Our main research interest in acquired heart disease is to develop, validate, and translate improved imaging techniques into clinical routine. This is mainly based on magnetic resonance techniques, but also encompasses CT, echo, PET and SPECT. Most technical developments are validated in preclinical models and phantoms. We aim to understand the underlying pathophysiology we measure as well as the algorithms used for measuring and quantification. We then perform pilot studies for proof of concept, usually in a small number of well-characterized patients. From then we move on to assess the value of the new parameters for determination of individual patient prognosis and, most importantly, the effect of therapeutic interventions on patient outcome. This is usually done in large multicenter trials. Our vision is to improve patient management and health by improved imaging techniques.
The main areas of research are
- quantification of myocardial blood flow, oxygenation, and cell damage
- quantification of myocardial deformation and contraction
- detection and quantification of early parameters of cardiovascular injury
- combination of these parameters with physiology and pathophysiology