Dr Ruwini Cooray

April 6, 2026
Study Melbourne Invites Dr Ruwini Cooray to Asian Allstars Gala at Melbourne International Comedy Festival

As part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Study Melbourne invited Dr Cooray to attend the Asian Allstars Gala, a one‑night showcase at Melbourne Town Hall. Hosted by Lizzy Hoo and featuring comedians from India, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan, the gala celebrated Asia’s brightest comedy stars and emerging talents. It was supported by AirAsia, Study Melbourne and Brady Hotels. By attending as a Study Melbourne guest, Dr Cooray joined other international students and alumni in a cultural evening that highlighted Melbourne’s global connections and promoted social inclusion while she built networks beyond the science and technology sectors.

March 31, 2026
University of Melbourne Women in STEM Event Brings Students and Industry Leaders Together

The University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Science and the Women* in Science and Engineering (WiSE) student club co‑hosted a networking lunch at the Woodward Conference Centre. The event gathered more than 80 female, non‑binary and gender‑diverse students and connected them with academics and industry mentors. Dr Ruwini Cooray attended as an invited industry partner and shared career insights with students. Other industry guests included Shruthi Tharmia Prabhushankar, Alamu Sathappan, Krisha Darji, Paloma Newton and several researchers. Organisers emphasised that the initiative strengthened professional networks and helped build confidence for the next generation of women in STEM. Dr Cooray’s participation reinforced her commitment to mentoring young scientists and promoting gender diversity in STEM.

March 19, 2026
Dr Ruwini Cooray Joins StartSpace Panel Celebrating ‘Women in Entrepreneurship: Strategy to Success’

StartSpace at State Library Victoria celebrated Women’s Month by hosting a Lunch & Learn session titled “Strategy to Success: What Actually Works, Hard Lessons and Tactical Advice for Early‑Stage Founders.” The panel brought together Dr Ruwini Cooray (Founder & CEO of Neurogen), investor and strategist Amelia Ghofrany, marketing consultant Eleanor Baillieu and moderator Amir Aridi (StartSpace community lead). Discussion topics included how founders gained early traction, lessons learned from mistakes, and tactical advice for building credibility under uncertainty. Dr Cooray shared insights on scaling a deep‑tech startup, emphasising the importance of strategic clarity, resilience and interdisciplinary collaboration. The session, open to all women in entrepreneurship, demonstrated her dedication to supporting early‑stage founders and highlighting frontier technologies.

March 5, 2026
Study Melbourne Invites Dr Ruwini Cooray to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Victoria Suite

Study Melbourne hosted Dr Cooray and other international student alumni as special guests in the Victoria Suite at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. The invitation by Caroline Hartnett, Director, International Education at Study Melbourne, State Government of Victoria, provided an exclusive networking environment where graduates and founders exchanged experiences while enjoying world‑class motorsport. For Dr Cooray, this engagement broadened her professional network within the international education community and reinforced the state government’s appreciation for entrepreneurial alumni.

From Left: Karen Gould; Director, International Recruitment, Deakin International, Deakin University. Dr Ruwini Cooray; Founder & CEO, Neurogen, Nova-Intelligence Network and Cooray Venture Foundry. Emily Chin; Cloud computing specialist, IBM. John Molony;
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice President, International at Deakin University.

January 22, 2026
Dr Ruwini Cooray Attends Australian Open as Study Melbourne Guest

Caroline Hartnett, Director of Study Melbourne, invited Dr Cooray to attend an evening at the Australian Open 2026 in the prestigious Club 1906. The event brought together international student alumni and emerging founders over dinner and world‑class tennis. Dr Cooray’s participation highlighted the state’s recognition of entrepreneurial graduates and offered an informal setting to discuss innovation, sports and community engagement.

November 27, 2025
Dr Ruwini Cooray Named International Student Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year at Victorian International Education Awards

The Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions hosted the 2025 Victorian International Education Awards, celebrating international students who contribute to Victoria’s diversity and innovation. Dr Ruwini Cooray was awarded International Student / Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year. The award recognised her leadership in founding Neurogen, her contributions to neurotechnology and her role in Victoria’s innovation ecosystem. Her success highlighted the value of international graduates to the state’s economy and research sector.

