Owen joined the Bionics Institute in 2012 as a part of the Bionic Vision Australia’s initiative to develop a bionic eye. Owen’s work now spans numerous research areas, where he specialises in designing and translating novel electrode systems from concept through to clinical application. An expert in interdisciplinary translation, Owen has worked to integrate clinical need, novel materials, neuro-modulation strategies, surgical methods and device design for manufacturing. In his time at the Institute, Owen has delivered novel systems for: monitoring neural activity in epileptic patients, neuromodulation of the vagus nerve to treat Crohn’s Disease and delivery therapeutic stimulation to arrest retinal degeneration.

In addition to his clinical application, Owen is project managing the design and construction of a dedicated medical bionics translation facility located at St Vincent’s Hospital to manufacture clinical-grade implant systems. As a joint venture between the Bionics Institute and University of Melbourne this facility aims to close the gap between research and clinical application by allowing research teams, SMEs and start-up companies access to clinical-grade manufacture within the Australian and International bio-medical ecosystems.

Experience

• Senior Research Engineer (2011 - present)

  Bionics Institute