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Professorship Julie Staals

Professorship Julie Staals

22 April 2024

Dr Julie Staals (Dept. of Neurology) has been appointed as professor 'Neurovascular disease' as of 1 April 2024.

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ERC Advanced Grant awarded to Prof. Andy Baker

ERC Advanced Grant awarded to Prof. Andy Baker

15 April 2024

Prof. Andy Baker (Dept of Pathology) has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant of €2,5M for his research project PolymiRize: Poly-miRNA targeting to prevent and reverse complex tissue remodelling after acute cardiovascular events'.

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Frits Prinzen

Professor

Frits Prinzen is emeritus professor of Physiology. He studied Medical Biology in Utrecht and defended his PhD in Maastricht in 1982. His research focusses on the relation between the electrical activation and mechanical contraction and pump function of the heart, with specific application to pacemaker therapies in heart failure. His work is highly translational, ranging from preclinical to clinical research and more recently also using computer simulations. Results from his work provided new insights in and opportunities for pacemaker therapies. He has participated in the CTMM-COHFAR consortium and has been and is workpackage leader in several EU-funded projects, including an International Training Network (Personalised in silico Cardiology). Several of his team members achieved personal grants (ZonMw Veni, Vidi, Clinical Fellow; Netherlands Heart Foundation junior and senior postdoc; young staff member). Besides, he ran multiple investigator-initiated studies that were funded by industry. He has been chairman of the Cardiovascular System Dynamics Society and of the Innovation Committee of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA). Currently he is member of the Scientific Initiatives Committee of EHRA. He is (co-)author on 330 scientific articles, with >10,000 citations and H-index of 56.

His main research topic is regional cardiac mechanics and long-term structural and functional adaptations to various conditions, with emphasis on asynchronous electrical activation and cardiac resynchronisation. Primarily animal experimental work, but with important links to Biomedical Engineering (computer models of cardiac electrophysiology and mechanics) and Cardiology (patients with pacemakers, bundle branch block, heart failure). With this background Prof. Frits Prinzen is a world expert on pacing therapies, both for bradycardia and for heart failure (cardiac resynchronisation therapy, CRT).

