
The Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP) continues to shine as a national hub for health innovation, with local talent strongly represented in the newly announced 2025 LuminaX HealthTech Accelerator cohort.
Out of the 11 startups selected this year, four ventures have direct ties to the Precinct—highlighting the strength of the translational research, clinical innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit emerging from Griffith University and Gold Coast Health.
Three Griffith research ventures are among the standout participants:
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BioProSep – led by Dr Stefanie Buchholz, develops and manufactures bioseparation materials that enable the efficient recovery of biologics during industrial manufacture.
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SAL-Check – founded by Professor Chamindie Punyadeera, is a saliva-based diagnostic test for early detection and monitoring of liver disease, offering accessible and patient-friendly screening.
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SpeakClear – created by Dr Ashley Llambias, is an offline, AI-powered real-time captioning device that makes conversations accessible to everyone.
Also joining the cohort is Zendu, a new healthtech startup founded by Dr Jeremy Fernando, a junior doctor at Gold Coast Health. Zendu was born from Jeremy’s participation in the Precinct’s Clinician Entrepreneurship Change Agents Program (CECAP) and has since evolved into a scalable digital solution offering clinician-quality rehabilitation without the need for referrals or in-person consults.
Now in its fifth year, the LuminaX Accelerator is delivered by Cohort Innovation Space and supported by Major Partners Economic Development Queensland, the City of Gold Coast, and QIC, alongside Industry Partners Griffith University, Gold Coast Health, IntelliHQ, and the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.
The diversity of this year’s cohort reflects the evolving healthtech landscape, spanning AI, medical devices, biotech and digital health solutions. As Australia’s health innovation sector grows, the GCHKP continues to play a central role in accelerating ideas from research to reality—right here on the Gold Coast.