Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute has developed an artificial intelligence application, HeartSight, to support assessment of aortic stenosis. The system uses Oracle database and data science tools in an early pilot program.
Initial pilot results showed diagnosis time fell by more than 80 per cent and imaging data volumes dropped by about 95 per cent, according to the institute and Oracle.
Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and serious forms of heart valve disease. It is a research focus for the institute because earlier, more accurate diagnosis can improve treatment decisions and patient outcomes.
HeartSight was developed to address the time burden and scale limits of manually interpreting echocardiograms. The application is designed to automate analysis of echocardiogram video and expand access to specialist expertise in assessing the disease.
Clinicians upload echocardiogram videos and patient parameters to the application, where the information is stored in Oracle cloud storage and processed through Oracle's data science platform to remove patient identifiers, the institute said.
The project is built on Oracle AI Database 26ai and OCI Data Science, with Oracle Consulting Australia as implementation partner. This allows the institute to manage data across multiple locations with audit trails as it moves through clinical validation, according to Oracle.
The work reflects a broader push by healthcare organisations to use artificial intelligence in diagnostic workflows while maintaining oversight, traceability and privacy controls. In this case, the institute is positioning the software as a support tool rather than a replacement for clinicians.
Founded in 1994, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute focuses on cardiovascular disease research. It brings together clinical research, data science, bioengineering and related fields, and has increasingly emphasised digital tools to move research findings into patient care.
Early findings
The pilot remains at an early stage, and the application must still go through a full validation pathway before broader deployment. Current findings suggest the software could help make diagnosis faster and more consistent if later testing supports those results.
The application was built with Oracle AI APEX, the company's low-code development platform. That enabled the institute to place artificial intelligence functions within its data architecture rather than rely on separate systems for analysis and storage, Oracle said.
For health researchers and clinicians, one practical challenge is the volume of imaging material that must be reviewed. A 95 per cent reduction in imaging data volumes, if replicated more broadly, would significantly reduce the amount of material handled in the diagnostic process.
Speed is another issue. In conditions such as aortic stenosis, where disease severity can affect treatment options, delays in interpretation can slow the path to follow-up testing or intervention.
Associate Professor Mayooran Namasivayam said the institute sees technology as part of its effort to turn research into clinical impact.
"At Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, our purpose is to improve the lives of people with heart disease through world-class research and clinical impact, and technology is central to turning discovery into better patient outcomes," said Associate Professor Mayooran Namasivayam, Head, Heart Valve Disease and Artificial Intelligence Labouratory, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
"HeartSight represents an important and exciting first step in that journey. The early pilot results are highly encouraging, and Oracle provides the secure, integrated platform we need to rigorously develop, validate, and scale this work. We are committed to the full validation pathway ahead, and these initial findings give us confidence that combining expert clinical insight with trusted AI has the potential to meaningfully improve the speed and consistency of care for patients with aortic stenosis," said Namasivayam.
Healthcare push
Oracle is also seeking a larger role in healthcare technology in Australia. It has opened an AI Customer Excellence Centre in Sydney focused on advancing adoption of artificial intelligence in the local healthcare sector.
This places the HeartSight project within Oracle's broader commercial push to expand the use of its cloud and data tools in regulated industries where data handling and governance are central concerns.
Stephen Bovis said healthcare providers are looking to artificial intelligence to improve the timeliness and consistency of care.
"Across the healthcare sector, data and AI are being used to help clinicians deliver more timely, accurate, and personalised care for patients," said Stephen Bovis, Regional Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Oracle. "By building the application on Oracle AI Database 26ai and OCI Data Science, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute is taking an exciting first step toward transforming clinical practice from labour-intensive manual analysis to AI-augmented insight. We look forward to supporting the institute through the rigorous validation stages ahead as it works towards delivering more accurate diagnoses and allowing clinicians to focus on complex decisions and delivering high-quality patient care," said Bovis.