The government’s largest COVID-19 healthcare provider, Aspen Medical, has made a multimillion-dollar investment into a next-generation wearable body sensor designed to track vital signs in high-risk environments.
Aspen Medical, which has secured more than $1.5 billion in government contracts over the past two years, will partner with Queensland-based health tech firm WearOptimo. The company is developing a tiny skin-worn sensor aimed at detecting dehydration and improving workforce safety for sectors such as defence, mining, and resources.
Smaller than a 50 cent coin, the hydration Microwearable is applied directly to the skin and can be worn anywhere on the body. It is being marketed to employers concerned with team safety and performance in harsh environments.
WearOptimo was founded in 2018 as part of the Australian National University’s innovation program, which supports the commercialisation of academic research. The new partnership includes both initial capital and an ongoing development agreement with Aspen Medical.
“We look forward to working closely with Aspen and its clients to assist in the accelerated development and commercialisation of the hydration Microwearable sensor,”
said Professor Mark Kendall, founder and CEO of WearOptimo.
He added that the partnership would allow for field testing, product refinement, and a clear path to market, backed by a major national health provider.
WearOptimo is also in discussions with additional investors to scale development. Professor Kendall noted that ANU’s approach to commercialisation represents a “seismic shift” from traditional university R&D models.
“Because of ANU’s commitment, how we are performing is not only a seismic shift from the past of university commercialisation, but also a model that should be of great interest to government and others,” he said.
Aspen Medical’s executive chairman Glenn Keys praised the deal, highlighting the potential to address hydration-related risks for clients in extreme environments:
“This is an exciting prospect for several of our clients who are focused on ensuring the safety and optimal performance of their employees.”
ANU Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt said the WearOptimo project reflects ANU’s mission to deliver life-enhancing innovation:
“WearOptimo is a perfect example of how universities and private companies can deliver real-world health technology, taking ideas from the lab to the field.”
AFR
Download PDF
Elit facilisis maecenas euismod vulputate. Dignissim natoque nascetur donec urna in vel vitae.
We have the capacity and broad expertise to develop one-off projects or complex on-going multi-layered campaigns. We provide the strategies and create the resource material to get the job done!