October 30, 2025
Dr Ruwini Cooray Speaks at BrainTech 2025

BrainTech 2025, convened by Team Slatts at the Jumar Bioincubator in Melbourne, brought together researchers, clinicians, investors and entrepreneurs to discuss the future of brain technology. Dr Cooray presented her work as Founder & CEO of Neurogen, developing a tissue‑based brain implant to restore neural circuitry in neurodegenerative diseases, and her establishment of the Nova Intelligence Network to integrate neuroscience, genetics and computational modelling. At the conference, she participated in the session, “The future of BrainTech is…?”, alongside Colin Denver, Tim Mahoney, Professor Colette McKay and other researchers. Her talk discussed the vision for biological implants and discussed pathways for translating research into clinical outcomes, reinforcing her position as a thought leader in Australian neurotechnology.

March 13, 2025
MedTech Actuator Spotlights Dr Ruwini Cooray and Neurogen’s Brain Implant Vision

MedTech Actuator’s Accelerator program profiled Dr Ruwini Cooray and her startup Neurogen Global. The profile noted that she is pioneering a minimally invasive micro‑tissue brain implant to treat neurological diseases and that the accelerator helped the startup advance towards pre‑clinical trials. Participation in the program provided mentorship, investment readiness and exposure to a network of medical‑technology experts, enabling Dr Cooray to refine commercial strategies and accelerate product development.

February 26, 2025
Dr Ruwini Cooray Shares Science and Startup Journey at Parliament of Victoria STEMM Forum

The Parliament of Victoria, in partnership with the Royal Society of Victoria, Inspiring Victoria and the Victorian Tech Schools and Specialist Science & Mathematics Centres, hosted “The Solutions of the Future” forum to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The event, held in the Legislative Assembly chamber at Parliament House, featured research scientist Dr Ruwini Cooray alongside iSTEM co‑founder Dr Morley Muse and climate scientist Dr Kimberley Reid. Dr Cooray spoke about her work developing tissue‑based brain implants to repair functional loss in neurodegenerative diseases. She urged students to remain curious, quoting her father’s advice to “question everything”, and emphasised the importance of having supportive people around you when balancing work and life. The forum encouraged young participants to pursue STEM careers and underscored how science can address global challenges.

November 21, 2024
Neurogen Showcased at Started@Melbourne 2024

The University of Melbourne’s Started@Melbourne Showcase is an annual event that celebrates startups emerging from the university’s innovation ecosystem. In the 2024 edition, the theme “From idea to impact” highlighted the journey from research discovery to societal benefit.  Neurogen was profiled as an early‑stage biotech startup developing advanced cell‑based brain implants to address severe loss of function in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The microtissue implants are designed to integrate into the brain and restore lost function. Dr Cooray presented her venture and networked with investors, researchers and fellow entrepreneurs, reinforcing Neurogen’s role in tackling neurodegenerative disease.

November 1, 2024
Dr Ruwini Cooray Awarded Lisa Ring and Family Scholarship for Neurogen Innovation

State Library Victoria announced the winners of the 2025 Lisa Ring and Family Scholarships, which provide $10 000 seed funding, bespoke business coaching and StartSpace Loft membership to early‑stage innovators. Dr Ruwini Cooray, founder & CEO of Neurogen, was one of the two recipients. The announcement describes her work developing an advanced cell‑based brain implant for treating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and notes that she has more than eight years of technical experience. Philanthropist Lisa Ring praised the winners’ talent, perseverance and grit and expressed confidence that the scholarship would help them navigate the path from idea to product. The scholarship provides resources and mentorship to accelerate Neurogen’s growth.

April 2024/2025
ATSE Welcomes Ruwini Cooray into the IMNIS Catalyst Leadership Programme

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering (ATSE) welcomed Ruwini Cooray into the 2023/2024 IMNIS Catalyst programme, which supports inspiring leaders in STEM to become ambassadors for their professions. She joined the ambassador programme as a final‑stage PhD Graduate Researcher at Deakin University, focusing on neuroscience and genetics. She joined the programme under the mentorship of Dr Erol Harvey, to enhance her communication and leadership skills, build a strong public profile and form lasting connections with the ATSE team and fellow alumni. Participation broadened her advocacy skills and expanded her professional network.

November 29-30, 2023
Ruwini Cooray and Neurogen Invited to Participate in Jumar BioElevate

Ruwini Cooray with Neurogen was invited to participate in BioElevate, a commercialisation programme delivered by Jumar Bioincubator in Melbourne. BioElevate is designed for researchers, founders, and early-stage teams developing innovations in therapeutics, medtech, diagnostics, and software as a medical device. The program supports participants to take a structured step from laboratory discovery toward commercial direction, with a focus on unmet clinical need, stakeholder mapping, value proposition, market segmentation, revenue pathways, regulation, intellectual property, funding options, and pitch development.
For Dr Cooray, participation in BioElevate provided an opportunity to further refine Neurogen’s translational pathway as an early-stage neurotechnology and biotechnology venture. Through the program, she engaged with commercialisation frameworks relevant to advanced therapeutic development, including clinical need definition, IP positioning, regulatory planning, and investor-facing pitch strategy. The invitation reinforced Neurogen’s position within Victoria’s emerging biotech ecosystem and supported Dr Cooray’s broader transition from academic neuroscience into structured health innovation and venture development.

November 28, 2023
Ruwini Cooray Speaks on International Student Entrepreneurship at Study Melbourne Future Founders Festival

Ruwini Cooray was invited as a panel speaker at the Study Melbourne Future Founders Festival, organised by StartSpace at State Library Victoria. The Future Founders initiative supports international students and alumni interested in entrepreneurship, bringing together founders, mentors and ecosystem leaders to explore business development, funding, founder identity and startup pathways. The Festival is a platform for building entrepreneurial skills, connections and confidence, with sessions focused on founder journeys, early-stage capital and industry networking.
Ruwini joined fellow international student founders Lexon Li (Founder – Deckle) and Shamira Aviella (Co-Founder – Soyful Australia), moderated by Kennie Robertson, to discuss the realities of building a venture as an international graduate in Victoria. Drawing on her experience founding Neurogen during the transition from PhD research to biotech entrepreneurship, she shared insights on research commercialisation, founder resilience and navigating the early stages of a science-based startup. Her participation highlighted the role of international graduates in Victoria’s innovation economy and strengthened her public profile as a scientist-founder operating at the interface of neuroscience, biotechnology and venture creation.

September 2023
Ruwini Cooray and Neurogen Selected for the 2023 MedTech Actuator Menzies Scholarship

In September 2023, Ruwini Cooray and Neurogen were selected for the 2023 MedTech Actuator Menzies Scholarship, a program delivered by MedTech Actuator in partnership with the Menzies Leadership Foundation. MedTech Actuator supports founders across early-stage, acceleration and growth pathways, providing mentorship, strategic guidance, international networks and preparation for capital raising in health innovation. The Menzies Leadership Foundation works at the intersection of research, practice and community to cultivate leadership capacity for complex social and technological challenges.
The scholarship recognised Ruwini Cooray as a high-potential science entrepreneur transitioning from academic research into healthcare venture development. Through the programme, she received non-dilutive seed funds and support and resources to navigate the gap between institutional research and early-stage commercialisation, while joining a community spanning medtech, healthtech and biotech across the Asia-Pacific region. The selection strengthened Neurogen’s early commercial pathway and contributed to Dr Cooray’s development as a founder working at the interface of neuroscience, regenerative medicine and biotechnology translation.

July 4, 2023
Ruwini Cooray Pitches Neurogen at Future Founders Venture Scholars Demo Day

Ruwini Cooray pitched Neurogen at the Future Founders Venture Scholars Demo Day, marking the conclusion of the 12-week StartSpace programme delivered with the support of Study Melbourne. The Demo Day brought together the Venture Scholars cohort, mentors, ecosystem partners, and invited guests to showcase emerging ventures led by current and former international students in Victoria.
The event included remarks from Danni Jarrett, CEO of Global Victoria, and Paul Duldig, CEO of State Library Victoria, who welcomed the scholars and acknowledged the contribution of international founders to Victoria’s innovation ecosystem. Ruwini presented Neurogen’s vision for developing advanced biological brain implants for neurodegenerative disease, strengthening the company’s early public positioning and contributing to its progression from research concept to venture-backed translational biotechnology.

