Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Cardiovascular disease is currently responsible for more than 17 million deaths per year worldwide, corresponding to about 30% of all deaths combined. Furthermore, it is projected that cardiovascular disease is to remain the leading cause of mortality by 2030. In order to restrain the negative impacts of cardiovascular disease on the population and the economy, there is an urgent need to promote innovation in medical devices. However, despite a consistent annual growth of the Canadian medical device industries, their market share remains very low. This is part due to the lack of sufficient medical device expertise and skills. This proposed research program has the potential to significantly contribute towards resolving this gap. This is by generating unique knowledge and data that should trigger innovation in implantable medical devices and train highly qualified personnel with strong fundamental knowledge and skills in cardiovascular fluid dynamics applied to implantable medical devices. The proposed research program is designed around three main research axes. In the research axis#1, we will determine experimentally the range of anatomical and flow design parameters associated with optimal flow performance in heart cavities. This is expected to lead to significant advances in the design of new innovative left ventricle assist devices and 3D bioprinting of artificial organs. In the research axis#2, we will investigate, experimentally and mathematically, the complex flow dynamics in heart cavities in the presence of mixed and multiple valve pathologies in order to advance our knowledge on the real flow environment of implantable medical devices and optimize their testing and selection criteria. In the research axis#3, we will be developing the next-generation of cardiac simulators based on patient-specific data and anatomy: 3D-printed patient clones. The expected impact will be a significant advancement in close-to-real testing of implantable medical devices. This research program has the potential to contribute towards improving current guidelines and standards for market approval of implantable medical devices, lowering the costs of development and promoting innovation in Canada.