Perth-based regenerative medicine leader Professor Minghao Zheng AM has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (General Division) as part of the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List, announced today by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC.
The honour recognises the Orthocell Ltd (ASX:OCC, OTC:ORHHF) co-founder's internationally regarded career in translational regenerative medicine, with research spanning nerve, bone, cartilage and tendon repair, and his contribution to the development of clinically applied solutions in orthopaedics.
“I am truly honoured to be appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia General Division today. This recognition is a testament to the dedication, passion and collective spirit of the teams I have worked with,” said Professor Zheng AM.
Professor Minghao Zheng AM.
Translating research into commercial medical solutions
Alongside extensive academic and industry achievements, Professor Zheng AM is co-founder and chief scientific officer of Perth-based regenerative medicine company Orthocell.
Orthocell’s Australian-manufactured regenerative medicine products have now secured 17 international regulatory approvals, reflecting more than two decades of research and development. The company’s core technology was conceptualised through early collaboration between Professor Zheng, The University of Western Australia, and Orthocell co-founder and managing director Paul Anderson.
That work centred on developing collagen scaffolds and cell therapies using a patient’s own stem cells as biological alternatives to conventional materials such as metal and plastic implants.
Nature-inspired innovation
Professor Zheng has previously spoken about how early inspiration for this research came from observing natural structures along the Western Australian coastline.
“I was mesmerised by the natural and loosely occurring bundles in the sea sponge which mimicked the structure of bone and soft tissue. Nature is so clever,” he said.
“With so many people experiencing bone, nerve and tendon injuries, I wanted to find a way to translate this structure into a targeted and scalable medical device platform — and encouragingly, our early work is foundational to Orthocell’s global medical device portfolio today.”
That foundational research has since underpinned the development of multiple commercial products now used in clinical settings globally.
Remplir™ highlights global clinical impact
One of the most prominent examples of this translational research is Orthocell’s Remplir™ nerve repair device, which has received regulatory clearance across multiple jurisdictions including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Canada and Hong Kong, with further approvals under review.
The device has been used in complex nerve repair procedures, including cases involving quadriplegic patients, with Orthocell highlighting the real-world patient outcomes achieved through its technology.
Orthocell leadership welcomes recognition
Anderson congratulated Professor Zheng AM on the national honour, noting its significance for Australian medical research and innovation.
“Congratulations on this incredible achievement, Professor Zheng AM. On behalf of the Orthocell community — our board, team, collaborating surgeons, patients, investors — and fellow biotechnology leaders, I applaud this celebration of Australian medical innovation,” said Paul Anderson.
Professor Zheng is currently Professor of Orthopaedic Science at The University of Western Australia and has published over 300 scientific papers, secured more than 10 patents, and co-founded multiple Australian biotechnology companies.