are employed by the University of Melbourne. The funding is for small to medium sized projects within the biomedical engineering and medtech research fields.
STATUS: CLOSED FOR 2024