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FORNY20-FORNY2020

KVAL: Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tool for Heart Failure

Awarded: NOK 0.50 mill.

Heart failure is one of the most common heart diseases, affecting over 64 million people worldwide, and has a mortality as high as severe types of cancer. There are, however, different types of heart failure, and it is challenging to diagnose and categorize the patients correctly. This results in a substantial variability in the categorization of patients by cardiologists, even at the expert level. A generally accepted diagnosis standard is lacking, and there is need for better diagnostic methods. Researchers at department of cardiology at Oslo University Hospital, King’s College London, and Nagoya City University have developed a non-invasive, semi-automated analysis method to diagnose heart failure and to tailor therapy. The method is based on routine ultrasound assessment of left-side heart chamber function of patients with symptoms of shortness of breath or heart failure. The method can be implemented as a software on both existing and new ultrasound scanners in all clinics around the world. The tool will enable cardiologists to provide better and faster diagnoses and earlier and more targeted treatment and thereby improving treatment results and reducing hospitalization of the patients. This project has ensured business justification of the technology by establishing industry interest, assessing the market potential and business opportunity, and patent protection.

Key market players have provided valuable insights in the market potential, clinical relevance, regulatory pathways and technology-implementation options and have shown strong interest in the project. If we are able to verify that the tool is robust and reliable and can provide real-time guidance to the cardiologists, we believe a major ultrasound actor will be interested in developing the product and take it to the market. Then the goal of the project will be achieved: To enhance the quality of heart failure diagnostics to improve patient health, cardiologist confidence and success rate, and hospital economy. If we decide to establish a company based on the technology, we will create to work places and value creation in Norway. The inventors have strongly engaged in the commercialization activities of the project and gained valuable insight into patent processes, industry partnering and entrepreneurial mindset.

Funding scheme:

FORNY20-FORNY2020