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Three CARIM+HVC researchers awareded prestigious Dutch Heart Foundation Dekker Grants

Three CARIM+HVC researchers awareded prestigious Dutch Heart Foundation Dekker Grants

23 July 2026

Within the framework of the Dr E. Dekker programme of the Dutch Heart Foundation, DrJob Verdonschot, DrMartijn Hoes and DrClaudia Schoenichen, have each been awarded a prestigious research grant.

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NWO Veni grant Hongxing Luo

NWO Veni grant Hongxing Luo

16 July 2026

Dr Hongxing Luo (Dept of Physiology) has received a Veni grant from NWO for his project titled ‘Earthquakes in the heart: Origin of heart sounds and application to heart failure’.

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Sam Heuts

Sam studied medicine at Maastricht University, after which he pursued a PhD at the department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in preoperative planning of surgical procedures.  He gained a special interest in coronary surgery, imaging, and periprocedural myocardial injury. In line of this work, he received a Dekker grant (Dutch Heart Foundation, Clinical Scientist) in 2023.

Sam is the principal investigator of the PRIMARY trial (Dekker grant, Dutch Heart Foundation), evaluating the extent and impact of periprocedural myocardial injury. Also, together with colleagues, he developed a new method for the evaluation of the association between surgical volume and clinical outcomes, and he takes a special interest in Bayesian statistical inference.

Carim sam heuts dscf5393 kopie final

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
P. Debeyeplein 25, 6229 HX Maastricht
P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht

  • 2026
    • Bianchi, G., Perazzo, A., Mariani, S., van Bussel, B. C. T., Di Mauro, M., Wiedemann, D., Saeed, D., Pozzi, M., Botta, L., Boeken, U., Samalavicius, R., Bounader, K., Hou, X., Bunge, J. J. H., Buscher, H., Salazar, L., Meyns, B., Mazzeffi, M. A., Matteucci, S., ... PELS-1 Investigators (2026). Extracorporeal Life Support for Post-Cardiotomy Acute Right Ventricular Failure: A Retrospective Observational Multicenter Study. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 122(2), 462-472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2026.02.033
    • Heuts, S., de Keijzer, A. R., Adriaans, B. P., Notenboom, M. L., Mihl, C., Wildberger, J. E., Vos, R. J., Post, M. C., Rylski, B., Czerny, M., Reesink, K. D., Takkenberg, J. J. M., Veen, K. M., Arabkhani, B., Schalla, S. S., Schurgers, L. J., Lorusso, R., Hjortnaes, J., & Bidar, E. (2026). Rethinking Aortic Risk: The Potential Impact of Novel, Adjusted, and Combined Aortic Measures in the Prediction of Aortic Dissection. The Canadian journal of cardiology, 42(7), 1686-1696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2026.01.023
    • Lotfalla, A., Heuts, S., Schreurs, R., Maessen, J. G., Schurgers, L., Korver, E., Verheule, S., Lorusso, R., Jacobs, M., & Bidar, E. (2026). A Comprehensive Total Body Perfusion Strategy vs Conventional Techniques in Elective Aortic Arch Surgery: A Comparative Analysis. Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, 41(6), Article ivag145. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivag145
    • Vossen, L. M., de Leeuw, P. W., Schurgers, L. J., Heuts, S., Adriaans, B. P., de Haan, C., van Varik, B. J., & Kroon, A. A. (2026). Two Years of Menaquinone-7 Supplementation and Coronary Artery Calcification A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2026.1279
    • Govers, P. J., Kawczynski, M. J., Heuts, S., Veen, K. M., de Kerchove, L., Lansac, E., Demers, P., Verbrugghe, P., Rudez, I., Laubriet, A., Vojacek, J., Bidar, E., Takkenberg, J., Kluin, J., Arabkhani, B., & Aortic Valve Research Network Investigators (2026). Valve-sparing Aortic Root Replacement: Defining High-volume Centres Using Prospective Data. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 68(6), Article ezag177. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezag177
    • Aerts, L., Gruwez, H., de Wever, M., Ezzat, D., Heuts, S., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Chaldoupi, S. M., Maessen, J. G., Lorusso, R., Gutermann, H., Pison, L., & Maesen, B. (2026). 1- and 2-stage hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation using a biparietal irrigated radiofrequency clamp: A dual-center cohort analysis. Heart Rhythm O2, 7(6), 1067-1076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hroo.2026.03.014
    • Denessen, E. J. S., Swinnen, B., Lamers, S. K., Delnoij, T. S. R., van Doorn, W. P. T. M., Bekers, O., Segers, P., Maessen, J. G., van der Horst, I. C. C., Heuts, S., & Mingels, A. M. A. (2026). Cardiac Biomarker Kinetics in Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting with an Uncomplicated Course. Clinical Chemistry, 72(6), 692-702. Article hvag012. https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/hvag012
    • Heuts, S., Pustjens, T. F. S., Lux, Á., Gabrio, A., van 't Hof, A. W. J., Rasoul, S., & SLIM trial investigators (2026). Probabilities of treatment effects in complete or culprit-only revascularization for NSTEMI: a Bayesian re-analysis of the SLIM trial. American heart journal, 296, Article 107369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2026.107369
    • van Cauteren, Y. J. M., Lemmens, M.-J. D. K., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Heijman, J., van Koll, J., Kietselaer, B. L. J. H., Heuts, S., van Kuijk, S. M. J., Kim, R. J., Vernooy, K., Wildberger, J. E., Mihl, C., & Smulders, M. W. (2026). CTA and CMR in Suspected Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Insights Into Patient Subgroups. JACC-Cardiovascular Imaging, 19(5), 659-661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2025.10.022
    • Bova, R., Bastings, J., Betti, M., Snik, C., Heuts, S., Segers, P., Winkler, P. J. C., Vriesendorp, P. A., Bidar, E., ten Berg, J. M., Lux, A., van't Hof, A. W. J., & COMMIT LAD Investigators (2026). Design and Rationale of the COMMIT-LAD Registry: A Comprehensive Analysis of Medical and Invasive Treatment Strategies for Patients With Significant Left Anterior Descending Artery Disease (COMMIT-LAD). Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 87(5), 357-363. https://doi.org/10.1097/FJC.0000000000001799
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