The first project we will be supporting is led by Professor Pier Lambiase, from the Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Bart's Heart Centre. This is part of an ongoing effort to use ECG mapping to improve diagnosis and outcomes in patients with inherited cardiovascular disease and complex arrhythmia.

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Recent years have seen the development of new, non-invasive technologies which help to identify patients at risk of sudden cardiac death. One such example is a wearable jacket containing 252 electrodes that can record electrical signals from the heart, creating an accurate map of the heart and enabling precise definition of regions likely to support dangerous arrhythmia. This approach eliminates the traditional method of placing wires into the heart in order to identify arrhythmias.  

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Prof. Lambiase will lead a study using new technology to see if patients at risk of sudden death can be better identified so doctors can recommend treatments before dangerous heart rhythms occur. A principal aim of this study is to develop better ways to identify the site of the abnormal heart rhythms to target treatment in the heart more precisely.  For example, they will consider whether an ablation procedure can be carried out on an identified area of the heart in order to block potentially dangerous electrical signals before they can develop.

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The pictures shows the jacket they are using and the electrical heart maps that are created. In the future they plan to use this technology to help diagnose ARVC earlier, track disease progression and the effects of drug therapies, as well as improve ablation treatments.