The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) has launched a new Innovation Hub, which will champion investment in innovation to support the development of cardiothoracic surgical treatments and improve outcomes for patients.
The Innovation Hub was announced at the Association’s annual Innovation Summit (19–20 April, Paris, France). At the Summit, engineers, chemists, molecular biologists, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics specialists, surgeons, industry leaders and policy makers discussed new technologies, pioneering treatment pathways and future surgical developments.
Participants heard some of the very latest disruptive ideas in cardiothoracic surgery, including how AI and immersive technology are changing and will continue to change the entire field of CT surgery, including cardiac ultrastructure imaging, the future of robotic surgery and the engineering and distribution of Super-Organs.
Speaking at the Innovation Summit, past EACTS President (2022) and co-chair of the summit, Friedhelm Beyersdorf, said: “Emerging technologies and artificial intelligence are changing cardiothoracic surgery. We know that innovation often takes place at the borders between specialties and that is why we brought together delegates from across disciplines. Our second Innovation Summit with clear action from the discussion groups alongside the creation of our new Innovation Hub provide a clear message that EACTS is serious about innovation.”
As part of the new Innovation Hub EACTS members will be able to apply for grant funding to stimulate research and advance innovation in cardiothoracic surgery. Grants will be awarded from a fund that EACTS has recently established. The grants will be available to EACTS members only, through a competitive process over a five-year period. EACTS will be particularly interested to see applications that focus on the priority topics from the Innovation Summit and that are likely to create real-life opportunities to improve patient outcomes. The grant application process is set to launch in October 2024.
The grants will be overseen by EACTS’ new Innovation Committee made up of research, academic and industry experts. Past EACTS presidents Friedhelm Beyersdorf and Mark Hazekamp have been appointed chair and vice chair, respectively. Recruitment for additional members is underway.
Past EACTS president (2021) and co-chair of the Innovation Summit, Mark Hazekamp, said: “The Innovation Hub will stimulate new concepts and support inventors and creators to bring their ideas to clinical use. Using, implementing and further developing these upcoming opportunities is a priority for us at EACTS in order to further improve outcomes for patients with heart and lung conditions now and in the years ahead.”
