Perth-based medtech company Lubdub has been named one of the Top 10 Catalyst Partners by the Heart Foundation, recognised for its pioneering “Heart First Initiative” — a portable, personalised system designed to detect heart disease early, right at home.
The Lubdub leadership team includes Dr Nikhilesh Bappoo (Co-Founder and Director), Prof. Girish Dwivedi (Co-Founder and Director), Prof. Sharath Sriram (Co-Founder and Director), and Jamie Davison (Chief Financial Officer).
The ten Catalyst projects — ranging from 3D-printed heart valves to remote laundry programs for Indigenous health — form part of the Heart Foundation’s new Innovation Portfolio, which aims to accelerate transformative solutions to Australia’s most pressing cardiac challenges.
Selected from over 200 expressions of interest nationwide, Lubdub is among the inaugural recipients of the Heart Foundation’s 2025 Catalyst Partnership Grants.
Each of the ten awardees will receive $100,000 in seed funding, national advocacy support, and assistance in securing further investment from philanthropy, impact investors, and venture capital.
“This is a major turning point for us,” said Lubdub in a statement.
“The Heart Foundation’s backing brings national patient advocacy and clinical trust, support for adoption, reimbursement and impact at scale, credibility with policymakers and clinicians, and confidence for investors and philanthropists alike.”
At the centre of Lubdub’s innovation is a compact, three-in-one diagnostic platform dubbed ‘heart health in a box’. Built for home use, it includes:
- Electro: a wearable ECG patch that continuously records heart rhythm data for up to 14 days
- Bio: a saliva-based biosensor that detects five key cardiac biomarkers in minutes
- Echo: a wearable ultrasound patch that provides hands-free, real-time heart imaging
These tools offer hospital-grade insights without the need for travel, long waitlists or specialist visits, making them especially valuable in remote, Indigenous, and underserved communities.
Project lead Prof. Girish Dwivedi said the need for such accessible technology is urgent. “I see this heartbreaking pattern far too often…… young patients walk into my clinic with advanced heart disease they never saw coming…their hearts have been silently damaged for years, unnoticed…”
“Why? Because basic heart diagnostic tests that should be accessible to everyone in Australia simply aren’t. And that failure is costing lives.”
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is Australia’s leading cause of death, responsible for one in four deaths and a significant proportion of hospitalisations. Despite its prevalence, many patients do not receive a diagnosis until they reach a crisis point. Studies show up to 80% of heart failure hospitalisations are unplanned, and delays in seeing a heart specialist can significantly increase mortality risk.
Lubdub’s solution aims to shift the system from reactive to proactive care. Its AI-enhanced platform is Medicare-aligned, scalable, and designed to reduce reliance on centralised testing facilities. By placing diagnostic tools in people’s homes, it empowers patients and communities to monitor their heart health early and more regularly.
Heart Foundation CEO David Lloyd said the selected Catalyst Partners reflect the bold thinking needed to tackle CVD.
“This is only the beginning – we will now work alongside our Catalyst Partners to attract funding from a variety of sources to unlock the full potential of this program towards making heart health achievable by everyone in Australia by 2050.”
Lubdub’s team, combining clinical, engineering, and financial expertise, is calling on health leaders, clinicians, and investors to join them in their mission.
“We’re proud — and more energised than ever to push this forward. If you’re an investor, partner, or clinician passionate about transforming heart health — let’s talk.”
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