June 4, 2023
Ruwini Cooray Joins StartSpace Venture Crawl Across Melbourne’s Startup Ecosystem

Ruwini Cooray participated in the StartSpace Venture Crawl, delivered as part of the Study Melbourne Future Founders Venture Scholarships programme. The initiative introduced Venture Scholars to key organisations and leaders across Victoria’s startup ecosystem, with visits and discussions designed to expose emerging founders to social enterprise, brand development, startup community infrastructure, and venture-building pathways.
The Venture Crawl was inspired by King’s College London and Deakin’s Spark initiative, and included engagement with Rebecca Scott OAM, founder of STREAT, Richard Li, founder of July, Dickie Currer from The Startup Network, and Rory McNeice from the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre.
As the founder of Neurogen, Ruwini took part in the programme to strengthen her understanding of Victoria’s entrepreneurial infrastructure and connect with founders, mentors, and ecosystem leaders. The experience provided practical exposure to business development, founder resilience, and startup ecosystem navigation, contributing to Neurogen’s early-stage commercial foundations and Ruwini’s transition from academic neuroscience into biotechnology venture leadership.

April 18 – July 4, 2023
Neurogen Selected for StartSpace Future Founders Venture Scholars Programme 2023

Ruwini Cooray and Neurogen were selected for the Study Melbourne Future Founders Venture Scholars Programme, delivered by StartSpace. The 2023 cohort included five venture teams and eight individual founders participating in a 12-week programme designed to support new business ideas and startup ventures led by current and former international students in Victoria. Neurogen was selected in the cohort with Ruwini as the Founder of Neurogen.
Through the programme, Ruwini received structured mentoring, founder education, non-dilutive seed funding support, and access to Victoria’s early-stage startup network. The scholarship supported Neurogen’s early development as a biotech and neurotech venture, helping strengthen its commercial foundations while Ruwini transitioned her neuroscience research into a company focused on advanced biological brain implants. This milestone established a stronger pathway for Neurogen’s investment readiness, ecosystem engagement, and future translational development.

June 23, 2023
Ruwini Cooray Establishes Neurogen Global to Advance Biological Brain Implants for Neurodegenerative Disease

On 23 February 2023, Ruwini Cooray founded Neurogen Global Pty Ltd in Melbourne, Australia, establishing a biotechnology and neurotechnology company focused on developing advanced biological brain implants for neurological diseases. The company’s work centres on microtissue brain implant technology designed to address neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease by restoring brain function and targeting structural loss in neural tissue. Neurogen set its mission as pioneering breakthrough biological brain implants to improve the quality of life for patients worldwide.
The establishment of Neurogen marked a defining transition in Dr Cooray’s career from academic neuroscience into translational biotechnology. As Founder, she created the company to convert her research expertise in neurogenetics, stem cell biology, and regenerative neurobiology into a clinically directed platform for brain repair. This milestone forms the foundation of her broader work in regenerative therapeutics, neural systems engineering, and biological intelligence.

March 22, 2023
Ruwini Cooray Attends StartSpace Future Founders Roadshow in Geelong

Ruwini Cooray attended the StartSpace Future Founders Roadshow in Geelong, organised by Study Melbourne and hosted at Runway HQ, where she connected with the StartSpace team and members of Victoria’s early-stage entrepreneurship community. The event focused on the experiences of migrant entrepreneurs, highlighting the practical challenges, resilience, and networks required to build ventures in Australia.
The panel discussion brought together founders and ecosystem contributors, with an extended network that included Kenny Robertson, Tara Powell, Sakshi Takur, Usman Iftikhar, and other members of the startup community. Ruwini’s participation strengthened her connection with StartSpace and expanded her engagement within Victoria’s founder ecosystem. The event became part of her broader pathway into entrepreneurship, venture development, and migrant founder leadership in the Australian innovation sector.

Nov-Dec 2022
Ruwini Cooray Presents her PhD Research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Ruwini Cooray attended and presented a scientific poster at the Neurodegenerative Diseases: Biology & Therapeutics meeting held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, USA. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is one of the world’s most recognised biomedical research institutions, founded in 1890, with major programmes spanning cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. The Laboratory has been home to eight Nobel Prize winners and hosts thousands of scientists annually through its international meetings and courses.
The 2022 meeting brought together researchers working across the biology and therapeutic development of neurodegenerative diseases. The event was held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory from 30 November to 3 December 2022. Ruwini participated as a PhD Graduate Researcher from Deakin University, presenting her poster to an international scientific audience and engaging with delegates from leading research institutions, including UCLA, Harvard and MIT. The visit strengthened her international research network and expanded her exposure to global neuroscience and therapeutic development communities.
During the same US visit, Ruwini also travelled through California, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose, to extend her professional networks across research, biotechnology and innovation ecosystems. This engagement contributed to the international perspective that later informed her transition into neurotechnology entrepreneurship and the establishment of Neurogen Global.

