Wellington company Wellumio is a finalist in this year's KiwiNet Awards which celebrate the union of scientific research with commercial opportunity. Wellumio has created a portable device that can detect strokes at the first point of care e.g. in an ambulance. With an estimated 9500 New Zealanders suffering a stroke every year and tens of millions worldwide, it has the potential to not only improve patient outcomes but to save billions in healthcare costs globally. The first human clinical trial of the device is currently being run at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Co-founder, Dr. Shieak Tzeng explains to Susie how it works and when they hope to get it to market.

A new approach to orthotics and bone scaffolds could mean devices that fit your body, lifestyle, and healing needs – designed down to the smallest detail – is being led by Auckland of University senior lecturer in engineering science and biomedical engineering, Dr Maedeh Amirpour. Dr Amirpour is working to develop personalised supports using biocompatible 3D-printed frameworks combined with body-safe gels.

Māori and Pacific students get hands-on with cutting-edge healthcare technology.

An inhaler delivers medication directly to the lungs when an asthma attack starts but what if there was a way to prevent the attack even starting? That’s what University of Otago Associate Professor Yusuf Cakmak and his colleagues are working on – and it just might be a small wearable device.

Our perception of pressure is subjective. We can’t quantify the pressure we apply to objects around us, nor to our own bodies. Research fellow Dr Massi Hesam, from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute is working on a new approach using her bioengineering skills.

Ai is transforming healthcare, but how do we manage this rapidly evolving environment? Psychologist Associate Professor Rosie Dobson is one of those working to support AI research translation into clinical practice through the establishment of the AI in Health Research Network.

The startup will use the funds to get US regulatory approval for its arterial coupler

This week, AROA's Founder & CEO Brian Ward was a guest on the ASX Briefs podcast, where he spoke about the importance of clinical evidence, our strategic priorities and financial performance. Check out the podcast on Spotify

A tool for fast skin cancer diagnosis is moving closer to commercialisation. Dr. Michél Nieuwoudt is a finalist in research commercialisation awards for a laser-tech tool to detect skin cancer developed by Luminoma, a spin-off from the University of Auckland’s Photon Factory. Nieuwoudt is in the running for the “researcher entrepreneur” award at The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) awards to be announced on 22 October.

People over sixty are wanted to hang out with a tiny robot called iRobi and play some games.‍University of Auckland Master of Robotics and Automation Engineering student Zahra Ally is developing a new game to assist people with cognitive decline or early symptoms of dementia, and she needs help. ‍She chats to Jesse.‍

MedTech Explorer - inaugural showcase bringing researchers, innovators and experts to South Auckland community.

Christchurch medical imaging company Mars Bioimaging has appointed Ojas Mahapatra as group chief executive as it seeks to scale up its commercial operations. Mahapatra was formerly the CEO of the hydrogen technology company Fabrum. Mars, founded in 2007, closed a $7.6m initial raise last year. It is currently raising an additional $2.4m to reach its $10m target for its Series A round, led by venture capital company Pacific Channel …‍

A small team of Otago researchers has a bold ambition: to bioprint harvested human stem cells, enabling orthopaedic surgeons to repair damaged bone joints using a patient’s own cells – and that dream is now within reach.

It's an issue that affects one-in-three women - or more than 200 million people worldwide - but isn't widely talked about: urinary incontinence. Dr Jenny Kruger is a researcher in the area of pelvic floor and muscle function and dysfunction in women and has led the Pelvic Floor Research Group at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute since 2011. Hannah Orr has had over 15 years of experience as a pelvic floor physiotherapist. Both of them will be part of a panel discussion being held in Auckland for Women's Health Week that looks at everything from incontinence to prolapse and pelvic pain. They join Susie to talk about moving beyond stigma and what people can do to strengthen their pelvic floor.

