Toshiba Medical Systems in the U.K. has helped form a three-year research partnership with the University of Bristol and the University Hospitals Bristol National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust.
The agreement with the trust's Clinical Research and Imaging Centre (CRICBristol) involves collaborating with the Bristol Heart Institute (BHI) and the University of Exeter's Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre to investigate the effects of exercise on children with congenital heart disease.
Researchers plan to explore fitness levels of 40 children born with a heart condition compared with 40 healthy children and adolescents, while exercising. This strategy will allow researchers to analyze the heart's performance under stress and help to better identify abnormalities, which may not be present at rest.
"Our heritage in applied research and development means that we have developed the technical capabilities to be an important partner in research of this kind. We're excited to see the initial results from our world class research partners and how the benefits can be passed on to the wider U.K. health system," said Mark Hitchman, managing director of Toshiba Medical Systems.
The goal is to more precisely identify the safe levels of exercise for the children, as well as to define the benefits that regular exercise delivers to children over time. The study will use Toshiba's Aplio 500CV high-end ultrasound scanner.