June 2022/2023
Ruwini Cooray Completes ATSE IMNIS Industry Mentoring Programme


Ruwini Cooray participated in the 2022–2023 Industry Mentoring Network in STEM (IMNIS) programme, delivered by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), while undertaking her PhD research at Deakin University. IMNIS supports PhD students and early-career researchers to develop industry knowledge, professional networks, business acumen, and an understanding of research translation, innovation, and commercialisation.
During the one-year programme, Dr Cooray was mentored by Dr Erol Harvey, then Chairman of the Board, at ATSE, receiving guidance on biotechnology industry pathways, leadership, and the commercial translation of scientific research. The mentorship period became a formative stage in her transition from academic neuroscience into biotech entrepreneurship, culminating in the establishment of Neurogen, a neurotech and biotech startup focused on developing advanced biological brain implants for neurodegenerative disease. The experience strengthened her industry perspective and contributed to the strategic foundations of her work at the interface of neuroscience, regenerative medicine, and venture creation.

During the IMNIS programme, Dr Erol Harvey invited Ruwini Cooray to visit BioFAB3D at the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD). The visit included discussions and a laboratory tour, with introductions to facilities such as neural tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting, and light-sheet fluorescence microscopy. The network established during the visit continued as a collaboration later during the establishment of Neurogen.

From Left: Dr Erol Harvey (then CEO, ACMD), A/Prof. Anita Quigley (Associate Professor at RMIT University, specialised in neural tissue modelling), Ruwini Cooray (PhD Graduate Researcher at Deakin University), Dr Cynthia Wong (Laboratory Manager & Biomedical Researcher, BioFAB3D, ACMD).

September 2021 – November 2022
Ruwini Cooray Co-Organises NcodeX PhD Talks to Support Early-Career Researchers

Dr Ruwini Cooray co-organised and hosted “PhD Talks by NcodeX” with Lakshini Piyasiri. The online series created a platform for PhD researchers and early-career researchers to share their academic journeys, research interests, challenges, and professional insights with a broader audience. The invited speakers included researchers from across the world, including Australia, the UK, and the USA.
Ruwini’s role included coordinating the series, hosting discussions, engaging with invited speakers, and helping shape an accessible forum for research communication and peer learning. The initiative reflected her early commitment to scholarly leadership, research visibility, and mentoring within the postgraduate community. It also contributed to her broader mission of making research pathways more transparent for young scientists navigating academic and translational careers.

Visit the PhD Talks by NcodeX Series here…

May – July 2021
Ruwini Cooray Contributes Thought Leadership Articles to The Thrive Project

In 2021, Ruwini Cooray contributed a series of articles to the THRIVE Project website, focusing on sustainability and health innovation. Her article “Sustainable Innovations in Medical Technologies” (July 16, 2021) discussed how medical technologies can improve health outcomes while addressing environmental challenges. She also wrote “Fostering Sustainable Innovation through Young Entrepreneurship” (July 11, 2021), highlighting the role of youth entrepreneurship in driving sustainable change, “Water Purification Technologies for Sustainable Development”(June 28, 2021) and “Act Yourself for Yourself: Gender Equality for Better Health” (May 31, 2021). These articles reflect her commitment to integrating science, sustainability and social impact.


SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES


FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION THROUGH YOUNG ENTREPRENEURSHIP


WATER PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT


ACT YOURSELF FOR YOURSELF: GENDER EQUALITY FOR BETTER HEALTH

Read more at The Thrive Project
August 7, 2021
Dr Ruwini Cooray Featured in Sense Media Discussion on Innovation and the Mind

Dr Cooray sat down with Mr Supun Maduwantha for a deep talk on the theme of “Wonders of Innovative Mind” produced by Sense Media. The programme explored creativity and innovation across disciplines, and she shared perspectives from neuroscience and entrepreneurship. Her contribution emphasised the importance of curiosity, cross‑disciplinary collaboration and translational science in shaping future innovations.

Wonders of Innovative mind – discussion pro. ft.Ruwini Cooray – Produced by Supun Maduwantha