Consortium

Prof. Joris de Groot (Amsterdam UMC), a leading expert in clinical and experimental electrophysiology and atrial tissue research, co-leads WP1 (EmbRACE Tissue Bank) together with Prof. Schotten.

Prof. Monika Stoll (Maastricht University) has pioneered genetic epidemiology and transcriptomics in cardiovascular disease, and leads WP2 (Transcriptomics).

Prof. Vincent Christoffels (Amsterdam UMC) is a world-renowned specialist in cardiac gene regulation and arrhythmia genetics. Together with Prof. Daniël Pijnappels (Leiden UMC), an expert in in vitro human AF models and cardiac optogenetics, he co-leads WP3 (Mechanistic Validation).

Prof. Jordi Heijman (Maastricht University and Graz University) has strong expertise in systems electrophysiology and is skilled in multiscale modeling and cardiac pharmacology. Assoc. Prof. Rik Vullings (TU Eindhoven) is a specialist in biomedical signal processing and medical AI. Together, they co-lead WP4 (Computational Modelling & AI).

Prof. Michiel Rienstra leads WP5 (RACE X Clinical Trial), drawing on his extensive experience in coordinating clinical AF trials and registry-based cardiovascular research.

Dr. Ron Pisters (Rijnstate), an innovative clinical cardiologist with expertise in anticoagulation and implementation science, and Dr. Robert Tieleman (Martini Hospital), an experienced electrophysiologist and national leader in AF screening, co-lead WP6 (Lifestyle and ACM Progression).

Assoc. Prof. Geert-Jan Geersing (UMC Utrecht) is an authority in cardiovascular risk prediction and implementation research in primary care and leads the Impact and Valorisation Programme.

Prof. Hester den Ruijter (UMC Utrecht) contributes her leading expertise on sex differences in cardiovascular disease and translational vascular biology. Prof. Henri Spronk (Maastricht UMC+), a key expert in thrombosis and biomarkers, Dr. Sander Verheule (Maastricht UMC+), an authority in cardiac tissue histology; and Dr. Stef Zeemering (Maastricht UMC+), a specialist in electrophysiological signal analysis contribute essential cross-cutting expertise.

Prof. Rudolf de Boer (Erasmus MC), a globally recognized heart failure researcher, provides guidance on integrating AtCM with heart failure phenotyping and outcomes.

The Young Talent Programme is coordinated by Dr. Fleur Tjong and Prof. Isabelle van Gelder (UMC Groningen), both internationally recognized for their leadership in AF clinical research and mentoring of early-career scientists.

Industry partners involved are FibriCheck, a company developing PPG technology for rhythm monitoring and screening and YourRhythmics BV, a company developing hard- and software solutions for non-invasive classification of AF.

Together, these partners form a cohesive, multidisciplinary ecosystem embedded in the international scientific community—poised to redefine AF research, care pathways, and future innovation in atrial cardiomyopathy.