Frits-prinzen
Department of Physiology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
T: +31(0)43 3881080
  • 2021
    • Curila, K., Jurak, P., Jastrzebski, M., Prinzen, F., Waldauf, P., Halamek, J., Vernooy, K., Smisek, R., Karch, J., Plesinger, F., Moskal, P., Susankova, M., Znojilova, L., Heckman, L., Viscor, I., Vondra, V., Leinveber, P., & Osmancik, P. (2021). Left bundle branch pacing compared to left ventricular septal myocardial pacing increases interventricular dyssynchrony but accelerates left ventricular lateral wall depolarization. Heart Rhythm, 18(8), 1281-1289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.04.025
    • Poels, T. T., Engels, E. B., Kats, S., Veenstra, L., van Ommen, V., Vernooy, K., Maessen, J. G., & Prinzen, F. W. (2021). Occurrence and Persistency of Conduction Disturbances during Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation. Medicina-Lithuania, 57(7), Article 695. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57070695
    • Ploeg, M. C., Munts, C., Prinzen, F. W., Turner, N. A., van Bilsen, M., & van Nieuwenhoven, F. A. (2021). Piezo1 Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Mediates Stretch-Induced Nppb Expression in Adult Rat Cardiac Fibroblasts. Cells, 10(7), Article 1745. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10071745
    • Crijns, H. J. G. M., Prinzen, F., Lambiase, P. D., Sanders, P., & Brugada, J. (2021). The year in cardiovascular medicine 2020: arrhythmias. Cardiologia Hungarica, 51(3), 164-170.
    • Jurak, P., Bear, L. R., Nguyên, U. C., Viscor, I., Andrla, P., Plesinger, F., Halamek, J., Vondra, V., Abell, E., Cluitmans, M. J. M., Dubois, R., Curila, K., Leinveber, P., & Prinzen, F. W. (2021). 3-Dimensional ventricular electrical activation pattern assessed from a novel high-frequency electrocardiographic imaging technique: principles and clinical importance. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Article 11469. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90963-4
    • Wouters, P. C., Leenders, G. E., Cramer, M. J., Meine, M., Prinzen, F. W., Doevendans, P. A., & De Boeck, B. W. L. (2021). Acute recoordination rather than functional hemodynamic improvement determines reverse remodelling by cardiac resynchronisation therapy. International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging, 37(6), 1903-1911. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-021-02174-7
    • Wouters, P. C., Vernooy, K., Cramer, M. J., Prinzen, F. W., & Meine, M. (2021). Optimizing lead placement for pacing in dyssynchronous heart failure: The patient in the lead. Heart Rhythm, 18(6), 1024-1032. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.02.011
    • Crijns, H. J. G. M., Prinzen, F., Lambiase, P. D., Sanders, P., & Brugada, J. (2021). The year in cardiovascular medicine 2020: arrhythmias. Cor et Vasa, 63, 6-14. https://www.e-coretvasa.cz/en/artkey/cor-202188-0002_the-year-in-cardiovascular-medicine-2020-arrhythmias.php?l=en
    • Poels, T. T., Stassen, R., Kats, S., Veenstra, L., van Ommen, V., Kietselaer, B., Houthuizen, P., Maessen, J. G., & Prinzen, F. W. (2021). Effective Distance between Aortic Valve and Conduction System Is an Independent Predictor of Persistent Left Bundle Branch Block during Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation. Medicina-Lithuania, 57(5), Article 476. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57050476
    • Curila, K., Jurak, P., Halamek, J., Prinzen, F., Waldauf, P., Karch, J., Stros, P., Plesinger, F., Mizner, J., Susankova, M., Prochazkova, R., Sussenbek, O., Viscor, I., Vondra, V., Smisek, R., Leinveber, P., & Osmancik, P. (2021). Ventricular activation pattern assessment during right ventricular pacing: Ultrahigh-frequency ECG study. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 32(5), 1385-1394. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.14985
    • Pezzuto, S., Prinzen, F. W., Potse, M., Maffessanti, F., Regoli, F., Caputo, M. L., Conte, G., Krause, R., & Auricchio, A. (2021). Reconstruction of three-dimensional biventricular activation based on the 12-lead electrocardiogram via patient-specific modelling. EP Europace, 23(4), 640-647. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaa330
    • Verzaal, N. J., Masse, S., Downar, E., Nanthakumar, K., Delhaas, T., & Prinzen, F. W. (2021). Exploring the cause of conduction delays in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot. EP Europace, 23, I105-I112. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaa400
    • Ghossein, M. A., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Plesinger, F., Kloosterman, M., Wouters, P. C., Salden, O. A. E., Meine, M., Maass, A. H., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2021). Reduction in the QRS area after cardiac resynchronization therapy is associated with survival and echocardiographic response. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 32(3), 813-822. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.14910
    • Heckman, L. I. B., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Curila, K., Van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Westra, S., Smisek, R., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2021). Comparing Ventricular Synchrony in Left Bundle Branch and Left Ventricular Septal Pacing in Pacemaker Patients. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(4), Article 822. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10040822
    • Crijns, H. J. G. M., Prinzen, F., Lambiase, P. D., Sanders, P., & Brugada, J. (2021). The year in cardiovascular medicine 2020: arrhythmias. European Heart Journal, 42(5), 499-507. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa1091
    • Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2021). Do we need to pace the bundle? Editorial comment on: Nonselective versus selective His bundle pacing: An acute intrapatient speckle tracking strain echocardiographic study by Bednarek et al. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 32(1), 126-128. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.14832
