April 30, 2026
Spray-on skin pioneer Fiona Wood to speak at UOW on innovation in skin regeneration
World-renowned surgeon will deliver keynote at 2026 Bill Wheeler Symposium on how to translate medical research into real patient impact
The University of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ (UOW) will host Australia’s leading burns surgeon and medical innovator, (University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital), as keynote speaker at the 2026 Bill Wheeler Symposium, Resurfacing the Body, at the UOW on Thursday 30 April.
The annual symposium celebrates the legacy of Bill Wheeler and UOW’s long-standing commitment to research in bionics and bioengineering. It brings together researchers, clinicians and industry partners to explore how advances in regenerative medicine are improving patient outcomes and reshaping healthcare.
Dr Wood is widely recognised for pioneering spray-on skin technology and was awarded 2005 Australian of the Year because of her leadership of the medical response during the 2002 Bali bombings.
In her keynote, she will discuss the pursuit of excellence in healthcare in a time of rapid scientific advancement. She will explore how innovation can be applied in complex clinical environments and the challenges of translating research into real-world patient outcomes.
from the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) said bringing Dr Wood to UOW connects world-leading clinical expertise with emerging research and technology.
“Dr Wood’s work demonstrates what’s possible when innovation is driven by real patient need,” Professor Wallace said. “Having her here provides a valuable opportunity for our researchers, students and partners to engage with someone who has successfully translated breakthrough science into clinical practice and global impact.”
Professor Wallace is a long standing collaborator with Dr Wood, most recently for a project to develop advanced 3D bioprinting technologies for skin regeneration which aims to print a patient’s own skin cells directly onto burns to improve recovery outcomes.
With a focus on how community engagement and collaboration influence the path from research to real-world care, Professor Wallace said the symposium gives attendees a rare opportunity to hear first-hand from leaders shaping the future of medicine.
“Events like this are critical for bringing researchers, clinicians, community influencers and decision makers together to build the partnerships needed that take research from the lab to the patient,” Professor Wallace said.
The symposium will run from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The event will also include the announcement of the 2026 Bill Wheeler Award for Social Impact Research, alongside a display of current bioengineering projects from IPRI and UOW.