Fleur Tjong, Molly O’Reilly and Pranav Bhagirath receive Heart Foundation Dekker Grant

Every year, 17,000 people in the Netherlands suffer a cardiac arrest outside the hospital, often without prior signs of heart disease—even among young people and athletes. Current medical methods are limited and usually focus on a single measurement, making it difficult for doctors to predict who is at risk.

Dr. Fleur Tjong, a cardiology resident at Amsterdam UMC, is developing an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) model to better assess the risk of cardiac arrest. By learning from over 70,000 patients and combining data such as ECGs, MRI scans, genetic information, and medical records, the model creates a personalized and dynamic heart profile for each patient. This approach helps identify subtle warning signs early, allowing for timely intervention.

Supported by the Dekker Grant, Amsterdam UMC, and international partners, Dr. Tjong aims to develop and clinically test this new risk model within two years. The project represents a significant step toward improved care and saving lives.

Photo: Nienke Bruinsma, Studio 314 Grou.

Neuroscientist Molly O’Reilly is investigating the nerve cells that control the heart, as they may hold the key to better treatments for inherited heart muscle diseases such as hypertrophic (HCM) and arrhythmogenic (ACM) cardiomyopathy. People with these conditions are at high risk for dangerous heart rhythm disturbances, which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest—even as the first sign of disease in young people. Currently, it is difficult to predict who will be affected and who will benefit from medication, with implantable defibrillators (ICDs) being the only reliable preventive measure.

O’Reilly’s research focuses on the autonomic nervous system, particularly the nerves that regulate the heart, which often appear imbalanced in HCM and ACM patients. She aims to understand how these nerves change due to the disease, how this affects the risk of cardiac arrest, and how the distribution and interaction of nerve and heart muscle cells influence disease progression.

By gaining deeper insight into the role of the nervous system, O’Reilly hopes to better predict who is at risk for dangerous arrhythmias and tailor treatments accordingly. This could help determine who truly needs an ICD and who might benefit more from lifestyle changes or medication, ultimately paving the way for new therapies with fewer side effects and improving both survival and quality of life for patients and their families.

Cardiologist Pranav Bhagirath is developing a digital twin of the heart to improve the treatment of dangerous ventricular arrhythmias, which can recur even after medical procedures. By creating a highly detailed, three-dimensional digital copy of a patient’s heart using advanced CT and MRI scans, extensive heart rhythm recordings, and computer models, doctors can pinpoint the exact origin and pathways of the arrhythmia.

This digital twin allows cardiologists to more accurately identify which areas of heart tissue are causing the problem, enabling them to target and treat these spots more effectively and with lasting results. The approach aims to make procedures faster, safer, and more successful, reducing the likelihood that patients will need repeat treatments.

Bhagirath will first develop and test the system using data from previously treated patients, followed by a study with 50 new patients to compare outcomes with current methods. If successful, this technology could not only improve outcomes for arrhythmia patients but also be applied to other serious heart conditions in the future.