Associate Professor Elena Juan Pardo, a researcher at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, is among ten Western Australian recipients of the Business Events Perth 2024 Aspire Awards.
The Aspire Awards support outstanding researchers, academics, and professionals by enabling them to attend international conferences, fostering collaboration and showcasing Western Australia’s expertise globally.
A/Prof Pardo, Group Leader of the Translational 3D Printing Laboratory for Advanced Tissue Engineering (T3MPLATE), is pioneering work in melt electrowriting, an advanced 3D printing technology for biomedical applications.
In expressing her gratitude to Business Events Perth for the award, A/Prof Pardo shared her excitement about connecting with global experts.
“I’m looking forward to attending the 2025 International Society for Biofabrication conference in Poland, where I’ll have the chance to engage with industry leaders and present my work in biomedical engineering,” A/Prof Pardo said.
“Working at the interface of engineering, biology, and medicine is deeply rewarding, and I hope to establish international partnerships that will highlight our region’s innovations.”
A/Prof Pardo is also the co-founder of CoraMetix, a spin-off company advancing a next-generation heart valve made with polymeric materials and automated 3D printing, aiming for lifetime durability.
Perkins CEO, Professor Peter Leedman AO, praised Elena’s impactful contributions.
“Elena is an exceptional biomedical engineer whose cutting-edge techniques in biomedical engineering will lead to customised aortic valves, ultimately helping patients live longer, healthier lives.”
Reflecting a commitment to supporting early-career researchers, Business Events Perth has also awarded three Early-Stage Career Researcher Grants to emerging scientists. Perkins researcher Jordan Crane, a PhD student in the Rare Disease Genetics and Functional Genomics Group, received one for his impressive application.
Jordan’s research aims to develop treatments for RYR1-related myopathies, a group of genetic muscle disorders that can impair walking and breathing. He will use his travel grant to attend the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society Conference in October 2025 in Budapest, Hungary, where he will connect with experts who can help bring these treatments from the lab to the clinic.
Funded by the State Government through Tourism Western Australia, Business Events Perth has awarded the Aspire Awards for 25 years, supporting hundreds of local researchers and academics to attend international conferences, advance their careers, and elevate WA’s profile on the global stage.
