Industry Innovation Series | Digital Enhancing Human Health and Performance

Join La Trobe University academics and our industry experts as we discuss digital technologies like wearable sensors, apps, AI, digital twins and more in their application in simulating and optimising human performance across various fields from sports to healthcare.

Part of our 2025 La Trobe Industry Innovation Series, this free in-person event pairs industry and academic experts to deliver a one-hour lecture-style presentation, discussing research, industry application and needs, future trends and more. It will be then followed by audience Q&A and networking opportunities.

This series has been curated to support and inform industry professionals working within or seeking to learn more about the digital applications in human health and performance sectors.

Speakers and topics

• Professor Nilmini Wickramasinghe, Optus Chair of Digital Health, La Trobe University and Andrew Wilson, Head of Business Development, Oncoshot

  'The Case for Digital Twins for Superior Clinical Decision Support'

• Dr Kane Middleton, Associate Professor of Sport and Occupational Biomechanics, La Trobe University and Dr Stuart Morgan, Head of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Champion Data and Adjunct Associate Professor, La Trobe University

  ‘Motion capture for health and performance’

In 1872, Eadward Muybridge used rudimentary motion capture to show that horses’ hooves are all in the air when galloping (and helped Leland Stanford win a bet for a substantial amount of money!). Motion capture technology has evolved remarkably since then, with important applications to human health and performance. Markerless motion capture has emerged as the likely future of motion capture, however, some questions about its utility remain.

• Dr Shanmuga Sundar Dhanabalan, Senior Lecturer & ARC Industry Fellow, La Trobe University and Dr Andrew Tucker, Director - Research & Development, Sleeptite Pty Ltd

  ‘Smart Mattress for Aged-care applications’

With an ageing population, the need for continuous yet unobtrusive care is growing. This presentation introduces the design, development, and commercialisation of smart bedding, enabling remote monitoring in aged care without compromising privacy. Equipped with low-power wireless electronics, it provides real-time insights for overnight care. Potential applications include in-home, hospital, and residential aged-care monitoring, as well as sleep studies and other medical uses.

This event promises to equip you with unparalleled insights and practical strategies to harness digital technology, pushing human potential to new heights.

Snapshot: Industry Innovation Series

La Trobe University proudly presents the Industry Innovation Series.

Each session will feature a one-hour lecture-style presentation – followed by audience Q&A and networking opportunities – focusing on a critical topic, such as agriculture, health and wellbeing, biotechnology and digital innovation. Pivotal research outcomes and industry insights will be spotlighted, as well as technology innovations and impactful partnership opportunities.

Global impact needs to start somewhere, so we’re making it happen right here and now. At La Trobe, we’re not just shaping the future – we’re a community of industry professionals, researchers, academics and graduates who are on-the-ground transforming lives every day, including today.

The Industry Innovation Series is curated to support and inform industry professionals working within or seeking to learn more about the highlighted fields, and the opportunities available to drive innovation and success.

Snapshot: Speaker Profiles

Professor Nilmini Wickramasinghe
Nilmini Wickramasinghe, PhD, MBA, is the Professor and Optus chair of Digital Health at La Trobe University within the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. She also holds honorary research professor positions at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, MCRI, Epworth HealthCare and Northern Health.

After completing 5 degrees at the University of Melbourne, she completed PhD studies at Case Western Reserve University, and later executive education at Harvard Business School, USA in Value-based HealthCare. For over 25 years, she has been actively, researching and teaching within the health informatics/digital health domain with over 350 scholarly publications, a patent, 25 books, numerous posters and book chapters and a very successful grant funding portfolio.

In 2020, she was awarded the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt award for her outstanding contribution to digital health. Professor Wickramasinghe is the editor in chief of International Journal Networking and Virtual Organisations, published by InderScience.

In addition, she is the editor of two book series in digital health 1) Healthcare Delivery in the Information Age, published by Springer 2) Analytics and AI for healthcare Delivery, published by CRC Routledge.

Andrew Wilson
A visionary healthcare executive with over 25 years of global experience in precision oncology, medical imaging, and health informatics. Andrew harness’ his expertise to provide direction and ideology for technology in the oncology space across the US, Australia, and international markets.

Andrew has built and delivered award-winning oncology software programs, expanded the business value of Oncology Informatics and lead the acquisition and launch of innovative products and solutions for international companies such as GE Healthcare and Elekta.

He has served as Managing Director for Elekta Australia and then President of the Global Digital Portfolio that enabled business establishment, product development, M&A activity and clinical research commercialization in the precision oncology sector.

Andrew is a certified Six Sigma Greenbelt and a co-author of “Knowledge Representation in Radiation Oncology ’co- author. (Chapter 7), Artificial Intelligence in Radiation Oncology, World Scientific, 2022

Having spent the past 9 years in California, Andrew has returned to Australia as Head of Business Development for Oncoshot.

Dr Kane Middleton
Dr Kane Middleton is an Associate Professor of Sport and Occupational Biomechanics within the Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science and the Sport, Performance, and Nutrition Research Group. Kane also serves as La Trobe University's Academic Program Director for the La Trobe - Sheffield Hallam joint PhD program. He completed his PhD in Sports Biomechanics at The University of Western Australia and has previously held post-doctoral positions at The University of Western Australia and the University of Wollongong.

Kane has expertise in the quantification of physical performance, biomechanical modelling of human movement, and the use of non-invasive wearable technology to measure movement, including leading validation projects for international sporting organisations. Kane's primary research interests span accuracy-based sports and activities, occupational physical performance, and movement variability.

Dr Shanmuga Sundar Dhanabalan
Dr. Shanmuga Sundar Dhanabalan is a Senior Lecturer and ARC Industry Fellow in the School of Computing, Engineering & Mathematical Sciences at La Trobe University, Melbourne. An accomplished researcher, he has a strong track record in designing, developing, and translating micro- and nano-scale devices. His expertise spans soft electronics, wearable sensors, optics, and photonics. Over the past five years, he has secured more than $4.1 million in funding, including the prestigious ARC Industry Fellowship. Dr. Dhanabalan collaborates with leading Australian companies such as Sleeptite, nthalmic, Vlepis, and VeinTech to design and develop innovative products.

Dr Andrew Tucker
As Director of Research and Development for Sleeptite, Dr Andrew Tucker oversees all aspects of product development and research programs within the company. With over 20 years of experience in institutional R&D, industry innovation, and commercialisation, he has developed several solutions, devices, and capabilities in the areas of sleep health, wellbeing, performance, and occupational safety. Andrew has held senior executive roles across industry-research consortia, university and healthtech start-up sectors.

Andrew holds a PhD in Psychophysiology and continues to be involved in applied research through an adjunct academic appointment at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University.

Further information

Join our mailing list to keep up to date with news by visiting latrobe.edu.au/industry.

By registering for this event, I understand that I may be contacted by La Trobe University in the future with updates about news, events, or other activities. La Trobe University's privacy policy is available at latrobe.edu.au/privacy