APPLYING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO MEDICAL IMAGING FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE DETECTION
Parmida Ghorbanian, PhD Candidate,
University of Western Australia & Advanced Clinical and Translational Cardiovascular Imaging,
Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research,
Western Australia
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Perth, Australia | July 2026
Parmida is a software engineer and biomedical scientist whose research focuses on translating novel medical imaging technologies into clinical practice to improve the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease.
Her current work applies advanced deep learning techniques to retinal polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) imaging, aiming to generate clinically meaningful biomarkers and predictions of cardiovascular disease. Parmida’s collaboration partners include Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch, Western Australia.
She is the recipient of the Novel Heart Disease Imaging Through AI HDR Scholarship and has received multiple awards for her research, including the WACRA Heart-to-Vessel Showcase Award, the South Metropolitan Health Service 3-Minute Project Competition, and the Data Institute Postgraduate Student Researcher Pitch Winner award.
Most recently, she was selected as a finalist in the INCITE Awards, Western Australia’s premier technology innovation awards program.
Source: Supplied and adapted
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Superslayer taking on antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Dr Katharina Richter is a visionary leader in MedTech, acclaimed for innovation and gender diversity. With over 40 awards to her name, including MIT Innovator Under 35 Asia-Pacific, and Prime Minister’s Prize for New Innovator finalist, she has shattered barriers as an entrepreneur, scientist, and ‘superbug slayer.’ Katharina’s groundbreaking work in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria has resulted in 6 innovative treatments, 3 of which are patented, offering hope against deadly infections.
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RESEARCH IMPACT: 32 years of understanding, diagnosing, treating & preventing the onset of heart disease
The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute is dedicated to finding cures for cardiovascular disease through world-class and cutting-edge medical research.
The Institute’s team seeks to discover better ways of understanding, diagnosing, treating, and preventing the onset of heart disease. It is committed to ensuring its research breakthroughs are rapidly translated into advances in clinical care.
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Earlier identification and early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing
As Director of NextSense Institute, Professor Leigh is responsible for leading the not-for-profit organisation’s world-class research and education programs and facilities. He has held a variety of positions in the education of children who are deaf or hard of hearing before entering academia. He holds a degree in Special Education from Griffith University, a Master of Science (Speech and Hearing) from Washington University and a PhD in Special Education from Monash University. In 2001, he was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and in 2014, he was invested as an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished services to the deaf and hard of hearing community.
