Epi-Minder Pty Ltd, a company developing the Minder™ ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring device to transform clinical management of epilepsy and seizure-related conditions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr John Heasman as Chief Operating Officer.
Minder™ is a minimally-invasive device for long-term monitoring of brain seizures to provide patients and their doctors with detailed data on seizure activity and frequency over an extended period. Patients can wear the device during normal daily activities. This long-term monitoring is expected to lead to more effective treatment including determining the effectiveness of drug therapies and providing greater independence for those living with epilepsy. Subject to clinical outcomes, later generations of the device are planned to include advanced detection and warning of impending seizure events.
Dr Heasman has worked in engineering and technology leadership roles at Cochlear for nearly 18 years. Over the past two years, as the Epi-Minder Program Manager, Dr Heasman rapidly executed the Epi-Minder business plan enabling the first trial of Minder™ in epilepsy patients in Melbourne with very promising results. He is a graduate of University of Sydney where he received both bachelor and doctorate degrees.
Dr Rohan Hoare, CEO of Epi-Minder said, “John has been an integral part of the success at Epi-Minder and brings a wealth of experience in developing medical devices. I am pleased to announce his appointment as Chief Operating Officer and look forward to working with him as we prepare for multi-centre clinical trials across the US and Australia to support FDA registration and CE Marking.”
Dr Heasman said, “I look forward to working with Rohan and the board to advance the promise of MinderTM to make a substantial improvement to the quality of life for people living with epilepsy.”
Epi-Minder was launched in June 2018 to commercialise intellectual property created by a research team led by Professor Mark Cook, Neurologist at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne and Chair of Medicine at the University of Melbourne; and Associate Professor Chris Williams from Bionics Institute.
-ENDS-
Media inquiries:
Rohan Hoare, PhD
CEO Epiminder
rhoare@epiminder.com
+1 972-979-1078
Rudi Michelson
Monsoon Communications
rudim@monsoon.com.au
+61 411 402 737
Background
About epilepsy
More than 250,000 Australians and 3.4 million Americans are currently living with epilepsy, the most common brain disorder worldwide that can affect people at any age. Refractory epilepsy affects 30 per cent to 40 per cent of these patients, who cannot be adequately managed by drug therapy to remain seizure free.
About Minder™
Minder™ is a minimally-invasive device for long-term monitoring of brain seizures, providing patients and their doctors with detailed data on seizure activity and frequency over an extended period. Patients can wear the device as they go about their normal daily activities.
Minder’s long-term monitoring of patients outside of a controlled clinical environment is expected to lead to more effective treatment of underlying conditions, including determining the effectiveness of drug therapies. Subject to clinical results, later generations of the device could include advanced detection and warning of impending seizure events.
About Cochlear Limited
Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. The company has a global workforce of more than 4,000 people and invests more than AUD$180 million each year in research and development. Products include cochlear implants, bone conduction implants and acoustic implants, which healthcare professionals use to treat a range of moderate to profound types of hearing loss.
Since 1981, Cochlear has provided more than 600,000 implantable devices, helping people of all ages, in more than 180 countries, to hear.
About Bionics Institute
The Bionics Institute is an internationally recognised independent medical research institute, passionate about multidisciplinary research and product development that leads to clinical outcomes that improve lives. The Institute’s vision is to lead the world in innovative bionic health products through research and development.
The Institute’s research is focused on new devices to alleviate the symptoms associated with neurological disorders and inflammatory conditions; and improving the lives of people with hearing and vision loss.
About St Vincent’s
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne is a world-leading tertiary and research hospital, with a reputation for leading innovation and compassionate care. St Vincent’s boasts an award-winning education program, as well as a research program with a strong international reputation in translational research and biomedical engineering.
As a major teaching hospital, St Vincent’s provides acute high end medical and surgical services, emergency and critical care, aged care, diagnostics, rehabilitation, allied health, mental health, palliative care, community and outreach services and residential care.
About University of Melbourne
Established in 1853, the University of Melbourne is a public-spirited institution that makes distinctive contributions to society in research, learning and teaching and engagement. It’s consistently ranked among the leading universities: number one in Australia and number 32 in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2017-2018).