Developing Proactive Heart Health Checks for Rural Communities

Join us at La Trobe University Mildura for an engaging presentation and informal discussion about the Heart Health Check Kit – an innovative, easy-to-use system which aims improve access to heart health assessments for rural and remote communities.

When: Wednesday 9 April 2025, 12.00pm – 1.00pm
Where: Brian Grogan Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University Mildura (471 Benetook Avenue, Mildura)
Cost: FREE | Lunch provided

Presenters:

• Associate Professor Simon Egerton (Director, Technology Innovation Lab; Leader, Regional Rural Remote Digital Health Research, La Trobe University)
• Dr Saimon M. Silva (Director, Biomedical and Environmental Sensor Technology (BEST) Research Centre, La Trobe University)

At the event, Associate Professor Egerton and Dr Silva will highlight key findings from the initial focus group and co-design sessions conducted in November 2023.  Associate Professor Egerton will share an exciting outcome from these findings, in that the team has now secured more than $900,000 to help shape the kit's usability.  At this session you can learn more about the Heart Health Check Kit, including its design, development, implementation and how you can be actively involved in helping shape the kits usability during the feasibility and testing phase.  

Following the presentation, you will have the opportunity to have an informal discussion with Associate Professor Egerton and Dr Silva about the projects, ask questions, engage with the research, and explore the broader impact of digital health innovations in rural heart healthcare.

What is the Heart Health Check Kit?

Co-designed by researchers at La Trobe University with the local community from Mildura and surrounding areas, the Heart Health Check Kit is being developed to address barriers to traditional GP-centred heart health assessments by offering an easy-to-use, home or pharmacy-based alternative, with results delivered via phone or mail.

Want to get involved?

For the next two years, the Heart Health Check Kit’s feasibility as the new standard model of care for heart health assessment. At the event, we will be seeking eligible participants from Mildura and surrounding communities in Victoria and New South Wales to participate.  Reach out via hearthealthcheck@latrobe.edu.au if you'd like to get involved.

About the presenters

Associate Professor Simon Egerton is based at La Trobe’s Bendigo Campus. He's the Director of the Technology Innovation Lab and leads the Regional Rural Remote Digital Health Research Group. He specialises in applying technology, Internet of Things and Robotics to improve health and wellbeing outcomes in regional, rural and remote communities through the co-design of digital health research. A focus for Simon's research is the application of digital health technology for the mitigation and management of chronic disease across regional, rural and remote Australia.

Dr Saimon Moraes Silva is Dr. Saimon M. Silva is the Director of the Biomedical & Environmental Sensor Technology (BEST) Centre and his research focus on development of translational point-of-need biosensors for biomedical and environmental analysis. He was awarded his Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales in 2018, where he developed DNA biosensors based on gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles. He went on to conduct his postdoctoral training at Swinburne University of Technology where he extended his expertise in antifouling surfaces for varied biomedical surfaces, where he also developed an innovative electrochemical sensing technology for the detection of cancer-associated antigens, which was licensed for commercialization to his industry partner Universal Biosensors. In 2023 he joined La Trobe University as a Lecturer in Chemistry, where he continues to drive the engagement between the university and industry.