Spotlight on Heart Disease Research

Meet IALH Affiliates and Fellows Researching Heart Disease!
 

 February is Heart Health Month in Canada. Almost 1 in 5 deaths in Canada are caused by heart conditions, and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. One of the biggest risk factors for heart disease is high blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and the heart without noticeable symptoms, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious complications.

IALH Research Fellows

Drs. Dordunoo, Mallidou and Borycki, have collaborated with international researchers, Drs. Hilal Yildirim and Sedat Yildiz, from Inonu University in Turkey, to conduct a systematic review on how older adults can track and manage their blood pressure using eHealth tools.

Their findings reveal that eHealth interventions can play an important role in supporting blood pressure control in older adults. However, effectiveness varies depending on several factors such as the type of intervention, level of professional support, and individual circumstances.

The team is also collaborating with the non-profit organization, Heart & Stroke, to ensure diverse researchers are trained to engage in research related to the heart and brain.

IALH Student Affiliate

Rishabh Jha, Master's Student in Computer Science, is conducting research on developing artificial intelligence systems to support the early detection and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease and cyanotic congenital heart disease.

By applying deep learning and explainable AI techniques to medical imaging and clinical data, he aims to create tools that help clinicians identify heart conditions more accurately and at earlier stages.

This work bridges advanced computational methods with practical healthcare applications to improve patient outcomes across the lifespan.

He recently presented his paper with co-author and IALH Research Fellow Dr. Ashery Mbilinyi, “Automated Chagas Disease Detection using ResNet-Based Architecture with Robust ECG Preprocessing,” remotely at Computing in Cardiology Brazil 2025.