Collaborative solutions for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases

CREATElab (Cardio-Respiratory Engineering And TEchnology laboratory) is a collaborative research space linking medical professionals with engineers to develop novel solutions for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. It is the first engineering lab at Monash University to be integrated into a hospital.

The CREATElab team

The CREATElab team.

Lab Director, Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Monash University and a Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow, Shaun Gregory, said this collaboration between Monash University, Alfred Health and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, develops novel solutions to two of our biggest killers globally.

“Cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases affect millions and place a major burden on our healthcare system. With mortality from these conditions expected to rise exponentially over the coming years, it is essential that new technology, clinical techniques and systems are developed to detect, monitor, treat and prevent them.

“It is vital that we provide an opportunity to bring clinicians and researchers together to improve research outcomes for patients and educate the next generation of medical professionals from all backgrounds,” said Associate Professor Gregory.

CREATElab acknowledges their unique location has enabled their collaborative efforts to work.

“CREATElab is situated at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, a member of the Alfred Research Alliance with its main lab located next to the Intensive Care Unit, Cardiology, and Cardiothoracic Surgery offices. As a result, our team sustains an active collaboration with both senior and junior clinicians from many different fields including cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, intensive care, medical imaging, and nursing.

“There is a real value of integrating engineers and clinicians in the same space. It creates an ecosystem which avoids scenarios where you are designing a device with no idea of clinical application or clinical constraints.

“All of the projects in the CREATElab are based on a clinical need identified from clinical collaborators, which ensures patient-oriented-research and more rapid uptake by the end-user,” said Associate Professor Gregory.

Some of the areas CREATElab is currently focused on include:

  • Surgical tools for artificial hearts. This has been funded by the NHMRC and MIME.
  • Clinical training of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This has been funded by MIME which has led to translation of the training tools with Alfred Health currently using the training tools.
  • Artificial heart design. This has been funded by MRFF and is a partnership between Monash University and Alfred Health.

Looking to the future, CREATElab will focus on fundamental research which leads to clinical translation whilst looking to establish similar working models in other Victorian hospitals.

“We need to establish more engineering labs within hospitals, linked together with a common translation hub. This hub would offer advice and resources on the commercialisation of new medical devices and how to optimise them, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes for patients,” said Associate Professor Gregory.

For more about CREATElab, visit: monashcreatelab.com

MIME and CREATElab

MIME has worked closely with CREATElab over the years. The following CREATElab projects have received MIME Seed Funding since 2018.

  • Gregory, S.D., Pellegrino, V., Hagemeyer, C., Westein, E., Rana, A., Niego, B., Soria, J., Pinar, I., Kaye, D., Burrell, A., Salamonsen, R. Thrombosis in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Seed Fund. 2018. $44,286.
  • Gregory, S.D., Pellegrino, V., Hagemeyer, C., Westein, E., Rana, A., Niego, B., Soria, J., Pinar, I., Nandurkar, H., Vatani, A., Liao, S., Carberry, J., Kaye, D., Burrell, A., Salamonsen, R. Thrombosis in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Top-up Fund. 2019. $77,222.
  • Gregory, S.D., Pellegrino, V., Liao, S., Stephens, A., Vatani, A., Wanigasekara, T.D., Burrell, A., Salamonsen, R., Nickson, C., McGloughlin, S., Byrne, T. Simulation-based ECMO educational model – Solution A. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Seed Fund. 2019. $49,937.91.
  • Gregory, S., Thum, K., Dhital, K., Liao, S. Intraventricular flow dynamics with mechanical circulatory support of the pulmonary circulation. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering sponsored PhD research support program. 2019. $15,000.
  • Gregory, S., Wanigesikara, T., Pellegrino, V. Applying engineering techniques to enhance in-field ECMO cannulation. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering sponsored PhD research support program. 2019. $15,000.
  • Gregory, S., Al-Jafary, R., Pellegrino, V., Stephens, A. A comprehensive simulation-based ECMO mannequin for clinical training. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering sponsored PhD research support program. 2019. $15,000.
  • Gregory, S. McGiffin, D., Forsythe, J., Liao, S., Carberry, J., Marasco, S., Kaye, D., Burrell, A. Suture-less cannulation for cardiac support. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Seed Fund. 2021. $50,000.
  • Gregory, S.D., Kaye, D., McGiffin, D., Stephens, A., Dowsley, K. Mechanical circulatory support for HFpEF. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Seed Fund. 2021. $50,000.
  • Stephens, A., Stub, D., Gregory, S.D., Burrell, A., Nickson, C., Kaye, D., Improving outcomes in CPR patients. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Seed Fund. 2019. $47,178.90
  • Liao, S., Pellegrino, V., Pollard, J., Gregory, S., Jafary, R., Stephens, A., Vatani, A., Burrell, A., Nickson, C., McGloughlin, S., Byrne, T. Simulation-based ECMO educational model – Solution B. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Seed Fund. 2019. $49,980.20.
  • Stephens, A., Marasco, S., Gregory, S., Burrell, A., Dhital, K., Salamonsen, R., Strudthoff, L. Improving outcomes for trauma patients. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Seed Fund. 2019. $48,702.90.
  • Brown, A., Liao, S., Gregory, S., Nicholls, S. Software development for coronary ESS. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Seed Fund. 2021. $50,000.
  • Stephens, A. Stub, D., Seman, M., Gregory, S., Kaye, D. Improving the diagnostic evaluation of aortic stenosis. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Seed Fund. 2021. $50,000.
  • Stephens, A., Stub, D., Gregory, S.D., Seman, M., Burrell, A., Marasco, S. Improving Outcomes in CPR Patients. Monash Institute of Medical Engineering Seed Fund. 2021. $50,000.