PhD projects

CRPH has various ongoing PhD projects in the field of cardiovascular and respiratory physiology. Here we present the scope of these various projects.

• Rob Warnaar - Non-invasive monitoring of mechanically ventilated patients during weaning
  Supervisor: prof. dr. D.W. Donker MD (Dirk)
  Co-supervisor: dr. E. Mos-Oppersma (Eline)
  Collaboration with Intensive Care Department, Medisch Spectrum Twente
  
  Tailoring mechanical ventilator settings to individual patients' needs during the weaning phase is one of the major challanges in daily intensive care practice. With our research we aim to develop broadly applicable and non-invasive tools, such as respiratory surface EMG and lungs mechanics measurements, to fit ventilator settings to the individual physiology of a patient.
  
  
• Marijn Mulder - Model-based hemodynanamic management on the ICU
  Supervisor: prof. dr. D.W. Donker MD (Dirk)
  Co-supervisor: dr. ir. L. Fresiello (Libera)
  
  
  My research focuses on hemodynamic instability in critically ill and anesthesized patients, which is a common and significant problem on the ICU and OR. By the means of advanced signal analysis, machine learning and computational physiological modelling, we aim to unravel the underlying pathophysiology. In this way we can support clinicians in making the right treatment choice and therefore promote more personalized hemodynamic management.
  
  
• Akhilesh Kamtikar - Mechanical Circulatory Support
  Supervisor: prof. dr. D.W. Donker MD (Dirk)
  Co-supervisor: dr. ir. L. Fresiello (Libera)
  
  
  Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) devices significantly alter the hemodynamic forces and pressures experienced by the heart. However, our understanding of the cellular-level changes resulting from these alterations remains limited. My research focuses on using in silico models to predict the forces exerted on the heart during MCS and translating these forces to an in vitro model. The ultimate goal is to gain deeper insights into how cardiomyocytes perceive and respond to these mechanical stimuli thus opening the door to better patient care and therapy.
  
  
• Federica Colombi - Treatment of hemodynamic instabilities in acute and critical care patients
  Supervisor: prof. dr. D.W. Donker MD (Dirk)
  Co-supervisor: dr. ir. L. Fresiello (Libera) 
  
  
  First line intervention in the treatment of hemodynamic instabilities in acute and critical care patients typically involves intravenous fluid administration. However, this approach is often associated with increased morbidity and mortality. My research project is focused on assessing the reliability and applicability in daily clinical practice of the fluid responsiveness tests based on mechanistic principles of heart-lung interaction. This will be realized by means of a computational model of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
  
  

External PhD projects

• Thijs Nassi
  Supervisor: prof. dr. D.W. Donker MD (Dirk)
  Co-supervisor: dr. E. Mos-Oppersma (Eline)
  External PhD at Harvard Medical School
  
  Using software engineering I assess medical datasets to model and predict pathological patterns in respiration, neurological output and sleep related signals.  I am currently researching novel prediction features to identify respiratory pathologies from non-invasive signals. 
  
  
• Yaowen Zhang Meng
  Supervisor: prof. dr. ir. P.H. Veltink (Peter)
  Supervisor: prof. dr. D.W. Donker MD (Dirk)
  External PhD at Biomedical Signals and Systems, University of Twente
  
  
  
• Runwei Lin
  Supervisor: prof. dr. D.W. donker MD (Dirk)
  External PhD at Biomedical Signals and Systems, University of Twente
  
  
  During my master study I studied biomedical signal processing. I began to work as a PhD student at the University of Twente in 2023, with an interested in physiological system modeling. Currently I am working on developing a monitoring system for diabetic cardiac diseases. 
  
  
• Anna Florax
  Supervisor: prof. dr. D.W. Donker MD (Dirk)
  Co-supervisor: J.W. Potters PhD (Jan-Willem) 
  
  
  I am a Technical Physician and Health Scientist, currently working at Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital. My research focuses on hemodynamics and continuous monitoring. During this PhD, I aim to contribute to better clinical outcomes by advancing monitoring technologies and strategies in anaesthesia and perioperative care. In addition to my PhD research, I am involved in clinical tasks in the preoperative screening, while also working on innovations in data-driven information provision at this outpatient clinic. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to connect!