Researchers claim top innovation honours

Congratulations to Associate Professor Lea-Ann Kirkham and Professor Peter Richmond, who last night won the 2026 Emerging Innovation Award at the WA Innovators of the Year Awards for Spritz-OM, a novel nasal spray being developed to prevent childhood middle ear infections using beneficial bacteria to help protect against the bacteria responsible for infection.

A/Prof Kirkham, Co-Head of The Kids' Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group, and Professor Richmond, Co-Head of the Vaccine Trials Group, are the co-founders of Oto Medicines, a biotechnology company spun out of The Kids to commercialise the innovation and bring this potential new ear health solution to children.

The science behind Spritz-OM grew from more than a decade of research at The Kids, led by A/Prof Kirkham and Professor Richmond through the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases.

Now entering its first-in-human clinical trial phase, Spritz-OM will initially be tested in healthy adults to assess safety, with plans for subsequent studies involving children.

Accepting the award, Associate Professor Kirkham shared the vision driving their work.

"No child should start school struggling to hear, communicate or learn because of chronic ear infections,” Associate Professor Kirkham said.

“Through our partnerships with families, we hear about children struggling to communicate and learn, and the emotional and practical toll of years of appointments, surgeries and sleepless nights. As parents ourselves, these stories resonate deeply and strengthen our determination to find a solution.

“I'd particularly like to acknowledge the Ear Health Aboriginal Community Advisory Group and all the families who have trusted us with their lived experiences. Your voices continue to shape our work.”

The 2026 awards marked 20 years of recognising Western Australian innovation, with nine winners and two runners-up sharing more than $310,000 in prize money.

The win is fantastic recognition of the team's research and an important milestone in translating discoveries made at The Kids into innovations with the potential to improve children's lives.

Click here to learn more about Spritz-OM.