NEXT GENERATION CONDOM CONTRACEPTION TO TACKLE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES & UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES
RESEARCHER PROFILE (Filmed October 2023)
Dr Simon Cook,
Executive Director, Operations
Eudaemon Technologies
Sydney, Australia
Dr. Simon Cook, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Operations at Eudaemon Technologies, has had a diverse and impactful career journey. Beginning with a background in biotechnology from the University of Wollongong, his focus on bacterial pathogenesis during his PhD led him to study Group A Strep and the streptokinase protein.
Subsequently, Dr. Cook ventured into a unique project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he became involved in the development of a next-generation condom to address existing issues such as feel, odour, and taste.
Motivated by the potential for significant social impact, Dr. Cook is dedicated to overcoming challenges and driving positive change in global health through his work at Eudaemon Technologies.
The innovative approach at Eudaemon Technologies involves replacing latex with tough hydrogel materials, offering a more skin-like feel with no odour, taste, or allergic reactions. Additionally, these materials have the potential to integrate small molecule drugs, presenting opportunities for enhanced user experience and additional protective measures against STIs.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Dr. Cook enjoys music, particularly playing the guitar, bass guitar, and drums. He also maintains an active lifestyle through sports including soccer and squash.
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Novel therapies & next-gen medical devices in cardiovascular & vascular disease management
Professor Shirley Jansen AM is a distinguished vascular and endovascular surgeon whose career spans clinical leadership, academic excellence, and pioneering research. She currently holds the Lawrence-Brown Chair of Vascular Surgery at Curtin University’s School of Population Health and serves as Head of the Department of Vascular Surgery at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, a role she has held since 2015. In addition, she is the Director of the Heart & Vascular Research Institute at the Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research. Her early career was marked by prestigious fellowships, including a British Heart Foundation Research Fellowship (1996), and multiple international travelling fellowships from leading surgical societies and industry sponsors between 2001 and 2002.
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Benefits of prehabilitation ahead of surgery
Dr Matthew Wallen PhD, AES, AEP is a Senior Research Fellow in Cancer Survivorship, the Deputy Lead of the Cancer Survivorship Program, and a Senior Lecturer in Exercise Science and Clinical Exercise Physiology within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University, in South Australia. His clinical interest focuses on improving outcomes for people requiring major surgery, specifically (1) lifestyle interventions, including exercise, nutritional, and psychological support to improve the health and wellbeing of people prior to surgery, termed ‘prehabilitation’, (2) novel physical function assessments aimed at identifying people at risk of treatment-related complications, and (3) implementation of new models of care in cancer.
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Dr Paul Griffin
MATER HEALTH SERVICES, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
