History

Cardio Life VAS technology picks up on the engineering and team from Ventracor, an ASX-listed company that developed its novel heart assist device for 10 years. The team achieved excellent clinical results and approval for sale in Europe and Australia, with 420 patients implanted worldwide1,2. The product was on track to reach FDA approval before being unable to raise further funding during the global financial crisis in 2008-09.

  • Biomedical scientist Dr Peter Ayre worked with Ventracor, and over several years, has further developed the technology with former Ventracor engineers and software developers.
  • A fortuitous meeting in Chennai between Dr Ayre and a leading Indian heart transplant surgeon led to their developing a shared vision for an affordable and accessible solution for long-term and short-term heart failure.
  • Dr Ayre worked with another LVAD developer before founding Cardio Life.
  • Cardio Life was formed by a highly experienced executive team, a governance board, and deep and developed relationships with the University of NSW, St Vincents Hospital in Sydney and the largest MedTech Campus in India, AMTZ3.
  • Taking advantage of the years of research and development, Cardio Life has raised anchor funding from AMTZ and is constructing a world-class manufacturing facility on the AMTZ Campus in India.
  • Cardio Life’s key personnel also include former Ventracor professionals, Mr Ross Harricks (Board of Directors), and Mr Pablo Solis (Project Director and Manufacturing Engineering Manager).
1Nojiri C. Implantable left ventricular assist system. Circ J. 2009 Jun;73 Suppl A:A48-54. doi: 10.1253/circj.cj-09-0221. Epub 2009 Jun 5. PMID: 19498246.
2Esmore D, Spratt P, Larbalestier R, Tsui S, Fiane A, Ruygrok P, Meyers D, Woodard J. VentrAssist left ventricular assist device: clinical trial results and Clinical Development Plan update. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2007 Nov;32(5):735-44. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2007.07.028. Epub 2007 Sep 6. PMID: 17825576.
3AMTZ: Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone, is India’s premier medical technology park with Common Manufacturing Facilities & Common Scientific Facilities that include specialised laboratories, warehousing, and testing centres.

Our Team

Founders & Management

Dr Peter Ayre
PhD B Eng
Founder, Chief Scientific Officer

Dr Ayre has 30 years’ experience in Heart Assist Devices, including with the Victor Chang Institute and Ventracor. He has managed large R&D teams and multiple patents and publications in science and engineering. He is experienced in electronics and software development of medical devices and previously worked with Cochlear.

Dr Ayre is a member of the Cardio Life Medical Advisory Board (MAB).

Pablo Solis
B Eng (Hons), MBA
Co- Founder, Chief Executive Officer

Pablo has over 28 years’ international experience in developing and commercialising innovative complex technologies. He also has C-Suite experience in VC-backed startups and publicly listed companies, where he focused on bringing world-first MedTech products to market. 

Mr Solis previously worked with ResMed, Ventracor, and Clever Culture Systems.

Medical Advisory Board

Prof Chris Hayward
BMedSc, MD, FRACP, FCSANZ

Professor Hayward is a Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Professor Hayward has over 20 years’ experience in Heart Assist Device Research and implantation.

Dr Paul Jansz
BMed, PhD, FRACS

Paul is a pioneer of cardiothoracic and transplant surgery in Australia. He heads the Mechanical Circulatory Assist Program and the minimally invasive and robotic surgical program.

His research pedigree is extensive, culminating in a PhD in transplantation from the University of New South Wales in 2003.

Mr Jansz now leads St Vincent’s Heart & Lung Transplant Centre.

Desiree Robson
RN, BSc (Hons), PG Dip

Desiree is a Clinical Nurse Consultant in Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Ms Robson is a VAD-Coordinator at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, and has over 20 years’ experience in Heart Assist Device research and education fields.

Board of Directors

Professor Stephen Moss
BD, STM, DM (Psych)
Executive Chair

Dr Moss has a background in law, psychology, and business, with 40 years of executive experience as CEO, Managing Partner, and Director in both listed and unlisted corporations, including PwC, IBM, Cardno, DAI Capital and Eaton Capital.

Dr Moss specialises in MedTech M&A. Stephen is deeply committed to human rights and international equity of healthcare.

Ross Harricks
B Eng, MBA (INSEAD)
Director

Ross has worked for more than 30 years in the Medical Device industry in the UK, USA and Australia, including as a director of Ventracor and ResMed, and as founder of Cardiex/Atcor.

Mr Harricks has worked alongside the CEOs of many Australian MedTech companies, helping them develop innovative new products, obtain regulatory approvals, launch them into international markets, and build revenues.

Andrew Seaton
LLb, BCom
Director

Andrew is a leading international Corporate and Commercial lawyer with over 35 years of experience, including chairing boards and as Managing Partner of leading law firms in Australia.

Mr Seaton has a strong interest in innovative products and MedTech and a commitment to making a difference in the world of healthcare.