The team behind MindKiwi, a pilot programme using mindfulness, pūrākau/traditional Māori stories, and movement for tamariki/children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD,) is now looking at whether the approach can benefit all children with emotion regulation difficulties. ‍

University of Auckland researchers are developing a medical device to help assess hearing loss and deliver compounds and other treatments. Hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear (sensorineural hearing loss) – the most common kind – is a challenge to diagnose and treat. University of Auckland researchers Professor Peter Thorne and Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr are on a mission to change that – with the help of a sheep’s skull and technology.

What if pacemakers could last a lifetime, work together, and sit right in the heart? That’s the vision behind a million-dollar research grant.

Sahha.ai, a company enabling seamless integration and analysis of health, wellbeing, and fitness data into digital products, today announced the close of a $1.2 million in new funding to invest into growth (bringing total funding to $4M). The round saw follow on participation from leading investors Supermoon Capital, Aura Ventures and Antler, and new investors include Gandel Invest, Func Ventures, and Cutri Family Office.

Medtech startup HeartLab has raised $2 million in its latest seed round, taking its total funding to around $8m to date.

Auckland University of Technology has launched a world-leading initiative aimed at addressing the long-standing neglect of medical research on female athletes. Through a multi-year collaboration with global healthcare technology company Abbott, the university is tackling critical issues related to concussions and women’s health.

When University of Auckland fourth-year medical student Ronan Payinda saw a patient’s surgery cancelled because they hadn’t stopped eating or adjusted their medications, something clicked.

The Labour Government in the UK has a Kiwi software firm at the heart of its retail crime crackdown. Auckland medtech startup Formus Labs is about to crack the US market open - and be big in Japan. A conference hears that medtech is becoming a multibillion-dollar earner for NZ.

A new tooth-capping technology that will provide better dental care for children is being commercialised by a Dunedin academic. Associate Professor Dr Joanne Choi is planning to spin out a company from the University of Otago and seek seed investment for her Snow Cap Crowns.

Two health tech spin-offs from Auckland University have been recognised at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards. Kitea Health won the Most Innovative Deep Tech Award for its groundbreaking brain pressure monitoring technology, while Toku Eyes won the Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution for its AI-powered product BioAge.

Who knew that the world's only artificial gut manufacturer was based in Auckland? When we found out, we just had to learn more. Garth Sutherland is CEO at The Insides Company and tells Perlina Lau all about prosthetic intestines.

Mike “MOD” O’Donnell is a profession director and chair, and an amateur motorcyclist. He is also an unpaid trustee of the New Zealand HiTech Trust.

AI is transforming New Zealand's healthcare, led by the Auckland Bioengineering Institute. Innovations include Formus Labs' surgical planning and Toku Eyes' retinal diagnostics. Data integrity remains a challenge.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare earned revenue of more than $2 billion from the sale of its medical devices for the first time.

Do you want to supervise a student on the Manaaki or Niu Tupu pathway this summer? These Māori and Pacific students offer unique insights into research and its community impact for your health technology research project.

From an early age we are taught that sedentary practices require stillness. Whether learning or working, drawing, writing, or making we are told we must first sit still in order to focus. For those neurodiverse, movement can have a calming effect. Recent studies highlight that a range of movement – including fidgeting, stimming, or tapping, is highly effective at helping neurodiverse and people focus, relax, and self-regulate.

A ‘natural’ pacemaker that mimics the heart’s variable rhythm is being trialled in humans for the first time with no adverse effects reported and the promise of improved outcomes.

It's taken 16 years but the company finally has its first paying customer.

Minister for Mental Health and Associate Minister of Health, Matt Doocey will travel to Australia today to attend Digital Health Festival 2025 in Melbourne.

Access to mental health support is a constant problem - but one Kiwi start-up is working towards a solution. Between the shortage of qualified professionals, long delays and high costs, plenty of New Zealanders aren't getting the help they need.

New Zealand Digital HealthTech Start-Up ‘oVRcome’ Tackles Mental Health Treatment Gap Head-On with Instant, Clinically Proven VR Therapy Christchurch-based digital health start-up oVRcome is tackling rising mental health pressures and clinician shortages with a powerful, tech-driven solution: instant access to clinically proven, scalable treatment-delivered straight to a smartphone.

