Virtual reality for clinical care and training in congenital diseases

Lead Research Organisation: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Department Name: Institute of Cardiovascular Science

Abstract

Congenital diseases affect 6% of babies born worldwide. Despite dramatic progress in paediatric surgical procedures and interventions, life expectancy for these children is lower than the average population, as treatment outcomes remain uncertain, and the financial burden of their care on country economies is enormous. Children with birth defects, compared to adult patients with acquired diseases, typically present with a wide range of anatomies and conditions, that are often unique and complex, and that change as the child grows. To assess conditions and plan treatments, clinicians relay heavily on diagnostic imaging, which provides anatomical and functional information on the diseased organs, but that is, however, often still presented as a stack of cross-sectional images or reconstructions on a 2D screen. Thus, it remains challenging even for expert clinicians to interpret routinely acquired images, fully understand the 3D anatomy of the defect and plan the best treatment.
In this grant, we propose to test a virtual reality (VR) platform that will respond to the unmet clinical needs outlined above. The platform will not only improve the understanding of each individual congenital case via its unique realistic, immersive experience, but also allow visualisation of different treatment approaches and possible solutions before the actual procedure is performed on the child. Multiple participants will interact in the VR environment, intrinsically enhancing communication amongst healthcare professionals and with patients/parents. Finally, it will become an invaluable training tool, with a unique repository of congenital cases to benefit the new generation of specialised trainees. We will leverage our position at UCL & Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children to test and validate the impact and effectiveness of VR in clinical and specialty training applications, with the aim of
increasing asset value and drawing a business plan for commercialisation.
 
Description Objective Assessment and Treatment Optimisation for Craniosynostosis: A Multicentric Approach to Improve Paediatric Cranial Care
Amount £338,000 (GBP)
Organisation Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSHCC) 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2024 
End 10/2027
 
Description Research Excellence (round 4) - University College London
Amount £3,000,000 (GBP)
Funding ID RE/24/130013 
Organisation British Heart Foundation (BHF) 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2024 
End 09/2029
 
Description Children's Hospital Colorado & University of Colorado 
Organisation Children's Hospital Colorado
Country United States 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution UCL Bogue Research Fellowship for Liam Swanson to spend 3 months (Summer 2023) at Children's Hospital Colorado & University of Colorado
Collaborator Contribution Interventional Cardiology Expertise and PPVI device data
Impact Multi-disciplinary, involving engineering group from UCL and cardiology group from Colorado
Start Year 2023
 
Description Collaboration with Atricure 
Organisation AtriCure
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Exploration of integration of VR for company training
Collaborator Contribution Sharing of data and expertise
Impact Possible organization of training programmes
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaboration with FDA/Dassault Systemes - ENRICHMENT 
Organisation Dassault Systemes UK Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution An in silico clinical trial is underway with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to evaluate the Living Heart simulated 3D heart for transforming how new devices can be tested I am the keader of the WP dedicated to the creation of Virtual Populations
Collaborator Contribution Both Dassault Systèmes and the FDA recognize the transformative impact of modeling and simulation on public health and patient safety
Impact Not available yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description Collaboration with FDA/Dassault Systemes - ENRICHMENT 
Organisation Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution An in silico clinical trial is underway with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to evaluate the Living Heart simulated 3D heart for transforming how new devices can be tested I am the keader of the WP dedicated to the creation of Virtual Populations
Collaborator Contribution Both Dassault Systèmes and the FDA recognize the transformative impact of modeling and simulation on public health and patient safety
Impact Not available yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description Collaboration with Kepler Universitats Klinikum - Linz (Austria) - Dr Julian Hochpoechler 
Organisation Kepler University Hospital
Country Austria 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution Sharing of VR application and expertise
Collaborator Contribution Sharing of experience and collection of data
Impact Preparation of use cases
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaboration with Ospedale Bambino Gesu' - Rome (Italy) - Dr Gianfranco Butera 
Organisation Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu (OPBG)
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Sharing of the VR software, training
Collaborator Contribution Sharing of use case, data collection
Impact Preparation of use cases
Start Year 2024
 
Description Collaboration with Universita' di Palermo (Palermo, Italy) - Prof Salvatore Pasta 
Organisation University of Palermo
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Sharing of expertise - co-supervision of a PhD Student (Mr Fabrizio Crasci)
Collaborator Contribution Sharing of expertise
Impact Submission of 2 papers, Participation to 3 conferences
Start Year 2024
 
Description SickKids Toronto 
Organisation The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
Department Department of Paediatric Cardiology
Country Canada 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution Development of methodology to study RVOT 3D anatomy in longitudinal ToF patients
Collaborator Contribution contribution with patient data and clinical expertise
Impact multidisciplinary with clinical collaborators from SickKids and engineering groups in UCL
Start Year 2021
 
Description Image Segmentation and 3D Modelling Workshop with University of Cape Town 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Cardiologists at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town want to build clinical capacity for image analysis and 3D modelling for patient communication and disease studying. Through a workshop split over two days we discussed the theory and worked on a practical case to lay foundations for them to learn independently.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Participation at launch of GOSH strategy 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Showcase of VR application for planning and training for congenital diseases
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Participation in an activity, workshop or similar - Participation to Rare Diseases Day 2025 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Around 60 people (patients, families and general public) visited our station at GOSH rare disease day. The aim was raising awareness on congenital heart diseases
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Participation in patient engagement at GOSH rare disease day 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact Presentation of engineering methods used to study congenital heart disease in an engaging way with patients and parents at the hospital as well as to other researchers in the facility.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Participation to All Party Parliamentary Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Showcase of our research at All Party Parliamentary Group (Feb 2025).
We interacted with 17MPs and 4 Peers + other members of the general public.

The feedback from AMRC was very positive. The following feedback was shared with us in follow-up to the event:

"I hope you'll agree it was a great success, and a lot of the attendees were clearly very impressed. This was fantastic for showcasing the value and importance of charities in funding medical research. Do please extend a huge thanks from the AMRC team to Claudio and Silvia, who both did brilliantly engaging with attendees on their work."
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Participation to GOSH - NIHR Clinical Research Facility event - December 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact Demonstration of VR for planning and training for patients and public at GOSH
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Participation to the BBC show - Operation Ouch 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Demonstration of use of VR for planning a complex repair of congenital heart disease
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b03cdr8s/operation-ouch