Rotary Melbourne an Evening at the ... Bionics Institute

Topic ‘Measuring Tinnitus Using Brain Imaging and Artificial Intelligence’

Guest Speaker Dr Mehrnaz Shoushtarian

Date/Time 5.50 for 6.00 - 7.30pm, Wed 12 July

Venue Bionics Institute, East Melbourne

Price $15 (light refreshments provided) / $10 Zoom

Artificial Intelligence, is the current “buzz word”
Rotary Melbourne Corporate Member, Bionics Institue will host our July evening meeting introducing us to some of their world leading medical device development with a focus on Tinnitus research.

Meet Dr Mehrnaz Shoustarian, leading researcher in the field.

Mehrnaz Shoushtarian graduated with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Monash University.

She has worked in both research (Monash Health, Eastern Health) and industry (Cortical Dynamics, Hearing Cooperative Research Centre).

Dr Shoushtarian’s research has focused on measurement and processing of physiological signals using conventional and novel recording techniques and use of research outcomes for development and commercialisation of medical devices.

Her main focus at the Bionics Institute involves using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and other physiological measures, to develop objective measures of tinnitus.

Mehrnaz also has an interest in peripheral sensory stimulation as a treatment for neurological conditions which are characterised by abnormal synchronous activity in the brain (e.g., tinnitus and Parkinson’s disease).

Mehrnaz has a great interest in processes needed for research translation. She is part of the Quality Committee at the Bionics Institute and helped implement ISO 9001 Quality Management System across the Institute. Bionics Institute is now the first Australian Medical Research Institute to receive this accreditation covering all operations and clarifying research commercialisation pathways.

Previously Mehrnaz was Principal Scientist at Cortical Dynamics Ltd, a start-up medical device company, where she was part of a small team that took a depth of anaesthesia monitor prototype through to clinical trials and regulatory approval in Australia and Europe.

Mehrnaz volunteers with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and led the Victorian Section, as Section Chair, in 2020-2021.

As part of her work with the IEEE, she mentors students and new IEEE Committee volunteers and she is also a mentor for Year 11 students in the ‘Mentoring the Next Generation of Women in STEMM’ program at the Bionics Institute.

Join us for an evening at the Bionics Institute. Visit and hear from our city’s leaders in medical device development and a night of networking and informative conversation.