James Whittaker never planned to get into the hearing business.

Under the collaboration, Abbott has installed the ARCHITECT ci4100 analyser, one of its Core Laboratory platforms, in AUTs SPRINZ biochemistry lab at AUT Millennium, a hub for many of New Zealands high-performance sports organisations and Olympic …

Master of Audiology student Naketa Philips (Ngāti Patumoana, Rongowhaakta) is part of two very different worlds – the hearing world and the non-hearing world. She was born deaf and now has a cochlear implant in her right ear.

Professor Nick Draper is interested in solving real-world problems – like the design of headgear to reduce the impact of collisions in rugby for young players. Based at the University of Canterbury, Draper and his team are working on a highly collaborative project funded by Te Tītoki Mataora to learn more about what happens during rugby game collisions, particularly during the first year of playing.

The Mātai Medical Research Institute is at the forefront of breakthrough efforts to deepen the understanding and treatment of neurological diseases, thanks to a pioneering new MRI technique. Based in Gisborne, Mātai is the home of amplified MRI (aMRI), a cutting-edge imaging method that enables enhanced visualisation of the brain and its subtle movements.

Jessica Grainger bravely shared her journey on Paddy Gower, TFN, shining a light on the realities of living with a chronic condition, such as Hydrocephalus, and the need for proactive health care management.

The Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), a leading tertiary hospital in Western Australia, has partnered with RosterLab to implement an AI-driven rostering solution for its Acute Medical Unit (AMU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

MoleMap launched in Aotearoa in 1996 as a skin cancer detection clinic and has since expanded across the Ditch, and headquarters itself in Sydney.

Technology breakthroughs, including AI, have facilitated to a promising new method of knee-replacement surgery.

Delivery of modern drugs poses some problems and Dr James McKeage may have an answer. McKeage is a Research Fellow with the Bioinstrumentation Lab at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) based at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. He focuses on needle-free jet injection technology where fluid drugs are delivered as a fine, high-speed jet. His goal is to use this technology to allow patient self-administration and improve patient outcomes.

The Medical Design & Innovation Research Cluster provides product design and development research expertise for health research agendas, with collaborating partners from: industry, primary and secondary health care sectors, clinicians and related research institutions. The purpose is to innovate within the health sector (human and animal health), by leveraging our newly cemented partnership with the Consortium of Medical Device Technologies (CMDT).

Angelica Lawson was working in Audiology when she came up with two game-changers for the screening and prevention of Type 2 diabetes. “I was seeing more and more patients with permanent severe hearing loss due to late and misdiagnosed diabetes; it got to a point where too many people were losing their quality of life - which made me question what’s going on,” says Lawson who heads Ceratec Health which is bringing a new AI-driven diabetes screening tool to market.

After winning spots on two FDA fast-track programmes, and the first implant of its fluid pressure sensor for a child, Auckland’s Kitea Health is $7 million and counting into a $10m funding round.

Startup Dunedin recently announced the 12 recipients of microgrant funding to help take the next small step in their business journey. Business editor Sally Rae talks to those behind health tech startup Intermentis, which is hoping to launch commercially next year.

Leg-Up, is a Knee, Ankle, Foot Orthosis(KAFO). ‍By leveraging semi-autonomous parametric design and manufacture, Leg-Up shifts orthotics from being a medical device and signifier of disability to an accessible, desirable enabler of fully independent mobility. 

Assessing a mole’s appearance for skin cancer poses a number ofchallenges that researchers MichélNiewoudt and Maher Khaled are trying to overcome with LumAssure™ – anew device they’re developing.‍

Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr is a researcher at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, who is on a mission to revolutionise hearing care—translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions.

The largest supplier of practice management systems (PMS) to Kiwi GPs has been bought by a global software investor Banyan Software.

Science Minister Shane Reti chose the Auckland Bioengineering Institute as the venue to announce a groundbreaking PhD funding scheme.