    • Salden, O. A. E., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., den Ruijter, H. M., Cramer, M. J., Kloosterman, M., Rienstra, M., Maass, A. H., Prinzen, F. W., Vernooy, K., & Meine, M. (2021). Heart Size Corrected Electrical Dyssynchrony and Its Impact on Sex-Specific Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. Circulation-Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 14(1), Article 008452. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCEP.120.008452
    • Luo, H., Westphal, P., Shahmohammadi, M., Heckman, L. I. B., Kuiper, M., Cornelussen, R. N., Delhaas, T., & Prinzen, F. W. (2021). Second heart sound splitting as an indicator of interventricular mechanical dyssynchrony using a novel splitting detection algorithm. Physiological Reports, 9(1), e14687. Article 14687. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.14687
    • Salden, O. A. E., Zweerink, A., Wouters, P., Allaart, C. P., Geelhoed, B., de Lange, F. J., Maass, A. H., Rienstra, M., Vernooy, K., Vos, M. A., Meine, M., Prinzen, F. W., & Cramer, M. J. (2021). The value of septal rebound stretch analysis for the prediction of volumetric response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging, 22(1), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/jeaa190
  • 2020
    • Corral-Acero, J., Margara, F., Marciniak, M., Rodero, C., Loncaric, F., Feng, Y., Gilbert, A., Fernandes, J. F., Bukhari, H. A., Wajdan, A., Martinez, M. V., Santos, M. S., Shamohammdi, M., Luo, H., Westphal, P., Leeson, P., DiAchille, P., Gurev, V., Mayr, M., ... Lamata, P. (2020). The 'Digital Twin' to enable the vision of precision cardiology. European Heart Journal, 41(48), 4556-4564. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa159
    • Heckman, L., Vijayaraman, P., Luermans, J., Stipdonk, A. M. W., Salden, F., Maass, A. H., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2020). Novel bradycardia pacing strategies. Heart, 106(24), 1883-1889. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2020-316849
    • Deshmukh, A., Prinzen, F. W., & Deshmukh, P. (2020). Response to: Next-level examination of His-optimized cardiac resynchronization therapy by noninvasive electrocardiographic activation mapping. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 31(11), 3064-3064. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.14734
    • Prinzen, F. W., & Lumens, J. (2020). Investigating myocardial work as a CRT response predictor is not a waste of work. European Heart Journal, 41(39), 3824-3826. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa677
    • Heckman, L. I. B., Vernooy, K., & Prinzen, F. W. (2020). Reply to the Editor - Regarding Multisite pacing strategies: Solutions looking for a problem?Heart Rhythm O2, 1(4), 315-316. https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S2666501820300842
    • Lyon, A., Dupuis, L. J., Arts, T., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Prinzen, F. W., Delhaas, T., Heijman, J., & Lumens, J. (2020). Differentiating the effects of β-adrenergic stimulation and stretch on calcium and force dynamics using a novel electromechanical cardiomyocyte model. American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, 319(3), H519-H530. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00275.2020
    • Deshmukh, A., Sattur, S., Bechtol, T., Heckman, L. I. B., Prinzen, F. W., & Deshmukh, P. (2020). Sequential His bundle and left ventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 31(9), 2448-2454. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.14674
    • Castro, E., Korver, F., Merry, A., van Moorsel, F., Hazebroek, M., Smid, M., Ploux, S., Bordachar, P., Prinzen, F., Sipers, W., & Strik, M. (2020). Should we still monitor QTc duration in frail older patients on low-dose haloperidol? A prospective observational cohort study. Age and Ageing, 49(5), 829-836. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaa066
    • Lumens, J., Willemen, E., & Prinzen, F. W. (2020). Does the Right Go Wrong During Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy?JACC-Cardiovascular Imaging, 13(7), 1485-1488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2020.01.009
    • Heckman, L. I. B., Kuiper, M., Anselme, F., Ziglio, F., Shan, N., Jung, M., Zeemering, S., Vernooy, K., & Prinzen, F. W. (2020). Evaluating multisite pacing strategies in cardiac resynchronization therapy in the preclinical setting. Heart Rhythm O2, 1(2), 111-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hroo.2020.03.003
    • Maffessanti, F., Jadczyk, T., Kurzelowski, R., Regoli, F., Caputo, M. L., Conte, G., Golba, K. S., Biernat, J., Wilczek, J., Dabrowska, M., Pezzuto, S., Moccetti, T., Krause, R., Wojakowski, W., Prinzen, F. W., & Auricchio, A. (2020). The influence of scar on the spatio-temporal relationship between electrical and mechanical activation in heart failure patients. EP Europace, 22(5), 777-786. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euz346
    • Luo, H., Lie, Y., & Prinzen, F. W. (2020). Surveillance of COVID-19 in the General Population Using an Online Questionnaire: Report From 18,161 Respondents in China. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 6(2), Article e18576. https://doi.org/10.2196/18576
    • Kloosterman, M., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., ter Horst, I., Rienstra, M., Van Gelder, I. C., Vos, M. A., Prinzen, F. W., Meine, M., Vernooy, K., & Maass, A. H. (2020). Association between heart failure aetiology and magnitude of echocardiographic remodelling and outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy. Esc heart failure, 7(2), 645-653. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.12624
    • Salden, F. C. W. M., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Westra, S. W., Weijs, B., Engels, E. B., Heckman, L. I. B., Lamerichs, L. J. M., Janssen, M. H. G., Clerx, K. J. H., Cornelussen, R., Ghosh, S., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2020). Short-Term Hemodynamic and Electrophysiological Effects of Cardiac Resynchronization by Left Ventricular Septal Pacing. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 75(4), 347-359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.040
