One in three newly-approved cancer drugs are linked to inadvertent cardiac or vascular side effects, creating new challenges for patients and healthcare systems as cancer therapies improve the survival rates of millions of people worldwide. The risk of these side effects is not always easy to detect and follow up care varies across Europe.
Funded by £43 million from the European Union and contributing partners, under the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), COMPASS aims to combine the use of innovative medical and digital technologies to improve the early detection of heart-related risk and complications in cancer patients and survivors.
Led academically by King’s College London’s School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, with GE HealthCare as industry lead, COMPASS combines public funding with industry expertise to provide patients and healthcare professionals with the tools to understand, detect and manage heart problems caused by cancer treatments.
As part of the consortium, the School will contribute its significant scientific expertise in cardiotoxicity and cardio-oncology research across the scope of biochemical mechanisms, biomarkers and clinical capability to help guide translational success for the project and the clinical adoption of improved cardiac care pathways for cancer patients.
Steve Archibald, Professor in Molecular Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, said : “King’s College London is looking forward to providing academic leadership and scientific coordination to COMPASS, harnessing the consortium expertise across cardiology, oncology, molecular science, big data and AI to address the increasing challenge in cardiotoxicity in cancer care. We aim to promote integrated care models to drive widespread adoption across healthcare systems.”
Eigil Samset, General Manager, Cardiology Solutions, GE Healthcare, said: “GE HealthCare is proud to lead the industrial contribution to COMPASS, joining forces with leading academic and clinical experts to enhance cardio oncology care. This collaboration aims to develop an AI powered, patient centred clinical pathway that enables earlier cardiotoxicity detection, safer cancer treatment, and better long-term cardiovascular outcomes for cancer patients.”
The project will contribute to the development of integrated and sustainable care pathways through national collaboration models across Europe, helping improve how cardiovascular risks linked to cancer treatments are managed over time. A human-first approach, that puts patients at the heart of the initiative will also ensure innovations are not only scientifically sound but also meaningful and accessible to the people who need them most.
Professor Sebastien Ourselin FREng FMedSci, Head of the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, said: “Global collaborations that combine industry, hospitals and universities are critical to solving the great health challenges of our time. We celebrate improving cancer survival rates, but must also look at how we can use advanced technology and innovations to improve patient heart health, pre and post treatment. I’m delighted our School, combined with the COMPASS consortium partners, can put its expertise to good use on this emerging issue.”