Volpara Health is transforming breast cancer detection through its mind-boggling AI software, helping healthcare providers improve early diagnosis and patient outcomes. Breast cancer remains one of the most pressing health concerns worldwide, but technological advancements are resulting in early detection and helping save more families from cancer.

Research shows fewer women undergraduate students want to become entrepreneurs than their male counterparts. How do we close the gap?

The NZ Hi-Tech Awards are open for applications. Entries close Monday 3rd March.

A Melbourne hospital images the first patient in Australia using the Wellumio Axana device, marking a milestone in advancing rapid acute stroke detection in the Emergency Room. With a unique ability to perform rapid MRI-based stroke imaging at the patient's bedside, Wellumio takes a major step toward generating the clinical evidence required for adoption of the Axana device.

We are thrilled to announce that Whānau Tahi has been awarded Software Accreditation by Social Value International – a global milestone that reflects our unwavering commitment to measuring, managing, and maximising social investment and impact.

Sweeping reforms to the science sector, including the creation of a dedicated foreign investment agency and restructuring key research institutions, aim to boost New Zealand's economy by encouraging investment and innovation in science and technology, says Minister Judith Collins.

A patient in a clinical brain implant trial says the world-first technology has reduced her anxiety around her symptoms. Clinical trials are underway for a neural implant to monitor brain pressure in those living with hydrocephalus.

In another world-first, a miniature pressure sensor has been successfully implanted into the brain of a child with hydrocephalus in New Zealand - a game-changing medical breakthrough for people living with a time bomb inside their heads.

The New Zealand medical device company has established a subsidiary in the San Francisco Bay area to expand its global footprint.

The medtech startup has also kicked off a $10m funding round.

Diana shares her journey and expertise in developing New Zealand’s medtech ecosystem and fostering international collaboration with Australia through the ANZ BioBridge.

Aroa’s latest study reveals potential of its Myriad treatment range in saving limbs and reducing costs, making it a potential game-changer for high-risk lower limb surgeries.

Revolutionary portable device leverages advanced magnetic resonance technology to rapidly detect acute stroke biomarkers, enabling frontline care teams to make faster, life-saving decisions within the critical 'golden hour.'

Startups have always been at the forefront of innovation. But factors such as artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability and decentralisation are set to reshape industries in 2025.

Over 190 attendees from across New Zealand participated in a webinar to learn more about Pharmac's medical devices programme.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a global health concern, often progressing silently until later stages and taking a tremendous toll on patients and their families. Traditional methods for CKD diagnosis rely on invasive procedures, such as kidney biopsies or blood tests, which can be a costly and uncomfortable barrier to early detection.

An AI digital medical assistant, customized with each surgeon’s expertise, is making its way to the clinical frontline. ‍Fios Health, founded in 2023 by A.Prof Andrew McDaid and Dr Charles M. Lawrie, has launched a digital medical assistant platform to aid medical clinics and patients access critical information to improve productivity, cost and quality of care.

A hydrogen-electric powered VTOL emergency response vehicle to get to emergencies in harsh environments or with extreme road conditions. Shorter response times and an efficient comfortable environment for paramedics.

Which sounds better when your gums need checking? A painful poke with what’s really just a fancy stick or a miniaturised ultrasound device? It’s a little more technical than that, but Professor Warwick Duncan, director of the Sir John Walsh Research Institute at the University of Otago, says it amounts to the same thing.

Bioengineer Dr Alys Clark is building a virtual pregnancy model – a world first – to help with both detecting and monitoring risk during pregnancy. The goal is a new kind of atlas – a computational atlas that combines anatomy and function of the entire uterus and fetus during pregnancy. While researchers around the world are studying aspects of this system during pregnancy, the model Clark and her team is world-leading in its scope and coverage of the whole uterus.

AI has the potential to transform many aspects of our healthcare system, from administration and analysis through to patient adherence and physical robots. However, this collection of technologies can present as many challenges as solutions, and Health New Zealand|Te Whatu Ora has a simple request: talk to us first.

