Consortium

EmbRACE Partners and Their Roles

EmbRACE brings together a national network of top-tier experts in atrial fibrillation (AF), combining strengths in clinical cardiology, experimental and computational science, genetics, primary care, and digital health. The program is co-led by Prof. Michiel Rienstra (UMC Groningen), a clinical cardiologist with internationally recognized expertise in AF progression, epidemiology, and genetics, and Prof. Ulrich Schotten (Maastricht University), a translational physician-scientist with expertise in AF mechanisms, cardiac remodeling, and computational modeling.
  • Group picture EmbRACE meeting Maastricht

  • Partners

    Amsterdam UMC

    • 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. 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).

     

    Maastricht University

    • Prof. Monika Stoll (Maastricht University) has pioneered genetic epidemiology and transcriptomics in cardiovascular disease, and leads WP2 (Transcriptomics).
    • 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. Henri Spronk (Maastricht UMC+), a key expert in thrombosis and biomarkers. 
    • Dr. Sander Verheule (Maastricht UMC+), an authority in cardiac tissue histology.
    • Dr. Stef Zeemering (Maastricht UMC+), a specialist in electrophysiological signal analysis contributes essential cross-cutting expertise.

    UMCG

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

    Rijnstate

    • 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).
    • Dr Martin Hemels (Rijnstate and Radboudumc) is an all-round clinical electrophysiologist with a specific scientific focus on atrial fibrillation in relation to anticoagulation, cardiometabolic syndrome, and elderly,'
    • 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.

    UMC Utrecht

    • Prof. Hester den Ruijter (UMC Utrecht) contributes her leading expertise on sex differences in cardiovascular disease and translational vascular biology. 

    Erasmus MC

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

    Young talent Programme

    The Young Talent Programme is coordinated by: 

    • Dr. Fleur Tjong (Amsterdam UMC) 
      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

    Industry partners involved are:

    • FibriCheck  (www.fibricheck.com), a company developing PPG technology for rhythm monitoring and screening
      and
    • YourRhythmics BV (www.yourrhythmics.com), 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.