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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

Harry Crijns

Professor

Harry Crijns is professor and chair of Cardiology and board member of the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) at Maastricht UMC+. He studied medicine at the University of Amsterdam and was trained in cardiology and electrophysiology in Groningen and Maastricht. He is a Fellow of the ESC and a past board member of the EHRA. He is also past Chair of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology. He served on several guidelines committees for the management of AF. Currently he is the chairman of the scientific advisory board of the Dutch Heart Foundation.

His primary research focus continues to be atrial fibrillation (AF). He founded the RACE trials in the Netherlands and led the Euro Heart Survey on AF (ESC). He has established his reputation by introducing innovative concepts for diagnosis and treatment of AF by showing that - quite contrary to longstanding beliefs - electrical management does not change prognosis. This revolutionised management of the arrhythmia worldwide with the effect that major interventions like electrical cardioversion, catheter ablation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy are applied in a much more personalized fashion.

Subsequently his group showed that rate control in AF can be individualized thereby removing the previously used strict heart rate targets from the international guidelines. He also performed the Euro Heart Survey on AF and made many contributions to the field of stroke management in AF, such as the construction of well-recognised AF specific risk stratification scores for AF progression (HATCH), ischemic stroke (CHA2DS2-VASc) and major bleeding (HAS-BLED). These scores have practically conquered the medical AF community and improved patient care whilst boosting new clinical research throughout the world.

His research group now focusses on recent-onset AF, hybrid AF ablation, upstream therapy and vascular mechanisms for AF progression and stroke in idiopathic atrial fibrillation. He is (co-)author on over 650 scientific articles, with 56,677 citations and Hirsch-index of 100.

Harry-crijns

Department of Cardiology
P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht 
PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht


