Linde Healthcare Continues to Support Innovation in Advanced Respiratory Care

PULLACH, Germany, September 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Research grants to be awarded at Linde Healthcare REALfund event, 8 September 2014 concurrent with the European Respiratory Society Congress in Munich 

Linde Healthcare, a global business unit of The Linde Group, today announced the new beneficiaries of its REALfund initiative, a programme supporting ideas and projects with the potential to improve patient outcomes and health economics across the wide field of respiratory medicine.

Selected from more than 30 applications, three grantees of the REALfund will receive funds to support their innovative research:

Professor Philipp Latzin MD, PhD, University Children Hospital, Basel, Switzerland is researching how to help transfer double tracer gas single-breath washout, an innovative robust, inexpensive, fast and sensitive diagnostic method for small airway disease, into clinics.

Professor Stefan Mihaicuta, MD, PhD FCCP, V. Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania is working on implementation of a new methodology for early diagnosis and continuous patient management of sleep apnoea, based on an e-health system facilitated by complex networks science.

Torbjörn L Möller, CareTelCom AB, Veberöd, Sweden is developing and verifying a predictive algorithmic system for early detection of potentially upcoming exacerbations in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Dr Christian Wojczewski, Head of Linde Healthcare states: "Linde Healthcare continues to be committed to co-operating with researchers from around the world to support research and innovative developments in the area of respiratory care. The newly awarded REALfund grants span a diverse range of research areas - from the transfer of gas-based diagnostic methods into routine clinics, to new methodology for early diagnosis and patient management of sleep apnea. The grants also include a new system for prediction of acute exacerbations in patients suffering from COPD. The work of these researchers, when realised, will help healthcare professionals, support healthcare systems and further improve the quality of care and life for patients".

Grantees of the REALfund are selected with the help of medical and scientific experts and will be supported in their continued research. Dr Konstantin Fiedler, Head of Innovation and Development at Linde Healthcare states: "The aim of Linde Healthcare's REALfund initiative is to seek and reward ideas that have real potential to be developed into better respiratory care solutions for patients. We commend all applicants to the fund for their commitment to innovation and idea development in this area of healthcare. The grantees saw the potential in their projects and we at Linde Healthcare are delighted to recognise and reward the ideas that will truly benefit patients."  

The REALfund event and awards ceremony will take place on 8 September 2014 concurrent with the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Munich, Germany. Further information about the REALfund is available at: http://www.linde-healthcare-realfund.com

About Linde Healthcare  

Linde is a globally leading healthcare company specialising along an integrated respiratory care path. It combines pharmaceutical gases, medical devices, services and clinical care into solutions with the patient in mind.

Linde Healthcare is present in over 60 countries and generated revenue of EUR 3,015 billion in 2013. Its product and service offering encompasses a wide range of product-oriented services such as gas supply and gas therapies, sleep and pain therapies, and patient-centred services. Linde Healthcare focuses on four strategic business segments: Hospital Care, Gas Therapies, Homecare and Care Concepts. Long known for expertise in respiratory homecare, our Homecare competencies cover the full spectrum of services with a focus on patients' individual needs. In the Care Concepts business segment, REMEO® is Linde Healthcare's innovative programme for long-term mechanically ventilated patient care, offering an integrated care path that bridges the gap between a hospital's ICU and a patient's home.

About The Linde Group 

In the 2013 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of EUR 16.655 bn, making it the largest gases and engineering company in the world with approximately 63,500 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development. For more information, see The Linde Group online at http://www.linde.com

REALfund grantees project titles: 

- Professor Philipp Latzin MD, PhD - 'Clinical application of double tracer gas single-breath washout in children with different lung diseases.'

- Professor Stefan Mihaicuta, MD, PhD FCCP - 'Morpheus: A Screening and Monitoring System for Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

- Torbjörn L Möller - 'Mathematical algorithms for early prediction of increasing probability for soon up-coming exacerbation.'