A Newfoundland and Labrador health tech company working on a monitoring solution for congestive heart failure patients will receive support from the Provincial Government to help get its product to market. The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, today announced an investment of more than $500,000 in JVPLabs for research and development of its JVPClinic medical device.
JVPLabs is focused on developing innovative non-invasive technology to enhance the assessment of congestive heart failure patients by measuring jugular venous pressure height both in hospitals and remotely at home. The JVPClinic device captures images of the neck and uses powerful algorithms and artificial intelligence to extract subtle motion signatures created from the large blood vessels lying deep under the skin that provide details regarding heart function. This information will enable doctors to adjust medications before the patient develops severe symptoms such as shortness of breath with the goal of reducing hospital over-crowding and keeping patients feeling well in the comfort of their home.
Congestive heart failure is one of the most common and costly diseases in the world today. This condition has reached epidemic levels and continues to expand rapidly. There are over 25 million heart failure patients in the world, with approximately 750,000 Canadians living with congestive heart failure and another 100,000 diagnosed annually according to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
The Provincial Government’s contribution to this project will support costs associated with developing and fabricating the JVPClinic devices, research and development, third-party testing, and development of artificial intelligence for the technology. The Provincial Government investment will leverage $500,000 from other sources and almost $1.5 million from JVPLabs for a total project investment of almost $2.5 million.
The company has undertaken several R&D projects with the department, all of which were successfully completed. The series of development projects led to earlier prototypes of the JVPClinic device and used in clinical trials at Eastern Health in partnership with the Health Innovation Team.
JVPLabs’ head office is in downtown St. John’s and the medical device is being fabricated locally in partnership with technology company Instrumar. JVPLabs has been in communication with the FDA and is aligned on the clinical requirements to secure regulatory approval. The company is currently preparing for a clinical trial launch at University Health Network in Toronto as well as several U.S. sites. FDA approval and market launch are anticipated in 2026.
The Business Growth Program provides non-repayable contributions for projects or initiatives to assist businesses in starting, innovating, scaling, and improving sales locally, nationally or internationally. This investment aligns with Newfoundland and Labrador’s vision for a thriving health technology sector. The Provincial Government recognizes the potential of this sector to address local health challenges while also contributing to global health solutions.
Quotes
“JVPLabs’ continued expansion underscores the dynamic role that innovative health care companies play in fostering economic growth and creating high-value jobs for Newfoundland and Labrador, while also ensuring innovative medical solutions are developed and implemented locally. We are proud to support the company as it works to develop this important technology.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
“Regular monitoring can provide timely measurements that can be life-saving for individuals living with congestive heart failure, and also contribute to an improved quality of life. The funding for JVPLabs will support technological innovations to better meet the health care needs in our province, which also aligns with recommendations from Health Accord NL.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Health and Community Services
“We at JVPLabs are thrilled to be at the forefront of developing a non-invasive solution tailored to the needs of patients living with heart failure. By enabling effective monitoring, our innovation aims to empower healthcare providers to support early discharge and promote aging in place, ensuring patients can enjoy better quality of life without compromising their care.”
Dr. Andrew J Smith, MD CCFP(EM)
CMO & Co-Founder, JVPLabs
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