Press Release

Graphene to be the superhero of new Brisbane medical research

The world’s most exciting new super-material, graphene, will super charge Australian medical research as part of a Herston Biofabrication Institute study starting early next year.

Researchers working on a range of 3D biomedical treatments plan to investigate the use of the miracle substance to help create better future health outcomes for Queenslanders.

Graphene is a super-material made from carbon that provides a wide range of enhancements to other products, making them lighter, stronger and longer lasting. It also conducts heat and electricity efficiently and has antibacterial powers.

The graphene for the research project will be supplied by Brisbane-based Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG), which is currently one of the world’s leading bulk manufacturers of pristine graphene.

GMG Founder and Managing Director Craig Nicol said he was delighted that Brisbane was hosting such ground-breaking research and that GMG was able to contribute through the supply of graphene produced in Brisbane.

“We will be providing the Institute with a range of different graphene platelet sizes and shapes to assist with essential research into personalised vascular surgery prognosis, training, and treatment,” Mr Nicol said.

“GMG has expertise in dispersing graphene effectively into polymer and other materials and we will be advising and mentoring the process of adapting graphene dispersions for 3D printing,” he said.

GMG has a vision to unlock the incredible range of graphene applications to everyday products previously not possible due to the extremely high costs of manufacturing the material. Its proprietary production process creates a continuous, bulk supply of graphene at a substantially lower cost than existing production methods.

“Graphene is 200 times stronger than steel, 1,000 times more conductive than copper, heat resistant to 3,500 degrees Celsius and has implications for virtually every industry that comes to mind,” Mr Nicol said.

“Our technology allows us to produce high quality graphene nano-platelets more affordably than any competitor globally, making it perfect for medical trials and health-based research such as the Herston Biofabrication Institute work.”

“We expect to see our graphene lead to true health-based innovation delivering significant and long-lasting health benefits through the creation of stronger and more effective stents with potential antibacterial properties, cell culture biocompatibility and enhanced mechanics.”

Queensland is set to become a world leader in developing cost-effective innovative clinical solutions with the newly established $54 million Herston Biofabrication Institute at Herston Health Precinct, adjacent to Royal Brisbane and Woman’s Hospital.

The Institute will be collaborating with GMG, surgeons, academics and other industry partners to develop 3D platform technologies (scanning, modelling, printing) in four important areas of healthcare; personalised orthopaedics, burn injury treatment and vascular surgery and the project is being co-led by Dr Jenkins, the head of surgical services at Metro North Health.

Earlier this month, the State Government announced it would support the work of 30 researchers through $7.2 million worth of Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships.

Craig Nicol is available for interviews.