    • van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Hoogland, R., Ter Horst, I., Kloosterman, M., Vanbelle, S., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Prinzen, F. W., Meine, M., Maass, A. H., & Vernooy, K. (2020). Evaluating Electrocardiography-Based Identification of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Responders Beyond Current Left Bundle Branch Block Definitions. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, 6(2), 193-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2019.10.009
    • Gauthey, A., Willemen, E., Lumens, J., Ploux, S., Bordachar, P., Ritter, P., Prinzen, F. W., Lejeune, S., Pouleur, A.-C., Garnir, Q., Marchandise, S., Scavee, C., Wauters, A., & De Waroux, J.-B. L. P. (2020). Impact of paced left ventricular dyssynchrony on left ventricular reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 31(2), 494-502. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.14330
    • Salden, O. A. E., Vernooy, K., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Cramer, M. J., Prinzen, F. W., & Meine, M. (2020). Strategies to Improve Selection of Patients Without Typical Left Bundle Branch Block for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, 6(2), 129-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2019.11.018
    • Jurak, P., Curila, K., Leinveber, P., Prinzen, F. W., Viscor, I., Plesinger, F., Smisek, R., Prochazkova, R., Osmancik, P., & Halamek, J. (2020). Novel ultra-high-frequency electrocardiogram tool for the description of the ventricular depolarization pattern before and during cardiac resynchronization. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 31(1), 300-307. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.14299
    • Engels, E. B., Thibault, B., Mangual, J., Badie, N., McSpadden, L. C., Calo, L., Ritter, P., Pappone, C., Bode, K., Varma, N., & Prinzen, F. W. (2020). Dynamic atrioventricular delay programming improves ventricular electrical synchronization as evaluated by 3D vectorcardiography. Journal of Electrocardiology, 58, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2019.09.026
    • Plesinger, F., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Smisek, R., Halamek, J., Jurak, P., Maass, A. H., Meine, M., Vernooy, K., & Prinzen, F. W. (2020). Fully automated QRS area measurement for predicting response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Journal of Electrocardiology, 63, 159-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2019.07.003
  • 2019
    • Lee, A. W. C., Nguyen, U. C., Razeghi, O., Gould, J., Sidhu, B. S., Sieniewicz, B., Behar, J., Mafi-Rad, M., Plank, G., Prinzen, F. W., Rinaldi, C. A., Vernooy, K., & Niederer, S. (2019). A rule-based method for predicting the electrical activation of the heart with cardiac resynchronization therapy from non-invasive clinical data. Medical Image Analysis, 57, 197-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.media.2019.06.017
    • Zweerink, A., Salden, O. A. E., van Everdingen, W. M., de Roest, G. J., van de Ven, P. M., Cramer, M. J., Doevendans, P. A., van Rossum, A. C., Vernooy, K., Prinzen, F. W., Meine, M., & Allaart, C. P. (2019). Hemodynamic Optimization in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Should We Aim for dP/dtmax or Stroke Work?JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, 5(9), 1013-1025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2019.05.020
    • Fixsen, L. S., de Lepper, A. G. W., Strik, M., van Middendorp, L. B., Prinzen, F. W., van de Vosse, F. N., Houthuizen, P., & Lopata, R. G. P. (2019). ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF LEFT BUNDLE BRANCH-RELATED STRAIN DYSSYNCHRONY: A COMPARISON WITH TAGGED MRI. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 45(8), 2063-2074. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.03.012
    • Zhou, Q., Zeng, Y., Xiong, Q., Zhong, S., Li, P., Ran, H., Yin, Y., Reutelingsperger, C., Prinze, F. W., & Ling, Z. (2019). Construction of CNA35 Collagen-Targeted Phase-Changeable Nanoagents for Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound-Triggered Ultrasound Molecular Imaging of Myocardial Fibrosis in Rabbits. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 11(26), 23006-23017. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b05999
    • van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Vanbelle, S., ter Horst, I. A. H., Luermans, J. G., Meine, M., Maass, A. H., Auricchio, A., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2019). Large variability in clinical judgement and definitions of left bundle branch block to identify candidates for cardiac resynchronisation therapy. International Journal of Cardiology, 286, 61-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.01.051
    • Goette, A., Auricchio, A., Boriani, G., Braunschweig, F., Brugada Terradellas, J., Burri, H., Camm, A. J., Crijns, H., Dagres, N., Deharo, J.-C., Dobrev, D., Hatala, R., Hindricks, G., Hohnloser, S. H., Leclercq, C., Lewalter, T., Lip, G. Y. H., Luis Merino, J., Mont, L., ... ESC Scientific Document Group (2019). EHRA White Paper: knowledge gaps in arrhythmia management-status 2019. EP Europace, 21(7), 993-994. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euz055
    • Prinzen, F. W., Willemen, E., & Lumens, J. (2019). LBBB and High Afterload: A Dangerous Liaison?JACC-Cardiovascular Imaging, 12(6), 978-980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2017.12.002
    • Nguyen, U. C., Cluitmans, M. J. M., Strik, M., Luermans, J. G., Gommers, S., Wildberger, J. E., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Volders, P. G. A., Mihl, C., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2019). Integration of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiographic imaging, and coronary venous computed tomography angiography for guidance of left ventricular lead positioning. EP Europace, 21(4), 626-635. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euy292
Overview