PAIR Distinguished Lecture: Prof. Gordon WALLACE of University of Wollongong, Australia, delivers “Discoveries in Organic Bionics, 3D Biofabrication and Deployment of Solutions to Clinical Challenges”
PAIR Distinguished Lecture Series
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Date
03 Mar 2026
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Organiser
PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
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Time
10:30 - 12:00
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Venue
Senate Room (M1603), 16/F, Li Ka Shing Tower, PolyU (Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis) Map
Speaker
Prof. Gordon WALLACE
Enquiry
PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research info.pair@polyu.edu.hk
Summary
Abstract
Our adventure starts some time ago. The discovery that inherently conducting polymers provide a unique conduit for electrical communication with living systems intrigued us all. The subsequent discovery of carbon nanotubes and graphene added to the excitement. Here we will demonstrate the rather astounding levels of biocommunication we can achieve using these materials as electrodes.
These materials are not amenable to conventional materials processing and device fabrication approaches. So with a determination to deploy we turned our attention to innovative fabrication methods. This pivot gave rise to other opportunities. Connections with world leading clinicians emerged and we found ourselves challenged to meet real needs now. This meant consideration of other materials in order to move forward more quickly.
Together with our clinical colleagues we have forged new approaches to skin and cartilage and bone regeneration, developed new approaches to islet cell transplantation and embarked on a challenge to design and build a manufacturing line for the bioengineered cornea. This has caused us to confront the realty that translation to the clinic is much more than technical genius. Regulatory and ethical issues, health economics, scalability for manufacture and the development of appropriate commercial approaches are now part of the mission.
We know that advances in these areas will pave the path for deployment of organic Bionics and the prospect of electroceuticals continues to tantalise us.
We have also learnt that the push to deployment fuels the discovery journey. Discovery and deployment can work hand in glove.
Prof. Gordon WALLACE
Fellow of Australian Academy of Science
Fellow of Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
Distinguished Professor, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, Australia
Distinguished Professor Gordon Wallace, an esteemed innovator and educator, is a scientist at the forefront of health technologies, where medical devices complement the body’s own systems to treat disease and repair injuries.
Professor Wallace is involved in the design and discovery of new materials as well as the development of innovative fabrication and characterization methods. He is committed to the use of fundamental breakthroughs in these areas to drive new technologies in Health. An example of this is the ‘Biopen’, used by surgeons to directly print healing cells into a patient’s body during procedures, like knee surgery.
With research interests in organic conductors, nanomaterials and electrochemical probe methods of analysis in intelligent polymer systems, his extensive scientific contributions have broken new ground in every aspect of electromaterials research; academic performance and outcomes, training the next generation of researchers, and facilities development.
These contributions to the enhancement of Australian materials research have led to several high accolades for Gordon including being awarded an ARC Laureate Fellowship (2011) and the Eureka prize for leadership in Innovation and Science (2016).
He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia 26 January 2017. He received Wollongong’s award for Innovation in 2017, as well as serving as Wollongong’s Australia Day Ambassador. Professor Wallace was named NSW Scientist of the Year 2017.
Professor Wallace is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), Institute of Physics (IOP), and Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI). He is a corresponding member of the Academy of Science in Bologna and the Royal Irish Academy.
Professor Wallace is the Director of University of Wollongong’s Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI). He was the Executive Research Director of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) for two consecutive funding rounds over 15 years.
Professor Wallace has a long-standing track record in research training. Since joining UOW, he has successfully supervised more than 150 PhD students from over 20 different countries who have gone on to highly successful careers around the world. He has also mentored over 40 ECR Fellows.
He has published in excess of 1,300 refereed journal publications that have attracted more than 110,000 citations with an H-index of 154. He is listed as a co-inventor on more than 60 patents and was acknowledged in 2017, by patent attorney Nicola L Maxwell, as one of Australia’s most influential inventors.
Personal website: https://scholars.uow.edu.au/gordon-wallace
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