Kuala lumpur: Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) has partnered with Artivion Malaysia Sdn Bhd to strengthen regional training and knowledge-sharing in advanced aortic care through the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Aortic Care Training Centre of Excellence. Under the collaboration, IJN will serve as a regional platform for healthcare professionals to develop their knowledge and procedural skills in the management and treatment of aortic conditions.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the collaboration will introduce the Aortic Care Essential (ACE) Training Course, providing local and international healthcare professionals with opportunities to observe aortic procedures, learn advanced surgical approaches, and gain practical insights from IJN's experienced clinical teams. The training sessions will be conducted at IJN and will include procedural demonstrations involving Artivion's aortic medical devices, as well as strategies to overcome challenges during those procedures. Artivion will also provide product training to support the safe and effective use of its technologies in clinical practice.
IJN group chief executive officer Prof Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib stated that the collaboration reflects the strength of IJN's clinical capabilities and its growing role in advancing specialised cardiovascular education across the region. He emphasized that being named the Asia-Pacific Aortic Care Training Centre of Excellence is an important recognition of IJN's expertise, facilities, and experience in managing complex aortic conditions. Through this collaboration, IJN aims to share its clinical knowledge with healthcare professionals across the region, including Malaysia, thus contributing to the development of a highly skilled medical workforce capable of delivering safe and effective aortic care.
He further explained that aortic diseases, which affect the body's largest artery, can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Their management requires advanced clinical expertise, specialised medical technologies, and close multidisciplinary collaboration.
Meanwhile, IJN chief clinical officer Datuk Dr Shaiful Azmi Yahaya highlighted the importance of structured training and procedural exposure in strengthening the management of complex aortic conditions. He noted that aortic conditions are highly complex pathologies, and their successful management requires not only advanced technologies but also accurate clinical judgement, technical proficiency, and effective teamwork across multiple specialties. The ACE Training Course will enable participating healthcare professionals to observe real-world clinical practices and learn from experienced specialists in a controlled and structured environment.
Dr Shaiful Azmi also mentioned that the collaboration is expected to encourage greater knowledge sharing among aortic specialists and healthcare professionals from different countries, supporting the development of consistent and evidence-based approaches to aortic care.
Artivion Inc chief commercial officer John Davis expressed delight over entering the Centre of Excellence agreement with IJN, a premier institution known for its excellent clinical practices and outstanding patient outcomes. He stated that Artivion and IJN's collaboration will further their mission in aortic care, and he strongly believes that patients across Asia will benefit from expanded access to treatments for life-threatening aortic diseases as a result of this partnership.
The collaboration agreement will remain in effect until December 31, 2028, with training sessions to be jointly organized by IJN and Artivion based on IJN's clinical schedule and the availability of participating healthcare professionals. Through its designation as Asia-Pacific Aortic Care Training Centre of Excellence, IJN continues to strengthen its position as a regional referral and education centre while supporting the advancement of cardiovascular care beyond Malaysia.