Cardiovascular Bioengineering​​ Theme

Background

The Cardiovascular Bioengineering (CB) Theme aims to (1) advance scientific understanding of the mechanical function of the heart and blood vessels, in health and disease; and (2) develop innovative technologies in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment. The team comprises biomedical engineers (NHCS, A*STAR) and clinical investigators (NHCS, NUHS and KKH) from many institution island-wide. We apply advanced experimental and computational models with emphasis on quantitative evaluation of the relevant parameters by integrating multidisciplinary approaches (cardiac imaging, mechanics, physiology and computational cardiology) that we hope shall ultimate translate into discoveries with practical clinical application.

Core elements of the theme are: (1) multi-disciplinary expertise in cardiovascular imaging, mechanics, engineering and physiology) for innovation; (2) curated library of subject-specific cardiovascular images and computational models; (3) in-house computational expertise for UI development and data management; and (4) established technology development pathways and processes.

Research Area

Research area includes fluid dynamics and mechanics of blood in coronary arteries and their roles in atherosclerosis and arterial remodeling (i.e., Projects 1, and 4) and in ventricles (i.e., Project 2). Cardiac imaging (i.e. Cardiac MR, Echocardiography, CTA and QCA) research (i.e., Project 2 and 3) involves the development of in-house software with emphasis on quantitative evaluation of the ventricular systolic and diastolic and synchrony parameters. Cardiovascular solid mechanics research addresses the mechanical stress and strain in healthy and disease hearts (Project 5). Novel sensor technologies that is for early detection of the heart dysfunction and follow-up of the disease progression.

Projects

1. Noninvasive fractional flow reserve (FFRb) in intermediate coronary artery disease (supported by National Medical Research Council, Bench-to-Bedside Program)

2. Integrated computational modelling of right heart mechanics and dynamics in congenital heart disease (INITIATE study) (supported by National Medical Research Council)

3. Curvedness-based imaging in heart failure (supported by A*STAR SERC)

4. CABG restenosis (supported by Singhealth Foundation)

5. Pulmonary hypertension: Image based multi-scale modeling of the cardio-pulmonary system (Supported by Goh Foundation)

6. E-stethoscope (Supported by A*STAR SERC)

Achievements

Awards

1. Best Abstract Award (Dr Zhao Xiaodan) at SCS Conference 2015
2. Singhealth Publish Award (Medical Research) (Dr Zhong Liang), Singhealth Group, Singapore 2014
3. Best Publication Gold Award, Annals, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (Dr Zhong Liang), 2013
4. Young Investigator Award (First Prize), Asean Federation of Cardiology (Dr Zhong Liang), 2012
5. Young Investigator Award (First Prize), Singapore Cardiac Society (Dr Zhong Liang), 2012
6. Sejong Medical Award, 4th APCCS, Taiwan (Dr Zhong Liang), 2012
7. Young Investigator Award (First Prize), Singapore Cardiac Society (Dr Zhong Liang), 2011
8. Save the Children Korea Travel Grant, APPCS & APSACHD, Japan (Dr Zhong Liang), 2010
9. Best-poster Award, 14th ECHO-Singapore (Dr Zhong Liang), 2009

Grants

1. NMRC Open-Fund IRG Grant: "Integrated computational modeling of blood flow and mechanics in congenital heart disease (INITIATE study)" (2016-2019)
2. NMRC Bench-to-Bedside Research Grant: "Validation of a predictive model of coronary fractional flow reserve in patients with intermediate coronary stenosis" (2015-2018)
3. A*STAR SERC POV Grant: "Noninvasive analysis of fractional flow reserve for functional coronary stenosis assessment in patients with intermediate coronary artery stenosis (INNOVATION)" (2015-2016)
4. A*STAR SERC POV Grant: "Curvedness-based imaging: A novel automated & comprehensive approach for Ventricular function assessment in heart failure" (2013-2017)
5. BMRC Grant: "Imaging-based diagnosis of diffuse coronary artery disease and quantification of cardiac remodeling in obesity" (2014-2017)
6. A*STAR SERC POC Grant: "Portable digital auscultation based on wireless sensor node to diagnose diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive heart disease (E-Stethoscope)" (2014-2016)