Health sensor company WearOptimo announces expert advisory board
WearOptimo, a Brisbane heath technology company commercialising sticker-like sensors for monitoring biosignals, has announced its Advisory Board, made up of experts in biotechnology, healthcare, regulatory affairs, and venture investment.
In a statement on Tuesday, the company said the six-member board was part of ambitions around its “Microwearable” hydration sensors and United States launch. The initial focus is the market for “professional and elite amateur sports”.
CEO and Founder of Dr Mark Kendall said the new appointees will provide strategic insights and access to expansive industry networks as the company scales up, initially addressing health issues associated with hydration in the “general wellness, defen[c]e, and high-risk industries sectors” such as mining.
“With our powerful technology platform, we will expand our applications to other biomarker monitoring opportunities and build a diverse product portfolio.”
The advisory board includes Moderna co-founder Robert S Langer, currently a Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and “the most cited engineer in history”, as well as the former EVP of R&D at Biogen, Dr Douglas E Williams
The other members are regulatory expert and former Chief Counsel for the U.S. FDA Peter Barton Hutt, former Director of Hintsa Performance Dr Luke Bennett, former Global Chief Innovation Officer at EY Jeff Wong, and founder/former CEO of Oxford Immunotec Dr Peter Wrighton-Smith,
Kendall founded WearOptimo in 2018, and is aiming for a market launch of hydration-related Microwearables in 2026.
Previously, he was involved in the development of “gene gun” biolistics technology at Oxford, then founded needle-free vaccine delivery company Vaxxas in 2011 based on a program of research he headed as a professor at University of Queensland.
WearOptimo announced $8 million in funding in December – with backers including former Formula 1 champion Mark Webber and ex-rugby league international Adam MacDougall – and the launch of the $7 million first phase of its Brisbane factory.
Kendall was an interviewee in this title’s ongoing Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers campaign. The conversation, also available as a podcast, can be accessed here.
Picture: credit WearOptimo
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