The Albanese Government is investing $16.5 million in health and medical research projects to turn concepts into practical solutions that improve care and prevent disease.
Through the National Health and Medical Research Council's Development Grants scheme, 15 projects across Australia will receive funding to accelerate the development of new health products, processes and services. These projects aim to deliver better health outcomes and strengthen the health system.
One of the funded projects is Hear Alert, a breakthrough technology designed to help people with cochlear implants maintain their hearing without unnecessary clinic visits.
Led by Professor Stephen O'Leary at the University of Melbourne, Hear Alert will deliver the first product to safeguard cochlear health by monitoring implant performance and alerting patients when a clinic visit is truly needed.
Hear Alert will continuously monitor the implant's electrodes for changes that signal a drop in hearing. When intervention is needed, the system triggers a clinic visit.
Instead of routine appointments, care will be on demand, saving time, reducing unnecessary visits, and freeing up clinic capacity for more people to access implants.
