A groundbreaking international collaboration, known as the NextGen project, has been initiated to pioneer personalized treatments for individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The consortium, consisting of 21 entities in clinical research and other sectors, has been launched by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in Utrecht, the Netherlands. With a substantial grant of 7.6 million euros ($8.2 million) from Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation funding program, the NextGen project seeks to enhance the efficiency of diagnosing, monitoring, and treating cardiovascular diseasesโa leading global cause of mortality.
Cardiovascular disease not only poses a significant economic burden of โฌ282 billion euros ($305 billion) annually on Europe but also results in substantial personal impacts such as disability and premature retirement. The innovative approach of the NextGen project involves leveraging genetic analysis and advanced health data integration to create personalized treatment strategies. The initiative aims to overcome obstacles in CVD research, including variations in data standards and volume, by incorporating cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) methodologies.
The NextGen consortium comprises universities, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and professional associations, with participants such as the European Society of Cardiology, MyData Global, the Drug Information Association, WellSpan Health, the Karolinska Institute, the University of Virginia, and Queen Mary University. Professor Pim van der Harst, the project coordinator from the University Medical Center Utrecht, emphasized the need for individualized strategies, stating that compiling comprehensive information about individuals is crucial for optimizing health. The project’s goal is to generate unique profiles forming the basis for advancing cardiovascular health and well-being.
Consortium member Professor Panos Deloukas of Queen Mary University expressed enthusiasm for the challenge, highlighting the opportunity to build a toolbox that unites CVD patient data across Europe and implements precision medicine to enhance cardiovascular healthcare.