Today, in Canberra, Professor Fiona Wood opened the National Archives of Australia’s new exhibition In real life: inventors, innovators and opportunists.
The exhibition highlights Australian ingenuity across more than 150 years, including Fiona’s co-invention of spray-on skin. Its inclusion recognises the defined clinical need that prompted the work, the development of a point-of-care cell technology, and the influence this innovation has had on modern burn care.
The Fiona Wood Foundation is proud to see Fiona’s contribution recognised in this national forum. Spray-on skin emerged from a clearly defined clinical challenge—reducing donor-site burden while improving recovery—and its development has had a lasting influence on burn care in Australia and internationally. Seeing this work included in the exhibition offers an important moment to reflect on the clinical impact achieved through sustained research, collaboration and translation.
In opening the exhibition, Fiona spoke about the research and partnership that enabled spray-on skin to progress from early concept to a treatment now used around the world.
In real life is free to visit and runs from 21 November 2025 to 17 May 2026 at the National Archives of Australia, Parkes, ACT. It is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm and showcases inventions, ideas and designs from across Australia’s past and present. Learn more by clicking here.
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