Profession: Student

Inspired by: Historically, natural and biological sciences have been progressing forward independently for many centuries. However, rapid scientific advancement that took place in the last two centuries has rendered these fields dependent on each other. Now any kind of advancement in one field can significantly contribute to the ongoing research in other fields. The revolution in the field of computation is the best example of this phenomenon. Nowadays, computers, mathematical models, and engineering fields such as mechanical engineering are playing an important role in the health care sector. While the developed world is coming up with innovative solutions against health issues every day, these fields are mostly ignored in developing countries like Pakistan. More than 1 million babies are born, annually worldwide, with congenital heart diseases like hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Whereas in Pakistan alone, more than 60,000 children are born with congenital heart anomalies, yearly. As per WHO data of 2016 in Pakistan, around 250,000 (19% of total deaths) annual deaths were due to heart diseases but in just three years, these deaths increased to 406,870 (29% of total deaths) in 2018. This dangerous increase in the death rate due to CHD demands us to take serious measures to improve the health condition of heart patients. The design and development of PakFVAD is the first study of its kind in Pakistan, where no previous work has been done on the development of mechanical circulatory support to cater congenital heart diseases. The purpose behind this study is to pave the way for local designing and manufacturing of advanced, durable, and affordable cardiovascular assist devices.