Heart failure

Research interest

The main research interest of the research theme Heart failure covers:

early detection of new onset or worsening heart failure and its complications (such as arrhythmias) in primary, secondary and tertiary care;
the importance of co-morbidity in the development, recognition, prognosis and treatment of heart failure; and
innovative ways to improve prognosis in all four stages of heart failure such as through e-health, devices, advanced imaging techniques and gene and cell therapy. Basic research focuses on the elucidation of underlying pathways in heart failure, with special emphasis on genetic susceptibility to develop heart failure, the discovery of novel biomarkers and electrical-mechanical remodelling, with the aim to improve prevention of new onset or worsening heart failure and to develop novel therapeutic (and monitoring) targets which will be validated in population-based studies and primary and secondary care patients.

Research objectives

Development of a drug discovery pipeline for heart failure using induced pluripotent stem cells (ipsc); creation of an animal model for diastolic heart failure, and models for genetic cardiomyopathies (zebrafish, pigs).
The use of (epi-)genetic analyses to unravel the mechanisms responsible for complex heart failure and cardiomyopathies.
To apply the unique expertise in our large animal facility where device and drug testing is executed, meeting high quality standards including electrophysiological studies; the development of models to understand right heart failure during LVAD therapy; and the examination of strategies for biventricular longterm support.
Expansion of research lines aiming to understand microvascular dysfunction as the underlying cause of diastolic dysfunction using imaging technologies and by studying epigenetic mechanisms in circulating endothelial cells.
Exploration of mechanisms involved in electromechanical remodelling and
arrhythmogenesis using large and small animal models, zebrafish and stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

Research Groups

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Cardio-oncology

Medicine doctor holding red heart shape in hand and icon medical network connection with modern virtual screen interface, medical technology network concept

Patients with a healthy heart may receive treatment that damages their heart, such as chemotherapy from which, they develop heart failure. We’re using deformation imaging to identify which patients may be early in the process of developing heart failure as a result of medical treatment and hope to set up an intervention trial for these patients.

We’re also curious as to why some patients get heart failure and others not. We have two comparable patient groups with the same baseline characteristics. However, it’s clear that one group is more prone to cardiac damage after exposure to chemotherapy, and we’re following up on this observation with deformation imaging, biomarkers and genetic analysis.

In a quarterly research meeting, professionals from UMC Utrecht, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ) and the Princess Maxima Center (PMC) work together to study the cardiac consequences of oncology treatments.

Cardio-oncology research board

Dr. Arco Teske, chair – (Cardiology) – Personal page – Representative from the UMC Utrecht – Medical Oncology
Prof. dr. Brigitta Velthuis – (Radiology) – Personal page – Representative from the UMC Utrecht Julius Center – Epidemiology
Dr. Martijn Slieker – (WKZ) – Personal page
Dr. Lieke Feijnen – (PMC) – Personal page
Dr Yvonne Koop – (Epidemiology – Julius Center) – Personal page

Cardiomyopathy PhospholambanMutation (PLN)

Cardiomyopathy means heart muscle disease. Heart muscle disease can have several causes, including hereditary causes. One hereditary cause that is common in the Netherlands is a specific mutation (disease-causing change in DNA) in the PLN gene (described as c.40_42del). All people with this mutation have one common ancestor, originating in the northern Netherlands.

Heart transplant

Heart transplantation is an operation in which a person with severe heart disease receives the heart of someone else (a donor). The goal of the transplant is to improve physical condition and exercise capacity.

In depth

Contact

circulatoryhealth@umcutrecht.nl