As part of funding from the British Heart Foundation, UHNM Cardiac Clinical Scientist Sadie Bennett will work with patients to look into the role AI plays within echocardiology.

The funding follows the involvement of UHNM's Heart Support Group, led by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team, in shaping future training in partnership with the British Society of Echocardiology.

Bennett said: ‘UHNM's Heart Support Group have been instrumental in the development of a future national training program designed at equipping healthcare scientists with the knowledge and skills needed to be able to use AI when caring for patients within echocardiography.

‘The group were asked for their thoughts on AI technology being used within healthcare and, more specifically, within echocardiography. They highlighted concerns regarding patient safely, particularly if echocardiographers were not provided with appropriate training and educational resources. 

‘It's as a result of these concerns the British Heart Foundation awarding funding for me to look into AI within echocardiography, work that will then be used in the development of a national AI training program."

The research, which started this month, will run until the end of the year.