The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) is a key Hospital partner in the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program (the CEP) pilot - delivered by the University of Melbourne and the University of Western Australia.

The CEP is funded under the MTPConnect Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry initiative and supported by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund.

The CEP is a workforce development program that aims to develop the innovation and commercialisation skills of Australia’s clinicians and healthcare professionals.

The pilot CEP will be delivered across Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales hospitals in 2022 and 2023, with a vision for national implementation.

As a hospital with a strong history of supporting clinical innovation, the RMH has been involved in supporting the bid and bringing relevant healthcare knowledge and expertise to contribute to the success of the program in Australia.

Head of Research at the RMH, Professor Jo Douglass, is looking forward to the Office for Research rolling out the CEP pilot to identify clinical leaders in innovation and says the RMH is a great choice for a Partner site.

“As a leading research hospital, RMH has a strong focus on translational research which improves the lives of our patients. The RMH has been fostering a culture of clinician innovation and entrepreneurship,” Professor Douglass said.

“Most recently we have supported our entrepreneurial staff by introducing the Innovation Acceleration Program into the hospital, in partnership with the University of Melbourne, and we believe the National Clinical Entrepreneur Program Pilot is a natural extension of our activities in this area.”

“The RMH believes clinicians bring a unique perspective to medical innovation, a perspective that is informed by real-world experience in the opportunities, utility and challenges associated with existing devices, systems, and products.”

The foundational CEP Hospital partners include Bendigo Health, Western Health, St Vincent’s and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, however the program will be open to all clinicians across the public health sector in the pilot states.

A/Prof Spiros Fourlanos and Dr Rahul Barmanray
Head of Diabetes and Endocrinology Associate Professor Spiros Fourlanos with endocrinologist Dr Rahul Barmanray

Pictured: Previous recipients of the Innovation Acceleration Program, A/Prof Spiros Fourlanos and Dr Rahul Barmanray from the Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology.

Mobile Stroke Unit with Ambulance Victoria paramedic and the RMH Stroke team
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