Professor Robert Shepherd AM
Professor Robert Shepherd’s legacy as the 2nd director of the Bionics Institute can be underlined by his commitment to maintain the passion and attention to detail emphasised by Graeme Clark in the development of safe bionic technologies via multidisciplinary research.
Professor Shepherd also oversaw the broadening the institute research profile by taking the knowledge gained in the development of cochlear implants and applying it to other conditions and areas of research. This led to the transition of the Bionic Ear Institute into what is now the Bionics Institute, an internationally recognised, independent medical research institute that solves medical challenges with technology.
Professor Robert Shepherd’s academic background is in Cochlear Implant research, where he first joined the University of Melbourne in 1975, three years before the first clinical trial of the multi-channel cochlear implant. This was a very exciting time for the development of the bionic ear with the formation of a young, talented multidisciplinary team under Graeme Clark’s leadership.
Professor Shepherd said “It was an extremely challenging time; the technical challenges were complex, funding was limited to private philanthropy, and many in the medical and scientific community thought the project would be a failure.”
The rest is history.
The project – “to provide hearing for the profoundly deaf” – was inspiring; the research team was focused, multidisciplinary and very dedicated, and we could see our work was making a difference both clinically and in the delivery of a medical bionics industry to Australia. Professor Robert Shepherd AM
Notable Projects of Professor Robert Shepherd AM
These are projects that Professor Robert Shepherd has been closely associated with. All have resulted in the generation of patents and have resulted in clinical trials.
Cochlear Implant Research: 1980-2022. Including safe electrical stimulation, safe surgical protocols, safe paediatric cochlear implantation, improved electrode arrays, improved electrical stimulation strategies and safe stimulation in cochleae with residual hearing. This research has contributed to advances in the design of Cochlear Ltd. bionic ear and has provided important safety data for the regulatory approval of improved technologies.
Drug Delivery Technology: 2003-2018. Demonstration of safety and efficacy of delivering neurotrophins into the inner ear for improved nerve survival and the use of various techniques and surgical approaches to release these drugs over extended periods.
Bionic Eye Research: 2008-2017. In collaboration with the Centre for Eye Research Australia, we developed the world’s first suprachoroidal bionic eye, demonstrated device reliability, developed safe surgical protocols and demonstrated biological safety. The device underwent a successful clinical trial in 2012 and was subsequently commercialised. A second generation device is currently undergoing a phase 2 clinical trial.
Vagus nerve stimulation for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: 2014-present. In collaboration with the Florey Neuroscience Institute, the Austin Hospital and the University of Melbourne, we developed a novel treatment for inflammatory bowel disease based on electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve. We designed the neural interface, demonstrated biological safety and efficacy, and assisted in the development of the surgical protocol. This device is currently in clinical trial.
Elevation to becoming the 2nd Director of the Bionics Institute
Graeme Clark stepped down as the Director of the Bionic Ear Institute in 2005 at which time the institute Board appointed me as the Acting Director. After an international search, Professor Robert Shepherd AM was appointed Director in 2006.
Professor Shepherd served as Director of the Institute over an 11 year period from 2006-2017. While he had a very active research portfolio directed towards the clinical and commercial application of medical bionics Robert feels that he was fortunate to have a number of next-generation research colleagues that were able to take greater leadership responsibility in a number of these projects.
Professor Shepherd comments that he was very aware for the need to recruit senior research leaders that could generate research funding and develop important collaboration with our clinical collaborators. This recruitment and ongoing institute support has been instrumental in the success of a number of start-up companies evolving from Bionics Institute research including Bionic Vision Technologies, Epiminder, DBS Tech and NIRGenie. Finally, during my tenure as Director, Robert actively promoted contract research for the institute, particularly the Bionics Institute’s highly talented Electrode Fabrication team.
Professor Robert Shepherd lists three important mentors: Professor Graeme Clark; Dr. Mike Hirshorn CMO Cochlear Ltd, and Dr F. Terry Hambrecht, Director, Neural Prosthesis Program, U.S. National Institutes of Health. Each generously provided important help and advice during his early career.
Overseeing the evolution from the Bionic Ear Institute to the Bionics Institute
One of Professor Shepherd’s major objectives as the new Director of the Bionic Ear Institute was to expand our research profile. By 2006 the Bionic Ear was a relatively mature technology and although Bionic Ear Institute staff were making important contributions to the ongoing development of the bionic ear, Professor Shepherd realised it was important to broaden our research portfolio to develop novel bionic devices for other malady’s. The then Bionic Ear Institute was at the time well positioned to expand the boundaries of medical bionics: (I) our work with cochlear implants had taught us how to safely record and stimulate from neural tissue; and (ii) Graeme Clark’s legacy of working in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment that included clinicians, engineers and scientists was already a part of our DNA.
Robert said that the Bionics Institute was fortunate to undertake our research at both the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital Fitzroy. Both hospitals were home to excellent clinicians and quality research was actively promoted.
In 2010, the Bionics Institute received major funding as a key member of Bionic Vision Australia’s program to develop a bionic eye, while were actively collaborating with neurologist’s at St Vincent’s to develop a device designed to accurately monitor epileptic seizures, as well as collaborating with the School of Engineering, University of Melbourne to develop clinically relevant novel drug delivery technology.
The board of the Bionic Ear Institute were fully supportive of a name change for the institute, and after a 12 month internal review lead by branding specialists Principals, (who undertook the work pro bono), Institute Chair Gerry Moriarty and Professor Robert Shepherd launched the new name and logo in 2011.
Professor Robert Shepherd’s notable honours
1995: Garnett Passe & Rodney Williams Senior Research Fellowship
2006-2017: Director, Bionic Ear Institute/Bionics Institute
2006: Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne
2011-2017: Inaugural Head of Department, Medical Bionics Department, University of Melbourne
2014: Garnett Passe Memorial Lecture, Royal College of Medicine, London
2017 : Fellow, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
2020: Member, Order of Australia