  • 2010
    • Hendriks, J. M. L., de Wit, R., Vrijhoef, H. J. M., Tieleman, R. G., & Crijns, H. J. G. M. (2010). An integrated chronic care program for patients with atrial fibrillation Study protocol and methodology for an ongoing prospective randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 47(10), 1310-1316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.12.017
    • Hendriks, J. M. L., Nieuwlaat, R., Vrijhoef, H. J. M., de Wit, R., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Tieleman, R. G. (2010). Improving guideline adherence in the treatment of atrial fibrillation by imple menting an integrated chronic care program. Netherlands Heart Journal, 18(10), 471-476. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03091818
    • Blaauw, Y., Pison, L., van Opstal, J. M., Dennert, R. M., Heesen, W. F., & Crijns, H. J. G. M. (2010). Reversal of ventricular premature beat induced cardiomyopathy by radiofrequency catheter ablation. Netherlands Heart Journal, 18(10), 493-498. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03091821
    • Prystowsky, E. N., Camm, A. J., Lip, G. Y. H., Allessie, M., Bergmann, J.-F., Breithardt, G., Brugada, J., Crijns, H., Ellinor, P. T., Mark, D., Naccarelli, G., Packer, D. L., & Tamargo, J. (2010). The Impact of New and Emerging Clinical Data on Treatment Strategies for Atrial Fibrillation. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 21(8), 946-958. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-8167.2010.01770.x
    • Hohnloser, S. H., Crijns, H. J. G. M., van Eickels, M., Gaudin, C., Page, R. L., Torp-Pedersen, C., & Connolly, S. J. (2010). Dronedarone in patients with congestive heart failure: insights from ATHENA. European Heart Journal, 31(14), 1717-1721. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehq113
    • Ahmed, S., Ranchor, A. V., Crijns, H. J. G. M., van Veldhuisen, D. J., & Van Gelder, I. C. (2010). Effect of continuous versus episodic amiodarone treatment on quality of life in persistent atrial fibrillation. EP Europace, 12(6), 785-791. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euq049
    • Pisters, R., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., Knottnerus, I. L. H., De Vos, C. B., Boreas, A., Lodder, J., Prins, M. H., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Tieleman, R. G. (2010). The likelihood of decreasing strokes in atrial fibrillation patients by strict application of guidelines. EP Europace, 12(6), 779-784. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euq080
    • Van Gelder, I. C., Groenveld, H. F., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Tuininga, Y. S., Tijssen, J. G. P., Alings, A. M., Hillege, H. L., Bergsma-Kadijk, J. A., Cornel, J. H., Kamp, O., Tukkie, R., Bosker, H. A., van Veldhuisen, D. J., & Van den Berg, M. P. (2010). Lenient versus Strict Rate Control in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.New England Journal of Medicine, 362(15), 1363-1373. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1001337
    • Berg, J., Lindgren, P., Nieuwlaat, R., Bouin, O., & Crijns, H. (2010). Factors determining utility measured with the EQ-5D in patients with atrial fibrillation. Quality of Life Research, 19(3), 381-390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9591-y
    • Le Heuzey, J.-Y., Breithardt, G., Camm, A. J., Crijns, H., Dorian, P., Kowey, P. R., Merioua, I., Prystowsky, E. N., Schwartz, P. J., Torp-Pedersen, C., & Weintraub, W. S. (2010). The RecordAF Study: Design, Baseline Data, and Profile of Patients According to Chosen Treatment Strategy for Atrial Fibrillation. American Journal of Cardiology, 105(5), 687-693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2009.10.012
    • Kowey, P. R., Breithardt, G., Camm, A. J., Crijns, H., Dorian, P., Le Heuzey, J.-Y., Pedrazzini, L., Prystowsky, E. N., Salette, G., Schwartz, P. J., Torp-Pedersen, C., & Weintraub, W. S. (2010). Physician Stated Atrial Fibrillation Management in Light of Treatment Guidelines: Data From an International, Observational Prospective Survey. Clinical Cardiology, 33(3), 172-178. https://doi.org/10.1002/clc.20737
    • Schalla, S., Bekkers, S. C., Dennert, R., van Suylen, R. J., Waltenberger, J., Leiner, T., Wildberger, J., Crijns, H. J., & Heymans, S. (2010). Replacement and reactive myocardial fibrosis in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: comparison of magnetic resonance imaging with right ventricular biopsy. European journal of heart failure, 12(3), 227-231. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjhf/hfq004
    • De Vos, C. B., Pisters, R., Nieuwlaat, R., Prins, M. H., Tieleman, R. G., Coelen, R.-J. S., van den Heijkant, A. C., Allessie, M. A., & Crijns, H. J. G. M. (2010). Progression From Paroxysmal to Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Clinical Correlates and Prognosis. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 55(8), 725-731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2009.11.040
    • van Geldorp, I. E., Vernooy, K., Delhaas, T., Prins, M. H., Crijns, H. J., Prinzen, F. W., & Dijkman, B. (2010). Beneficial effects of biventricular pacing in chronically right ventricular paced patients with mild cardiomyopathy. EP Europace, 12(2), 223-229. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/eup378
