Dr Nick van Osta (Dept of BME) and Dr Karim Taha (UMC Utrecht) have been awarded a Dekker Team Science grant by the Dutch Heart Foundation. Over the next three years, they will develop a digital copy of the heart to improve treatment for patients with heart failure caused by a stiff heart muscle (HFpEF), a rapidly growing condition affecting millions worldwide.

Using ultrasound images taken at rest and during exercise, the researchers will build patient-specific computer models using the CircAdapt framework that reveal which disturbances in the heart cause symptoms. These digital hearts will allow clinicians to test treatments virtually before applying them to patients and to estimate heart filling pressures without invasive procedures.

In the future, the digital model could also help monitor disease progression and refine personalised treatment plans. The Dekker Grant supports promising researchers in establishing their own research lines and accelerating solutions for cardiovascular patients.

Check out the Science Story to lean more about Nick's research.