Researchers at La Trobe University, along with a team of regional partners, have been awarded more than $900,000 to co-design a kit for rural Australians to check their heart health at home.
La Trobe’s Associate Professor Simon Egerton from the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Science, has collaborated with rural health consumers and clinicians to create the Heart Health Check Kit, which overcomes challenges rural communities face with healthcare.
Professor Egerton said the kit featured portable devices for measuring blood pressure, fasting glucose and cholesterol.
“Our engagement with rural health consumers revealed significant barriers to the standard model of care, including lengthy waits, long distances to travel and high out of pocket expenses,” he said.
“The kits we have created can solve this, allowing people to check their heart health at home and receive results via phone or mail.”
Professor Egerton is based at La Trobe’s Bendigo campus and specialises in applying technology, Internet of Things and Robotics to improve health outcomes in regional, rural and remote communities.
Rural and Remote Heart Health Advocate Katrina Umback said this project had the potential to save many lives.
"This study is a gamechanger for rural and regional Australians, especially those in a city like Mildura, with no Catheterisation Lab or accessible heart disease screening programs,” Ms Umback said.
“This research will help contribute to ending heart disease being the leading cause of death in our region, in other rural and regional communities, and across Australia."
Funding was secured thanks to a 2024 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Survivorship Care and Collaborative Research Prioritisation grant.
The MRFF provides financial assistance to support health and medical research and innovation, with the objective of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Industry Engagement Professor Chris Pakes said the project demonstrated La Trobe’s commitment to supporting rural and regional Australians.
“Our research seeks to have a positive impact on the lives of rural and regional Australian,” Professor Pakes said.
“Access to healthcare can be an issue outside of major cities and Professor Egerton’s stellar research will make a real difference in this area.”
Want to get involved in testing the project and make a difference in heart health? Reach out via hearthealthcheck@latrobe.edu.au
