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Uyên Châu Nguyên wins UM Dissertation Prize 2025

Uyên Châu Nguyên wins UM Dissertation Prize 2025

29 January 2026

During the Dies Natalis of Maastricht University, Uyên Châu Nguyên received the UM Dissertation Prize 2025.

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Global research network launched to study menopause and heart health

Global research network launched to study menopause and heart health

20 January 2026

Ten international health research funders, including the Dutch Heart Foundation, are investing $10 million in a new global research network to improve early prevention of cardiovascular disease in women. The initiative focuses on understanding how menopause affects heart health and how early intervention can reduce risk.

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Ben Hermans

Post doc

Dr Ben Hermans studied Medical Technology (Dutch: Biometrie) at the Zuyd University for Applied Sciences. After his graduation in 2009, he started to study Technical Medicine at the University of Twente in Enschede. In 2015 he obtained his Master’s degree after finishing his graduation internship at the departments of Biomedical Engineering, Physiology and Cardiology. In September 2015, Ben started as a PhD candidate at the department of Biomedical Engineering under supervision of prof. Delhaas, prof. Pison (Hasselt University) and dr. Postema (Amsterdam UMC). During this time, he focused on improving the diagnosis of Long-QT Syndrome by advanced signal analyses of standard electrocardiograms. After obtaining his PhD in January 2020, Ben started as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Physiology.

Currently, Ben is involved in several projects that focus on improving treatment and/or understanding of atrial fibrillation (AF) by studying electrophysiological properties of the atria. For example, by analysing invasive direct contact mapping data or by analysing non-invasive ECG-imaging. Specific projects of research include validating the use of non-invasive ECG-imaging for atrial arrhythmias or applying new innovative signal-analysis techniques on contact mapping data from AF patients to ultimately find new ablation targets for the treatment of AF.

Ben hermans 5f7d5a2e9ef23

Department of Physiology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room number: 3.108
T: +31(0)43 388 13 20

  • 2026
    • Hermans, B. J., Farnir, F. I., Bijvoet, G. P., Larsen, B. S., Jespersen, T., Jerltorp, K., Holtackers, R. J., Mihl, C., Schotten, U., Vernooy, K., Luermans, J. G., Chaldoupi, S.-M., & Linz, D. (2026). Visualization of monopolar biphasic focal pulsed field ablation lesions 3 months after pulmonary vein isolation on high-resolution 3-dimensional dark-blood late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance images. Heart Rhythm, 23(2), 243-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.07.047
    • Farnir, F. I. P., Chaldoupi, S.-M., Hermans, B., Johannessen, A., Haugdal, M. A., Ruwald, M. H., Tasnim Mohaissen, J. G. L. M., Saljic, A., Jerltorp, K., Nissen, S. D., Hertel, J. N., Farnir, F., Jespersen, T., Schotten, U., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Vernooy, K., Hansen, J., & Linz, D. (2026). Ablation of cavo-tricuspid isthmus dependent atrial flutter using a focal monopolar pulsed-field ablation catheter: Feasibility, periprocedural coronary spasms and conduction disorders. Heart Rhythm, 23(1), 105-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.07.001
    • Engels, M. D. E. A., Hermans, A. N. L., Hermans, B. J. M., Luermans, J., Chaldoupi, S.-M., Hendriks, J. M. L., Lankveld, T., Kessels, M. V. M., Vorstermans, B. J. G. H., Beukema, R. J., Vernooy, K., Heesen, W., & Linz, D. K. (2026). Smartphone application-based heart rhythm monitoring to cancel scheduled electrical cardioversion in patients with spontaneous conversion of presumed persistent atrial fibrillation: TeleConvert-AF. European Heart Journal - Digital Health, 7(2), Article ztaf140. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjdh/ztaf140
  • 2025
    • Hertel, J. N., Nissen, S. D., Lindberg, L. A., Schneider, M., Niskala, A., Isaksen, J. L., Jerltorp, K., Ye, C., Hermans, B. J. M., Aerts, L., Maesen, B., Chaldoupi, S.-M., Coffey, K., Reilly, J., O'Brien, B., Jespersen, T., Saljic, A., & Linz, D. (2025). Targeted epicardial pulsed field ablation of atrial ganglionated plexi: Electrophysiological and histologic analysis in pigs. Heart Rhythm, 22(12), 3289-3299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.06.016
    • Zeemering, S., Borof, K., Schotten, U., Obergassel, J., Camm, A. J., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Eckardt, L., Fabritz, L., Goette, A., Habibi, Z., Heijman, J., Hermans, B. J. M., Lemoine, M. D., Magnussen, C., Metzner, A., Rillig, A., Schnabel, R. B., Schuijt, E., Suling, A., ... Kirchhof, P. (2025). Estimated atrial fibrillation burden on early rhythm-control and cardiovascular events in the EAST-AFNET 4 trial. EClinicalMedicine, 88, Article 103457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103457
    • Isaksen, J. L., Norregaard, M., Manninger, M., Dobrev, D., Jespersen, T., Hermans, B., Heijman, J., Plank, G., Scherr, D., Pock, T., Thambawita, V., Riegler, M. A., Kanters, J. K., & Linz, D. (2025). Evaluating artificial intelligence-enabled medical tests in cardiology: Best practice. IJC Heart and Vasculature, 60, Article 101783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcha.2025.101783
    • Farnir, F., Chaldoupi, S.-M., Hermans, B. J., Farnir, F., Habibi, Z., Jerltorp, K., Verhaert, D., Schotten, U., Maesen, B., Vernooy, K., Luermans, J., & Linz, D. (2025). A tailored substrate-based approach using focal pulsed field catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation and advanced atrial substrate: Procedural data and 6-month success rates. Heart Rhythm, 22(8), 1957-1968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.01.015
    • Habibi, Z., Verhaert, D. V. M., Betz, K., Hermans, B. J. M., Winters, J., Philippens, S. A. M., Chaldoupi, S. M., Maesen, B., Maessen, J. G., Isaacs, A., Westra, S. W., Nijveldt, R., Gillet, L., Wienhues-Thelen, U. H., Koehler, M., Zeemering, S., Vernooy, K., Linz, D., & Schotten, U. (2025). Association of atrial fibrillation burden and clinical profile with blood biomarkers: Results from the ISOLATION Ablation Cohort. Heart Rhythm O2, 6(5), 661-670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hroo.2025.02.017
    • Smits, K. C., Bressi, E., Rademakers, L. M., Rijks, J. H. J., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Engels, E. B., Isaacs, A., Hermans, B. J. M., Grieco, D., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Vernooy, K., Prinzen, F. W., & Nguyen, U. C. (2025). Time-dependent repolarization changes following left bundle branch area pacing vs. conventional biventricular pacing in patients with dyssynchronous heart failure. EP Europace, 27(3), Article euaf034. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaf034
    • Isaacs, A., Zeemering, S., Winters, J., Batlle, M., Bidar, E., Boukens, B., Casadei, B., Chua, W., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Fabritz, L., Guasch, E., Hatem, S. N., Hermans, B., Kääb, S., Kawczynski, M., Maesen, B., Maessen, J., Mont, L., Sinner, M. F., ... Stoll, M. (2025). Lateral Atrial Expression Patterns Provide Insights into Local Transcription Disequilibrium Contributing to Disease Susceptibility. Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, 18(1), Article e004594. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCGEN.124.004594
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