The Heart Foundation has awarded UT researcher Dr. Lennart van de Velde (TechMed Center), who works at Rijnstate Arnhem hospital, a Dekker grant. This is a personal research grant awarded annually to talented scientists. With this grant of € 299,000, he will be able to conduct research into cardiovascular disease in the coming years.
A tear in the inner wall of the aorta is a life-threatening condition that can be treated in various ways. It is challenging to determine which treatment is most suitable for each patient. Technical physician, Dr. Lennart van de Velde, in collaboration with the University of Twente, is therefore developing a personalised computer model that mimics the blood flow and the tear, a so-called digital twin.
Digital twin
Van de Velde is testing the method with 38 patients in five hospitals. During the study, several scans will be made over a year, and questionnaires will be completed about the daily lives of the patients. This not only helps him understand the biological processes, but also the impact on the patient's life. He also looks for differences between men and women, for example, in complaints or disease development.
If the model is confirmed as a faithful predictor, it can help doctors in the future to tailor treatment to each patient. This limits complications and ensures that patients receive the most appropriate care.
Faster solutions for patients
Scientific research is desperately needed to prevent people from dying or becoming ill and increasingly ill due to cardiovascular disease. With its personal Dekker grants, the Heart Foundation therefore connects top talent to cardiovascular disease research. The selection procedure for a Dekker grant is strict: the quality of the researcher and the quality of the research are considered. With the grants, the Heart Foundation enables researchers to engage in scientific research into cardiovascular diseases for a long time. This will enable them to take the next step in their career as researchers. The Dekker grant helps them to set up and expand their line of research.
About the Dekker Scholarships
The Dekker Scholarship is named after Dr. E. Dekker, former director of the Heart Foundation. In the Netherlands, he was the initiator of civilian assistance in the event of cardiac arrest.
Bachelor Technical Medicine
As a 'technical doctor', you will fulfil a new, indispensable role in 21st-century medicine.
The use of technology is increasing, and innovations are everywhere. Current developments in healthcare require specialists with knowledge and skills in both medicine and technology, which they can use to improve healthcare for individual patients. The Dutch-taught Bachelor's in Technical Medicine will help you become such a professional. You will combine medicine and technology, merging knowledge of the human body with in-depth technical expertise to help patients independently.
