Partnership Opportunities

Funded by the state of Ohio's Third Frontier Program, the Atrial Fibrillation Innovation Center (AFIC) is a unique consortium of key Ohio academic institutions and national corporate partners working together to complete our mission of improving the quality of life for individuals with AF. In the course of doing so, AFIC continually strives to foster collaborations with industry and clinical partners, and to stimulate economic growth in Ohio. Consideration of new ideas and approaches is fundamental to the AFIC mission. Therefore, we are always searching for new programs and partners in our assault on AF.

Research initiatives are led by investigators from Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University, and the University of Cincinnati. Research and development projects are undertaken in collaboration with corporate partners, often utilizing AFIC's state-of-the-art pre-clinical research facilities located at the Cleveland Clinic. With this structure, key partnerships between academic institutions and industry are ensured, enhancing and speeding development, and contributing to economic development in Ohio.

We would like to encourage all potential partners to investigate with us how we might be able to work together. Please send inquiries to afic @ ccf.org.

AtriCure: The AFIC Surgical team is collaborating with AtriCure on the development of new strategies and techniques for management of AF, including ablation and occlusion of the left atrial appendage.

BioControl: The AFIC Novel Technologies group has been partnering with BioControl to develop an implantable device for stimulating the vagus nerve to affectuate cardiac rate control. Plans for stimulation of epicardial fat pads for this purpose are in the works.

Biosense Webster: Biosense Webster is working with AFIC's EP researchers to integrate the company's CARTO® mapping system with Siemens' CT scanning software for 3D reconstructions. Investigations into novel catheter technology are ongoing as well.

Cycorp: AFIC's Outcomes group has been working with Cycorp on computer intelligence gathering technology for cardiovascular disease, including notably atrial fibrillation.

Endosense: Endosense is commissioning AFIC's EP group to evaluate the company's tactile feedback product's ability to measure the pressure at the tip of the catheter during ablation.

GE: AFIC's EP group is testing GE's newly developed software platform for reading patients' Holter Monitor cardiac data.

Hansen: Hansen has contracted with AFIC's EP team to be the only provider of Sensi® level 1 and level 2 systems training for electrophysiologists in the U.S. A Sensi® system is housed in the AFIC pre-clinical facilities for these purposes.Cardax: The AFIC Basic Research group is preparing to investigate the effects of Cardax's core antioxidant product on AF inducibility and duration.

CardioFocus: AFIC's EP group is engaged with CardioFocus on a multi-center human clinical trial to evaluate the company's endoscopic laser ablation system for AF. The AFIC pre-clinical facility is a national training center for this system.

CryoCor: AFIC's EP group is working with CryoCor to test the permanence of lesions created by the company's cardiac cryoablation system to assist with FDA regulatory approval.

CV Therapeutics: CV Therapeutics is supporting our investigation into the effects of a novel antiarrythmic agent on human atrial myocytes.

Medtronic: Medtronic is collaborating with the AFIC Surgical team on a clinical study of surgical ablation tools. Designs for further collaborations involving Medtronic's Reveal® monitoring system are in the works.

Orbital Research: AFIC's Basic Research group is working with Orbital Research to test the company's novel dry electrodes in clinical and pre-clinical studies of arrhythmia mechanisms to facilitate long-term recordings.

PrognostiX: PrognostiX is assisting the AFIC Basic Research group by developing assays for myeloperoxidase and other inflammatory biomarkers, to evaluate the role of inflammatory mechanisms in the development of cardiac ectopy and AF recurrence in patients following cardiac surgical treatment of atrial arrhythmias.

SignaLife: We are working with SignaLife to evaluate a novel long term continuous recorder to follow-up post-atrial fibrillation ablation patients, including the evaluation of inflammatory mechanisms in the development of cardiac ectopy and AF recurrence post-surgical treatment of AF. We are also working together to evaluate a unique sensor technology (affixed in a vest) to monitor and transmit real-time race car driver ECG data in the Champ Car (open cockpit racing cars) circuit.

St. Jude: AFIC is finalizing a protocol to use St. Jude's EnSite® mapping system in the AFIC pre-clinical facility. The company is also working with our Novel Technologies group to design leads for stimulation devices that will attach to the fat pads on the epicardial surface of the heart.

ProRhythm: AFIC is using ProRhythm's high frequency ultrasound balloon for endocardial ablation in AF in humans. The AFIC facilities are being set up as a training center for this product.

Reliant: Reliant has commissioned a study to determine whether pre- and post-operation administration of a pharmaceutical grade W-3 fatty acid supplement have a positive effect on the reduction of post-op AF.

Siemens: AFIC's EP group is collaborating with Siemens' neuroendovascular group to evaluate the company's Dyna CT imaging device system. We are also working with Siemens for the evaluation of a software suit designed to enable improved imaging of the heart using Dyna CT technology for electrophysiology procedures.