With great gratitude, I am delighted to announce that our research proposal, ELECTRODE (Canine dilated cardiomyopathy patients for longitudinal biomarker discovery), has been granted by the ZonMw Open competition.
ELECTRODE aims to develop biomarkers for the early detection of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). DCM is a serious heart condition that can affect both humans and dogs. The project integrates advanced imaging techniques with blood biomarker research to identify the initial signs of DCM. This research offers an innovative approach by utilizing naturally occurring DCM in dogs as a relevant model, thereby accelerating the development of effective screening methods and treatments.
The potential outcomes of this research could have a significant impact on the health of dogs and may ultimately lead to similar advances in human cardiology. It represents a crucial step in the fight against DCM and offers new perspectives for early intervention and prevention. I am looking forward to begin this journey with our multi-disciplinary and multi-species team: Pim van der Harst, Giorgia Santarelli, Marco Guglielmo, Stefanie Veraa, Arco Teske, Franck L.B. Meijboom, Klaus Neef, J. Peter van Tintelen, Alma Hulsman, Magdalena Harakalova, Viktor Szatmári
Faculteit Diergeneeskunde (Universiteit Utrecht), Circulatory Health UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Utrecht