A new rapid and reliable diagnostic tool for assessing heart disease risk has been successfully tested by an international team of researchers. The method, which can measure 25 critical blood markers such as cholesterol in under 15 minutes using radio waves, offers a potential game-changer in the fight against cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The technology, currently for research use only, could enable broader access to diagnostic testing, particularly in remote and underserved areas, improving the potential for early detection and treatment.
Led by researchers from the Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC) at Murdoch University, CIC bioGUNE, Monash University, and Bruker Biospin GmbH, the study, published in Analytical Chemistry, introduces a cost-effective, benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system that promises to revolutionize cardiovascular diagnostics. This breakthrough provides a more accessible, high-throughput method for cardiovascular risk assessment, marking a significant step toward integrating advanced molecular diagnostics into routine healthcare and preventive medicine.
Lipoproteins, which are integral to cardiovascular health, play a crucial role in the development of heart disease. Their composition and concentration are directly linked to CVD risk, with alterations in lipoprotein levels also associated with conditions like diabetes and obesity. Traditional clinical methods for lipoprotein profiling are limited to a narrow set of markers and often rely on expensive high-field NMR spectrometers, restricting their use in everyday clinical practice.
The research team has developed a calibration model allowing benchtop NMR systems (operating at 80 MHz) to accurately quantify 25 key lipoprotein markers, including total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, ApoA1, and ApoB100, in less than 15 minutes per sample. These markers are vital for assessing cardiometabolic risk and monitoring inflammatory conditions, providing healthcare providers with a fast and reliable diagnostic tool.
Professor Jeremy Nicholson, Director of ANPC and co-study lead, highlighted the importance of demonstrating reproducibility across three independent laboratories. This validation underscores the technology’s robustness, offering a promising alternative to traditional, costly diagnostic methods. “Currently, most CVD risk markers are measured only in high-risk patients. By detecting these markers earlier, we can take corrective action and study the general population at scale,” said Professor Nicholson.
Lead researcher Professor Julien Wist emphasized that the findings bring medical science closer to integrating advanced molecular diagnostics into routine healthcare. “Our approach demonstrates that sophisticated lipoprotein analysis can be reliably conducted outside of specialized research settings,” Wist noted.
Dr. Philipp Nitschke, a contributing researcher, pointed out that by removing the barriers associated with high-field NMR, the new technology expands access to detailed lipid profiling, potentially improving early detection and management of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
The affordability and portability of benchtop NMR technology could transform cardiovascular disease screening, especially in resource-limited regions or vast geographical areas like Western Australia, where rural communities are often hundreds of kilometers from centralized testing facilities. Beyond CVD risk assessment, the technology holds promise for applications in diabetes management, chronic inflammatory disease monitoring, and infectious disease detection.
Professor Nicholson stressed the broader public health impact of this technology. “It’s not just about improving individual diagnostics; it’s about enabling population-scale disease prevention and personalized medicine.”
Dr. Falko Busse, Group President of Bruker BioSpin, expressed optimism about the potential of benchtop NMR in advancing cardiovascular research and other disease areas. He also anticipates future advancements through AI-driven analytical approaches, enhancing the capabilities of benchtop clinical translational research.
Colin La Galia, Chair of The Hospital Research Foundation Group, which co-funded the study, praised the technology’s potential to revolutionize community health. “This could be one of the most significant contributions to population health and preventive medicine in recent years,” La Galia said. “Making this technology more accessible and affordable could change how we manage heart disease and chronic conditions, ultimately saving lives.”
The research team plans to refine the benchtop NMR model further, exploring its potential for tracking disease progression and treatment responses. The technology, currently available for research use only, will require additional funding for accreditation before it can be widely implemented in clinical settings.
This study was supported by The Hospital Research Foundation Group (formerly The Spinnaker Health Research Foundation), the National Health and Medical Research Council, and the Western Australian Department of Health.
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