HEALWELL AI has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Auckland, New Zealand based Orion Health Holdings Limited (“Orion Health”), a subscription license and services revenue business serving marquee public sector clients globally with data interoperability and healthcare navigation products and services.

This Reimbursement Landscape Assessment for only $7k provides your team with the critical insights needed to navigate the challenging reimbursement landscape and optimise your market access strategy.

Alimetry named in the Digital Health 50 - CB Insights’ annual list of the most promising digital health startups in the world.

Childhood conditions such as developmental hip abnormalities, cerebral palsy and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (a hip condition that occurs in teens and pre-teens who are still growing) can lead to complex hip and knee deformities.

A clinical trial has demonstrated that oVRcome, a virtual reality app developed in New Zealand for treating anxiety and phobias, significantly reduces symptoms of social anxiety.

A team of scientists in Auckland and Germany have created a 3D computer model of the inside of the nasal cavity and part of the cranial cavity, basically, the cubbyhole where your brain is.

With guidance from the Johner Institute, med-tech startups can navigate complex regulations early and bring innovative products to market safely.

The MRI technique advances coming out of the Mātai Medical Research Institute in Gisborne have been described as ‘pioneering’, ‘groundbreaking’ and ‘world leading’. Claire Concannon speaks to chief executive and research director Dr Samantha Holdsworth to learn why, and about their big plans for the future.

MARS Bioimaging Ltd are a Christchurch health tech company breaking new ground in medical imaging. Co-founder and chief medical officer Anthony Butler discusses their vision, and why it makes sense to be based in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Twenty clinicians across the motu are piloting a new AI scribe to help transcribe their patient notes and lessen their cognitive load.

The Startup Blueprint series shares insights from the founders and operators building companies & ideas defining what the world could become. Hear about their journeys, learn from their insights, and maybe leave with a dose of inspiration.

Canterbury Scientific is driven by a core principle – quality science, quality products. The Christchurch company is committed to enhancing diagnostics and improving patient care with cutting-edge tools. CEO Clive Seymour outlines their approach.

Distinguished Professor Maggie-Lee Huckabee is commercialising software that measures muscle activity for patients that struggle to swallow.

The money raised will continue its push into US hospitals.

For the second year running, the University of Auckland has come out on top in Australasia in the Survey of Commercialisation Outcomes from Public Research.

One CEO recalled needing to make a change in their leadership team. While these decisions are difficult to make, she knew that the longer you wait to make them, the more credibility you lose among your staff.‍

Raising capital is one of the biggest decisions a startup founder will face, so what option makes sense and how do you recognize the best fit?

Winners of the 12th annual KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards were honoured at a gala event in Auckland tonight for their success in transforming scientific discoveries into new technologies, businesses and real-world solutions.

The New Zealand-built health tech app provides new pathways for grief support, helping people navigate their grief journey with personalised tools and a supportive community.

A Christchurch-based startup is using the approach of 'by Māori, with Māori for everybody' to develop a low-cost, AI-powered, an user-friendly insulin pump.

The investment by US-based McGeever comes before an $8m Series A funding round.

We have recently developed a digital twin of the most vulnerable of cardiovascular systems – those of newborn babies. That could help answer some important questions.

Surgeons all over the world face the challenge of tediously hand-sewing micro arteries to re-establish blood flow to transplanted tissues. Avasa’s arterial coupler makes microvascular surgery quicker and safer empowering surgeons to securely and efficiently link microvascular arteries in under 10 minutes.

Dr Kelly Burrowes from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute was recently featured on Te Ao with Moana discussing her research on vaping and the harmful impacts.

Good Clinical has teamed up with Te Titoki Mataora, the MedTech Research Translator, to bring you the Te Titoki Mataora Podcast Series. In this episode, meet Dr. Yaara Yarmut, the Chief Regulatory Officer at Alimetry, a medical device company who have developed an innovative gastric monitoring device that performs body surface gastric mapping using an electrode array.