A project created by Dr. Antonio Ken Iannillo at the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust, called WavyMeet, has been selected as one of the 15 finalists in the Fit 4 Start Acceleration Programme. Managed by the Ministry of Economy and Luxinnovation with support from Technoport, the LCI, LuxProvide and the LHoFT, the programme provides support to high-potential start-ups. The result was announced after 67 preselected start-ups pitched to a jury comprised of experts, entrepreneurs, and investors at this year’s Arch Summit event.
WavyMeet is a platform dedicated to offering remote cardiac rehabilitation. With cardiovascular disease being one of the leading causes of death globally, long-term rehabilitation is needed for survivors of cardiovascular failure. In fact, rehabilitation should continue for the rest of their lifetime in order to prevent another occurrence. However, most individuals drop out of their rehabilitation, for the simple reason of the inconvenience associated with continued visits to medical centres. This, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many people unable to effectively access rehabilitation, served as the inspiration behind WavyMeet.
Researchers from SnT’s Services and Data Management (SEDAN) research group, led by Dr. Iannillo, Dr. , Wazen Shbair and Denisa Sustalova, created the platform, alongside the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg’s (CHL) physiotherapy department. Together they made a tailored remote cardiac rehabilitation platform, featuring videoconference software with real-time, secure transmission of vital signs. Patients are guided to wear a heart rate monitor, such as a bracelet or chest strap, which is then used by the physiotherapist to view their measurements and use as feedback to tailor the patients’ sessions according to their needs. It also has the capability to raise an alarm when a patient’s heart rate exceeds a predefined threshold, as well as to record the session for future reference. Prof. Radu State
Speaking about the achievement, Dr. Iannillo shared, “It’s amazing to have been selected for such a programme. It tells us that our vision has real potential, but the real work starts now.”
WavyMeet offers the ability for cardiac patients to recover and continue to rehabilitate from the comfort of their own home, and hopes to be supplied to medical care centres starting in Luxembourg. The team had already presented a prototype to test its functionality with early adopters, such as classes from the Association (ALGSC).Luxembourgeoise des Groupes Sportifs pour Cardiaques
As part of the Fit 4 Start Acceleration Programme, the 15 finalists will receive six months of coaching and networking opportunities, alongside funding, free access to co-working spaces, and access to Luxembourg’s high-performance computer.
The project benefits from the continued support of SnT’s Acceleration Programme, within which they receive structured guidance and coaching from the Technology Transfer Office. Within the programme, the WavyMeet team prepared a market study and successfully received funding from the FNR JUMP Programme in 2021, to further develop their proof-of-concept into a viable business. The Acceleration Programme support is geared towards helping researchers gain entrepreneurial skills to take their research from labs into sustainable spin-offs of SnT.
