Ward Heggermont

Assistant Professor

Dr Ward Heggermont obtained his MD in 2009 at the KU Leuven (BE). He worked as a student-researcher in the Rega Institute (BE) from 2004 until 2007, where he developed an interest in virology, biochemistry and epigenetics. After a year of clinical traineeship, he started a research project supported by the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen (BE), Prof. Stephane Heymans being his mentor at the KU Leuven (BE) and Maastricht University (NL). This resulted in a PhD in 2016. In 2015-2017, he continued his clinical training in cardiology at the OLV Hospital Aalst (BE). During his training, he continued his scientific research supported by the Fund Prof. Frans Van de Werf for Cardiovascular Research. He also obtained a Master in Specialist Medicine (MMed) and Hospital Management (MSc) (KU Leuven).

Within cardiology, his interest is focussed on diverse aspects of heart failure. In this regard, he did an additional fellowship for cardiac resynchronisation therapy in the Cardiocentro Ticino (Lugano, Switzerland) guided by Prof. Angelo Auricchio.

Since 2018, he has been appointed staff member in the OLV Aalst Heart Center, particularly focussing on heart failure (cardiomyopathies, cardiogenetics). He continues his scientific research in the OLV Aalst Heart Center and at CARIM, focussing on epigenetics and biomarker research.

Department of Cardiology    
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room number: 3232
T: +31(0)43 388 29 49

  • 2023
    • Robinson, E. L., Ameri, P., Delrue, L., Vanderheyden, M., Bartunek, J., Altieri, P., Heymans, S., & Heggermont, W. A. (2023). Differential expression of epigenetic modifiers in early and late cardiotoxic heart failure reveals DNA methylation as a key regulator of cardiotoxicity. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 10(1), Article 884174. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2023.884174
  • 2022
    • Gallinoro, E., Candreva, A., Fernandez-Peregrina, E., Bailleul, E., Meeus, P., Sonck, J., Bermpeis, K., Bertolone, D. T., Esposito, G., Paolisso, P., Heggermont, W., Adjedj, J., Barbato, E., Collet, C., & De Bruyne, B. (2022). Saline-induced coronary hyperemia with continuous intracoronary thermodilution is mediated by intravascular hemolysis. Atherosclerosis, 352, 46-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.05.011
    • Heggermont, W. A., & Van Bockstal, K. (2022). Heartlogic (TM): ready for prime time?Expert Review of Medical Devices, 19(2), 107-111. https://doi.org/10.1080/17434440.2022.2038133
  • 2021
    • Verhestraeten, C., Heggermont, W. A., & Maris, M. (2021). Clinical inertia in the treatment of heart failure: a major issue to tackle. Heart Failure Reviews, 26(6), 1359-1370. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-020-09979-z
    • Naesens, L., Penicka, M., & Heggermont, W. (2021). Diagnosis and immunosuppressive treatment of inflammatory cardiomyopathy: a case report. Acta Clinica Belgica, 76(5), 415-419. https://doi.org/10.1080/17843286.2020.1747714
    • Ghys, L. F., Martens, P., Heggermont, W. A., Gabriel, L., Heyse, A., Troisfontaines, P., & Maris, M. (2021). The in- and out-of-hospital management of HF patients: results from a nationwide Belgian survey. Acta Cardiologica, 76(6), 632-641. https://doi.org/10.1080/00015385.2020.1765105
    • Heggermont, W., Iliodromitis, K., Van Bockstal, K., Backers, J., Lau, C.-W., Missiaen, D., De Cooman, J., Timmermans, W., Geelen, P., & De Potter, T. (2021). Clinical symptoms of limited exercise capacity linked to AAI-DDD functionality: An in silico and in vivo approach. Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology, 44(5), 943-951. https://doi.org/10.1111/pace.14239
  • 2020
    • Robinson, E. L., Azodi, M., Heymans, S., & Heggermont, W. (2020). Anthracycline-Related Heart Failure: Certain Knowledge and Open Questions : Where Do we Stand with Chemotherapyinduced Cardiotoxicity?Current Heart Failure Reports, 17(6), 357-364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-020-00489-5
    • Smet, L. M., De Potter, T., & Heggermont, W. A. (2020). Are CHADS(2) and CHA 2DS (2)-VASc of value in risk assessment for new-onset post-operative atrial fibrillation?Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 61, Article 102945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2020.102945
    • Wagner, M., Bertero, E., Nickel, A., Kohlhaas, M., Gibson, G. E., Heggermont, W., Heymans, S., & Maack, C. (2020). Selective NADH communication from α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase to mitochondrial transhydrogenase prevents reactive oxygen species formation under reducing conditions in the heart. Basic Research in Cardiology, 115(5), Article 53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-020-0815-1