WearOptimo CEO and founder Professor Mark Kendall is used to thinking globally. But his biggest dream incorporates a homegrown ambition. 

 In a new conversation with The Australian journalist Damon Kitney, Mark recalls how his interest in skin physiology and immunology was shaped during his time at Oxford University. 

In the below excerpt from the feature story, he explains how that international foundation led to a health-tech ambition that continues to take shape right here in Australia… 

After giving up on his early dream to follow in his father’s footsteps as a fighter pilot, Kendall intended to be a rocket scientist and – after completing his PhD in mechanical engineering at the University of Queensland – planned to study at CalTech in the US. 

But he changed tack at the urging of a professor from Oxford University, who instead convinced him to go to the UK, in part through the lure of the university’s famed rowing program. Kendall says he ended up “wearing a scarf at Oxford as opposed to sandals in California”. 

“I went from doing my PhD in Brisbane wearing board shorts for three years, to studying at Oxford at 25 years of age,” he says. 

“I was at Magdalen College. My teaching office was 500 years old and there was a butler. But despite the appearance of being traditional, Oxford was truly dynamic in areas of innovation.”

While there, in 2012 he created biolistics technology instrumental in the development of a vaccine delivery system which didn’t use needles. Or, as he puts it, he was able to adapt rocket technology from being a killer to a lifesaver, and in the process developed his interest in skin physiology and immunology. 

His landmark invention was called the Nanopatch, a plaster-like device covered in thousands of micro-projections to deliver vaccinations without breaking the skin. 

Unlike traditional vial-and-needle vaccinations, the Nanopatch uses dried vaccine powder as a delivery method, so it does not require the refrigeration which is lacking in much of the developing world. 

Returning to Australia after eight years at Oxford, Mark continued to advance the Nanopatch technology, which was ultimately licensed to global giant Merck & Co. He then established WearOptimo after identifying the potential in wearable devices, deliberately basing the company in Australia, where he wants it to remain.  

“I want to develop this company here. Because I can see that I can replicate my experience at Oxford here,” he tells Damon.  

“I care deeply about creating the leading edge, world-class opportunities here that I have enjoyed in my life abroad.” 

The company is currently conducting a $10 million capital raise, which will allow the extension of clinical trials to deliver a fully validated sensor ready for commercial sales. 

As Mark tells the newspaper: “We have hit the initial proof of concept. We now have the only wearable on the planet that can genuinely monitor hydration. By 2026 our first product will be on the market, which will be really exciting.”  

Read the full story here: