microsampling and exciting cardiovascular research

The fast-growing field of precision medicine aims to deliver on the promise of personalization and data aggregation technologies in the new era of "Smart Healthcare." Its purpose is to better understand the underlying mechanisms of disease, and to apply more targeted and individualized approaches to care.

In California, precision medicine has received a surge of adrenaline from the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine (CIAPM), a program launched in 2015. CIAPM has seen to completion eight innovative, collaborative translational research projects all over the state from a variety of private and public institutions, awarding over $11 million in support to explore innovations and make important and useful discoveries.

Of particular interest is a project concerning the early prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events using remote monitoring. Led by principal investigators Dr. Brennan Spiegel, Dr. Noel Bairey-Merz, and Dr. Jennifer Van Eyk, the team spent two years working to understand how cardiovascular threats could be detected early enough for more effective treatment or prevention. Their research addresses questions around whether physiological, biochemical, and psychosocial measurements can help in predicting Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACEs).

Research areas of focus included:

• Exploring the accuracy of remote sensors to represent clinical outcomes
• Confirming the feasibility of remote specimen collection for translational research
• Mapping and monitoring data related to cardiac health

This pioneering research initiative made use of Mitra^® microsampling devices, based on Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling (VAMS^®) technology from Neoteryx. This allowed study participants to collect their own blood samples at home or wherever else they happened to be. The Mitra^® devices were one part of a larger remote monitoring program, using various technologies to gather information off-site. This remote approach streamlined processes and created new conveniences for participants and practitioners alike.

The research team continues to analyze the information it collected in the course of this work, but an early evaluation of the project by John Rumsfeld, MD, PhD, has encouraging things to say about the potential of remote monitoring technologies in general, and Mitra^® devices with VAMS^® in particular.

"The high adherence to the Mitra^® devices over the 12-week period, and overall ~90% adherence to the wearable sensors are a great reflection of engagement. This is important as digital health/precision medicine initiatives move forward, providing evidence that [participant] engagement with remote monitoring interventions can be high and sustained."

For precision medicine to make good on its promise to expand and improve pathways of care, the research data of underlying disease mechanisms must be examined. Missing links require new thinking and new solutions. This project on detecting cardiovascular events is important because it enables volunteers to participate remotely in important research by using remote monitoring solutions.

The use of Mitra^® devices and microsampling contributes to this remote or decentralized approach to cardiovascular research that translates into precision medicine — an approach that has more relevance today than ever before.