Our Mission
Improving education about CHD
Providing knowledge and clarity about Congenital Heart Disease
Our Mission
What Sets Us Apart
Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common major birth defect globally, affecting approximately 1.35 million newborns every year. Prevalence ranges from 6.9 to 9.3 per 1,000 live births, generating approximately 648,000 new CHD cases per year.
[ The Problem ]
90% of the Health Team don’t understand Congenital Heart Disease. Families are left confused and anxious by medical jargon and abstract explanations, which limits their ability to fully understand and participate in their child’s care.
[ Mission ]
We exist to improve care and outcomes for children living with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).
[ Our Purpose ]
We democratise understanding of CHD so every child and their families as well as health team members have the confidence and agency to navigate their condition.
[ Physical, Digital, Online Education ]
We do that by using advanced, accurate, tactile models together with interactive digital visualisations and educational video tutorials to support understanding of complex heart conditions across language, literacy, and stress barriers.
Developed over more three years by a team of 10+ core experts,
supported by an extended project group of 30+,
and tested with 200+ participants during hospital feedback sessions.
Dr Charles Larson and Associate Professor Rochus Hinkel bring together a cross-disciplinary team from The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and the Melbourne School of Design at The University of Melbourne – two world-leading institutions in the fields of health, design and education.
Experts from the Royal Children's Hospital include paediatric intensive care specialists, health educators, surgeons, imaging specialists, and nurses. From the Melbourne School of Design designers, digital creators, as well as digital fabrication and manufacturing specialist contribute to the success of the project.
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The project has been supported through a generous grant from Finnan’s Gift and The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, a seed funding grant from the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at The University of Melbourne, and through Proof of Concept Funding from Research Innovation Commercialisation at The University of Melbourne.
Visit our booth during a congress and
experience our physical and digital models first hand.
Meet us @
36th International Society of Ultrasound in Obstretrics and Gynaecology World Congress, London September 4-7, 2026
ISUOG 2026
13th World Congress of the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive & Critical Care Societies, Melbourne, September 26-30, 2026
WFPICCS ANZICS/ACCCN 2026
New Experimental Technologies
(NExT) Lab
Melbourne School of Design
The University of Melbourne
Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
© 2026 Heartrium
RESEARCH PARTNERS:
