MDHS Innovation and Enterprise Programs

Education Program and Innovation events have finished for this year.

Stay tuned and don't miss future opportunities to transform your research into innovation!

MDHS Impact Health Catalyst Program

The Impact Health Catalyst Program provides participants from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi, Africa the opportunity to co-design innovative solutions to address a major health issue, with a plan to promote impact and health equity in the Malawian community.

Participants will attend a series of in-person education workshops with colleagues from the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and will receive at least four our one-hour mentoring sessions to support the development of their innovative health solution. The program will culminate with teams presenting their proposal to a panel of judges and a hybrid audience at a pitch event.

Critical dates

August & September 18 August to 29 September

Program taking registrations

Tuesday 07 October

Selected participants are notified

Tuesday 21 October

Zoom briefing session for selected participants

Saturday 25 October

Participants from the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences arrive in Melbourne

Monday to Wednesday 27 to 29 October

Program commences | All-day workshops

Thursday 30 October

Weekly mentoring sessions start

Friday 31 October

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences depart Melbourne

Tuesday 18 November

Preliminary pitch event preparation session with mentors

Thursday 20 November

Final Pitch event

2026 March

Selected participants of the University of Melbourne travel to Malawi

FAQ

  • Terms and Conditions apply. Please read the 2025 MDHS Health Innovation and Enterprise Guidelines before applying.

  • This program is open to MDHS staff and PhD only, this includes:

    • Academic staff
    • Professional staff that work in the research area
    • MDHS Affiliated medical research institutions
    • MDHS Honorary staff
    • PhD students enrolled in MDHS who have passed supervisor’s confirmation and have a minimum of 12 months of candidature remaining at the time of application and for the duration of the program period

  • Yes, PhD applicants are required to include a signed PhD Applicant's Supervisor Statement of Support template with their registrations.

  • No, during the program you and your team will decide on a health solution together, so you don’t need any prior experience, existing idea, or existing project to participate. Everyone is welcomed!

    • Individual and Team applications are accepted.
    • Team applications can be a mixed between staff (including MRI and Honorary) and PhD candidates, however a current MDHS staff should be allocated as the team lead.
    • Team applications can be submitted by the team lead only (maximum 4 people - the 5th team member will be a KUHeS participant).
    • All single applications  will be allocated to teams based on their EOIs responses.

  • This year's themes are suggestions from KUHeS based on their first-hand experience, however all ideas are welcomed!

    Teams will decide together on a project idea for the program. You and your team could propose a different health solution as long as it is focused on helping the overall health of the Malawian community.

  • Our EOIs forms are short and simple to complete - and there are no wrong answers.

    Simply tell us on 250-words or less:

    • Why do you want to join the IHC program?
    • What are your current research areas of interest?
    • How the IHC program aligns with your career objectives?
    • What's your most significant experience participating in a team work?

MDHS Health Foundry

Previously known as the MHDS Health Innovation and Enterprise Bootcamp, this updated program provides an immersive introduction to healthcare innovation and impact for current MDHS PhD Candidates and Early Career Researchers.

Participants in the program will

  • learn about the principles of innovation and impact including entrepreneurship and commercialisation pathways from industry start-up founders, entrepreneurs and researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
  • learn about branding and pitching including preparing a pitch slide pack.
  • receive mentorship throughout the program and practice presenting and communicating a health innovation project to an audience.
  • interact with students from a diverse range of disciplines from across the Faculty

Things you need to know

  • This is a free program open for current MDHS PhD Candidates and Early Career Researchers (<5 years post award of PhD), no previous experience is required.
  • More information can be found in MDHS Health Foundry Guidelines.
  • The program runs over 2.5 days. Full attendance is required for eligibility.
  • For questions please email mdhs-innovation@unimelb.edu.au.

Previous programs and bootcamps

  • MDHS Impact Health Catalyst 2025

    This year's program focused on surgical intervention, maternal and neonatal health, and artificial intelligence (AI) and provided participants with a strong understanding of the principles of innovation and entrepreneurship, and a unique opportunity to work in an international team to co-design solutions to a major health challenge.

    • Team 1: MoyoLearn: Learning for Life, Care for All
    • Team 2: Uthenga Wanu: Low-cost, digital-enabled engagement to strengthen surgical oncology care
    • Team 3: Moyo: Saving Time, Saving Mothers
    • Team 4: Moyo Mama: A Point-of-Care Preeclampsia Risk Prediction in Early Pregnancy
    • Team 5: MoyoTrak: Every dose counts - Preventing Malaria re-infection for children in Malawi

    The winning team, MoyoTrak, Every dose counts: Preventing Malaria re-infection for children in Malawi, was awarded a $50,000 grant and a travel to Malawi to support the validation and implementation of their idea.

    The winning team will travel to Malawi in 2026.

    MDHS Health Foundry 2025

    The MDHS Health Foundry was held from Sunday 25 May to Tuesday 27 May. Five teams participated in the event.

  • MDHS Impact Health Catalyst

    The inaugural 2024 program was held from September to October 2024 and focused on reducing mortality rates in the first 28 days of life.

    Team members participated in a series of in-person education workshops with colleagues from the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and attended four one-hour online mentoring sessions to support the development of their innovative health solution. The program culminated with five teams presenting their proposal to a panel of judges and a hybrid audience at a pitch event.

    • Team 1: Neonatal Patient Retrieval Service [Kubweretsa Makanda Odwala Kuchipatala]
    • Team 2: Changu - Portable Diagnostics in the Heart of Africa
    • Team 3: Ana Ofunda: Technologically enhanced Kangaroo Mother Care
    • Team 4: Picture of Health [Chithunzi Cha Umoyo]
    • Team 5: FeverWeave

    The winning team, Changu - Portable Diagnostics, was awarded a $50,000 grant and is currently travelling to Malawi to support the validation and implementation of their idea.

    Watch the MDHS Impact Health Catalyst Final Pitch recording.

    MDHS Health Innovation and Enterprise Bootcamp

    The MDHS Health Innovation and Enterprise Bootcamp was held from Sunday 23 to Tuesday 25 June 2024.

    For more information about the MDHS Bootcamp, read the 2024 MDHS Health Innovation and Enterprise Bootcamp Guidelines.

  • In 2023 we offered two MDHS Health Innovation and Enterprise Bootcamp to our MDHS Graduate Research students. Read below for more information.

Contact us

If you are interested in joining any of our innovation education programs or if you have questions, contact us via email at mdhs-innovation@unimelb.edu.au.