Development of novel precision medicine approach for management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Purpose and goal

The current project aims to establish a precision medicine approach by using comprehensive clinical imaging protocols together with novel molecular methods to deep-phenotype HFpEF patients. We will further confirm the hypothesis that microvascular dysfunction is a key disease driver in HFpEF. The overall objective of the project is to improve diagnosis, risk prediction and tailor drug development to combat this great unmet need in cardiovascular medicine.

Expected results and effects

Despite the increasing prevalence of HFpEF, knowledge about HFpEF subtypes remains very limited. Even less understood is the ethnical differences in HFpEF mechanisms, onset, manifestation and deterioration. This project could lay ground for a multinational effort to address this heterogenous and life-threatening disease. In addition to deepened understanding and more precise segmentation of the population, this project could potentially contribute to development of novel therapies against this disease condition.

Planned approach and implementation

The project includes 4 work packages summarized below: WP1: Study protocol standardization Standardization of study protocol. 3 months from project start. WP2: Patient characterization 100 Swedish HFpFE patients will undergo functional cardiovascular imaging and blood sampling WP3: Biomarker analysis Blood samples will be used for genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. WP4: Data analysis and integration Bioinformatic and statistical analysis using integrated data to evaluate diagnostic and prognostic values of the measured biomarkers.