Title: NIHR Cardiovascular MedTech Co-operative
Funder: Department of Health and Social Care

Abstract: Cardiovascular disease remains the UK s biggest killer and the National Health Service (NHS) spends a significant proportion of its budget on treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Guy s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust (GSTFT) and King s College London (KCL) work together to support and develop a portfolio of basic science clinical translational and implementation research to develop better technologies and devices for diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The team of research scientists, medical engineers and clinicians from the University and Hospital departments and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre are closely integrated, and work with patients and patient groups, front-line staff and the technology and device industry to develop healthcare solutions designed to meet specific clinical problems. The close working with the cardiovascular technologies industry assist us in taking research ideas through to commercialised products which can then be used within the NHS to help with better care and reduction of healthcare costs. We propose to host an NIHR MedTech and In Vitro Diagnostic Co-operative (MIC) at St Thomas Hospital to support our work locally and our network and reach nationally. Our primary aim is to bring together clinicians and scientists along with patient groups and industry to develop and apply cardiovascular technologies to improve clinical care and outcomes with economic benefit to the NHS. We have identified five cardiovascular disease areas, or Themes where there can be substantial impact from cardiovascular technologies; 1) narrowed coronary arteries [Atherosclerosis], 2) heart rhythm problems [Cardiac Arrhythmias], 3) reduced heart pump function [Heart Failure], 4) problems with the heart such as narrow heart valves [Structural Heart Disease] and 5) heart disease in children [Paediatric Technologies]. We will expand and strengthen the strong academic and clinical networks in cardiovascular technologies that are fostering dialogue between clinicians, academic and industrial experts and encourage researchers and companies, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), within the field to work together to develop medical device and technology driven healthcare solutions for the future. Finally, we will continue with our strong tradition of engaging with patients and the public to increase the review of and participation and understanding of cutting edge research. We will have patient support group representatives reflecting our clinical themes embedded in our MIC management committee and will hosting patient advisory groups and using web-based information, we hope to show the benefits of new research, technologies and impact for the NHS.

Lay abstract: Cardiovascular disease remains the UK s biggest killer and the National Health Service (NHS) spends a significant proportion of its budget on treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Guy s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust (GSTFT) and King s College London (KCL) work together to support and develop a portfolio of basic science clinical translational and implementation research to develop better technologies and devices for diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The team of research scientists, medical engineers and clinicians from the University and Hospital departments and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre are closely integrated, and work with patients and patient groups, front-line staff and the technology and device industry to develop healthcare solutions designed to meet specific clinical problems. The close working with the cardiovascular technologies industry assist us in taking research ideas through to commercialised products which can then be used within the NHS to help with better care and reduction of healthcare costs. We propose to host an NIHR MedTech and In Vitro Diagnostic Co-operative (MIC) at St Thomas Hospital to support our work locally and our network and reach nationally. Our primary aim is to bring together clinicians and scientists along with patient groups and industry to develop and apply cardiovascular technologies to improve clinical care and outcomes with economic benefit to the NHS. We have identified five cardiovascular disease areas, or Themes where there can be substantial impact from cardiovascular technologies; 1) narrowed coronary arteries [Atherosclerosis], 2) heart rhythm problems [Cardiac Arrhythmias], 3) reduced heart pump function [Heart Failure], 4) problems with the heart such as narrow heart valves [Structural Heart Disease] and 5) heart disease in children [Paediatric Technologies]. We will expand and strengthen the strong academic and clinical networks in cardiovascular technologies that are fostering dialogue between clinicians, academic and industrial experts and encourage researchers and companies, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), within the field to work together to develop medical device and technology driven healthcare solutions for the future. Finally, we will continue with our strong tradition of engaging with patients and the public to increase the review of and participation and understanding of cutting edge research. We will have patient support group representatives reflecting our clinical themes embedded in our MIC management committee and will hosting patient advisory groups and using web-based information, we hope to show the benefits of new research, technologies and impact for the NHS.

Research activity codes: 4.5 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (DETECTION)
Health categories: CARDIOVASCULAR