    • Dennert, R. M., van Paassen, P., Schalla, S., Kuznetsova, T., Alzand, B. S. N., Staessen, J. A., Velthuis, S., Crijns, H. J., Tervaert, J. W. C., & Heymans, S. (2010). Cardiac Involvement in Churg-Strauss Syndrome. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 62(2), 627-634. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.27263
    • Lip, G. Y. H., Nieuwlaat, R., Pisters, R., Lane, D. A., & Crijns, H. J. G. M. (2010). Refining Clinical Risk Stratification for Predicting Stroke and Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation Using a Novel Risk Factor-Based Approach The Euro Heart Survey on Atrial Fibrillation. Chest, 137(2), 263-272. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.09-1584
    • van Rooij, E., Fielitz, J., Sutherland, L. B., Thijssen, V. L., Crijns, H. J., Dimaio, M. J., Shelton, J., De Windt, L. J., Hill, J. A., & Olson, E. N. (2010). Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2 and Class II Histone Deacetylases Control a Gender-Specific Pathway of Cardioprotection Mediated by the Estrogen Receptor. Circulation Research, 106(1), 155-U315. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.109.207084
    • Johnson, D. M., Heijman, J., Pollard, C. E., Valentin, J. P., Crijns, H. J., Abi-Gerges, N., & Volders, P. G. A. (2010). I(Ks) restricts excessive beat-to-beat variability of repolarization during beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 48(1), 122-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.08.033
    • Lemmert, M. E., Majidi, M., Krucoff, M. W., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Wellens, H. J. J., Kosinski, A. S., & Gorgels, A. P. M. (2010). RR-interval irregularity precedes ventricular fibrillation in ST elevation acute myocardial infarction. Heart Rhythm, 7(1), 65-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2009.09.024
    • Dennert, R., Velthuis, S., Schalla, S., Eurlings, L. W., van Suylen, R.-J., van Paassen, P., Tervaert, J. W. C., Wolffs, P., Goossens, V. J., Bruggeman, C., Waltenberger, J., Crijns, H. J., & Heymans, S. (2010). Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy and endomyocardial biopsy-proven high PVB19 viral load. Antiviral Therapy, 15(2), 193-201. https://doi.org/10.3851/IMP1516
    • Röther, J., & Crijns, H. (2010). Prevention of Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: The Role of New Antiarrhythmic and Antithrombotic Drugs. Cerebrovascular Diseases, 30(3), 314-322. https://doi.org/10.1159/000319608
  • 2007
    • Donker, D. W., Maessen, J. G., Spätjens, R. L. H., van der Nagel, T., de Jong, M. M., Ramaekers, F. C., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Vos, M. A., & Volders, P. G. A. (2007). Serial left-ventricular biopsy sampling using a minimally invasive trans-thoracic approach in adult dogs. Pflugers Archiv-European Journal of Physiology, 454(6), 1043-1051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-007-0261-z
    • Donker, D. W., Maessen, J. G., Verheyen, F., Ramaekers, F., Spätjens, R. L. H., Kuijpers, R., Rarnakers, C., Schiffers, P. M. H., Vos, M. A., Crijns, H. J. G. M., & Volders, P. G. A. (2007). Impact of acute and enduring volume overload on mechanotransduction and cytoskeletal integrity of canine left ventricular myocardium. American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, 292(5), H2324-H2332. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00392.2006
    • Schins, A., Crijns, H. J., Brummer, R. J., Wichers, M., Lousberg, R., Celis, S., & Honig, A. (2007). Altered omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status in depressed post-myocardial infarction patients. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 115(1), 35-40. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2006.00830.x
  • 2006
    • van Empel, V. P. M., Bertrand, A. T., van Oort, R. J., van der Nagel, R., Engelen, M. P. K. J., van Rijen, H. V., Doevendans, P. A. F. M., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Ackerman, S. L., Sluiter, W., & de Windt, L. J. (2006). EUK-8, a superoxide dismutase and catalase mimetic, reduces cardiac oxidative stress and ameliorates pressure overload-induced heart failure in the harlequin mouse mutant. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 48(4), 824-832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2006.02.075
  • 2005
    • Donker, D. W., Volders, PGA., Arts, T., Bekkers, BBACM., Hofstra, L., Spätjens, R. L. H., Beekman, J. D. M., Borgers, M., Crijns, HJGM., & Vos, MA. (2005). End-diastolic myofiber stress and ejection strain increase with ventricular volume overload. Basic Research in Cardiology, 100(4), 372-382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-005-0525-8
    • Van Berlo, J. H., Voncken, M. J. W. M., Kubben, N., Broers, J. L. V., Duisters, R. F. J. J., van Leeuwen, R. E., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Ramaekers, F. C. S., Hutchison, C. J., & Pinto, Y. M. (2005). A-type lamins are essential for TGF-beta1 induced PP2A to dephosphorylate transcription factors.Human Molecular Genetics, 14(19), 2839-2849. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddi316
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