Kia ora koutou,

Our Bioengineering the Future showcase was definitely a highlight of the year so far - it was wonderful to see more than 3,500 people drop in during the week. Click the video above or here to watch some of the best moments from the week.

We've seen more success from our startup companies like Formus Labs and PowerOn in recent weeks - they are winning awards and securing funding to take their innovations to the world. We've also won more than $6m in grants for some exciting new research at the ABI. You can read more about all this below.

We will be at a few public events coming up this month - it would be nice to see you in person at one of them. We have the University of Auckland Open Day - Mānawa Mai - on 26 August where anyone interested in studying with us can meet some of our researchers. Dr Tim Angeli-Gordon will be part of Raising the Bar on 29 August, talking about the secrets of the electric stomach. Stop by for a drink and a chat.

Hope you enjoy this newsletter and your weekend.

- Professor Peter Hunter

Paddy Gower on Vaping

In his latest documentary Paddy Gower On Vaping, Gower talked to a range of experts on the subject, including our own Dr Kelly Burrowes.

"One of the tricky things is understanding the health effects of all of these e-liquids - there's known to be about 15,000 different flavours - they've all got different chemicals in them as they're all different flavours. No one knows what those flavourings are going to do to people's lungs or bodies."

Grants fund innovative new research

A team led by ABI Professor Martyn Nash aims to develop new bioengineering approaches for analysing cardiac disease thanks to a $5 million grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC).

And Dr Sarah-Jane Guild, from our Implantable Devices Group, has been awarded $1.2M, also from the HRC, to develop an innovative implantable medical device.

More startup success

Huge congratulations to ABI startup FormusLabs for winning not one but TWO categories at the 2023 NZ Hi-Tech Awards! Well done to founders Professor Thor Besier and Dr Ju Zhang, as well as to the rest of the FormusLabs team.

And well done to ABI startup PowerOn, from our Biomimetics Lab, which just won a prestigious German award: The Saxony Startup Award 2023. They won over 11 other nominees. PowerOn is divided between Dresden and Auckland.

Come meet ABI researchers

Have you considered a career in bioengineering, or know someone who might be interested? The University of Auckland Open Day - Mānawa Mai - is on at the end of August. Click on the button below to register.

We have a host of funded Master's and PhD projects waiting for the right person. Everything from analysing brain networks to developing wearable health widgets. Just get in touch with our postgrad team to find out more.

Dr Tim Angeli-Gordon will be part of Raising the Bar on 29 August, talking about the secrets of the electric stomach. Register a spot before it sells out!
 

Help us make a difference

The ABI is completely self-funded, so we rely on our generous donors to fund students and our world-class research. There are many ways you can make a difference and support our work - you can make a donation or bequest, or simply follow us on social media. 

If you would like to become an ABI supporter, make a donation or bequest today.