Project Details

Layman's description

In Western Australia, heart disease, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), is the second leading cause of death. Early detection of CAD can significantly improve survival rates. Unfortunately, many remote areas in WA lack the resources to diagnose CAD, putting residents at a disadvantage. To address these challenges, I propose a new, low-cost eye imaging technology to detect heart disease early.

We are a group of experts (in cardiology, engineering, physics, and optics) developing a new non-invasive artificial intelligence (AI)-powered test for heart disease that uses existing eye scanners (i.e., optical coherence tomography (OCT)) to identify specific biomarkers in the blood vessels of your eye.

This method is a low-cost and completely non-invasive (painless) screening tool, like a stool test for bowel cancer or a PAP smear for cervical cancer.

Expected benefits include easier access for patients, meaning everyone can get screened, regardless of location; easier integration for doctors, so they can incorporate the test into regular appointments as the test can be easily integrated into different healthcare settings; and early detection of heart disease so they can get caught earlier, allowing for better treatment and improved outcomes.

From our point of view; 1. Our secret weapon is the AI and special biomarkers in your eye's blood vessels that can show signs of heart disease. 2. The best part of the method is that this test could be used in many places, from hospitals to community clinics, making it easy for doctors to use and helping more people get the care they need. This could be a game-changer for how we diagnose heart disease!
StatusActive
Effective start/end date6/01/256/09/25

Funding

  • Department of Health (Western Australia): A$122,892.00