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Uyên Châu Nguyên wins UM Dissertation Prize 2025

Uyên Châu Nguyên wins UM Dissertation Prize 2025

29 January 2026

During the Dies Natalis of Maastricht University, Uyên Châu Nguyên received the UM Dissertation Prize 2025.

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Global research network launched to study menopause and heart health

Global research network launched to study menopause and heart health

20 January 2026

Ten international health research funders, including the Dutch Heart Foundation, are investing $10 million in a new global research network to improve early prevention of cardiovascular disease in women. The initiative focuses on understanding how menopause affects heart health and how early intervention can reduce risk.

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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
  • 2022
    • Luo, H., Lamata, P., Bazin, S., Bautista, T., Barclay, N., Shahmohammadi, M., Lubrecht, J. M., Delhaas, T., & Prinzen, F. W. (2022). Smartphone as an electronic stethoscope: factors influencing heart sound quality. European Heart Journal - Digital Health, 3(3), 473-480. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjdh/ztac044
    • Verzaal, N. J., van Deursen, C. J. M., Pezzuto, S., Wecke, L., van Everdingen, W. M., Vernooy, K., Delhaas, T., Auricchio, A., & Prinzen, F. W. (2022). Synchronization of repolarization after cardiac resynchronization therapy: A combined clinical and modeling study. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 33(8), 1837-1846. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.15581
    • Bouwmeester, S., Mast, T., Prinzen, F., Dekker, L., & Houthuizen, P. (2022). Predictive value of left atrial remodeling for response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Journal of Ultrasonography, 22(90), E168-E173. https://doi.org/10.15557/JoU.2022.0027
    • Bouwmeester, S., van Loon, T., Ploeg, M., Mast, T. P., Verzaal, N. J., van Middendorp, L. B., Strik, M., van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Dekker, L. R., Prinzen, F. W., Lumens, J., & Houthuizen, P. (2022). Left atrial remodeling in mitral regurgitation: A combined experimental-computational study. PLOS ONE, 17(7), Article e0271588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271588
    • Bouwmeester, S., Mast, T. P., Keulards, D. C. J., de Lepper, A. G. W., Herold, I. H. F., Dekker, L. R., Prinzen, F. W., & Houthuizen, P. (2022). Left atrial reverse remodeling predicts long-term survival after cardiac resynchronization therapy. Journal of Echocardiography, 20(2), 115-123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12574-021-00559-0
    • Rijks, J., Luermans, J., Heckman, L., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Prinzen, F., Lumens, J., & Vernooy, K. (2022). Physiology of Left Ventricular Septal Pacing and Left Bundle Branch Pacing. Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics, 14(2), 181-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccep.2021.12.010
    • Westphal, P., Luo, H. X., Shahmohammadi, M., Heckman, L. I. B., Kuiper, M., Prinzen, F. W., Delhaas, T., & Cornelussen, R. N. (2022). Left Ventricular Pressure Estimation Using Machine Learning-Based Heart Sound Classification. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 9, Article 763048. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.763048
    • Prinzen, F. W., Auricchio, A., Mullens, W., Linde, C., & Huizar, J. F. (2022). Electrical management of heart failure: from pathophysiology to treatment. European Heart Journal, 43(20), 1917-1927. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehac088
    • Koopsen, T., Van Osta, N., Van Loon, T., Van Nieuwenhoven, F. A., Prinzen, F. W., Van Klarenbosch, B. R., Kirkels, F. P., Teske, A. J., Vernooy, K., Delhaas, T., & Lumens, J. (2022). A Lumped Two-Compartment Model for Simulation of Ventricular Pump and Tissue Mechanics in Ischemic Heart Disease. Frontiers in physiology, 13, Article 782592. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.782592
    • Salden, F. C. W. M., Prinzen, F. W., Lumens, J., & Vernooy, K. (2022). Atrioventricular dromotropathy: an important substrate for complete resynchronization therapy-Authors' reply. EP Europace, 24(5), 868-869. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euac037
    • Salden, F. C. W. M., Huntjens, P. R., Schreurs, R., Willemen, E., Kuiper, M., Wouters, P., Maessen, J. G., Bordachar, P., Delhaas, T., Luermans, J., Meine, M., Allaart, C. P., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Prinzen, F. W., Lumens, J., & Vernooy, K. (2022). Pacing therapy for atrioventricular dromotropathy: a combined computational-experimental-clinical study. EP Europace, 24(5), 784-795. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euab248
    • Ghossein, M. A., Driessen, R. G. H., van Rosmalen, F., Sels, J.-W. E. M., Delnoij, T., Geyik, Z., Mingels, A. M. A., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Prinzen, F. W., Ghossein-Doha, C., van Kuijk, S. M. J., van der Horst, I. C. C., Vernooy, K., & van Bussel, B. C. T. (2022). Serial Assessment of Myocardial Injury Markers in Mechanically Ventilated Patients With SARS-CoV-2 (from the Prospective MaastrICCht Cohort). American Journal of Cardiology, 170, 118-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2022.01.030
    • Heckman, L. I. B., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Jastrzębski, M., Weijs, B., Van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Westra, S., den Uijl, D., Linz, D., Mafi-Rad, M., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2022). A single-centre prospective evaluation of left bundle branch area pacemaker implantation characteristics. Netherlands Heart Journal, 30(5), 249-257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-022-01679-7
    • Ghossein, M. A., van Stipdonk, A. M., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2022). Vectorcardiographic QRS area as a predictor of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Journal of Geriatric Cardiology, 19(1), 9-20. https://doi.org/10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2022.01.003
    • Holtackers, R. J., Gommers, S., Heckman, L. I. B., Van De Heyning, C. M., Chiribiri, A., & Prinzen, F. W. (2022). Histopathological Validation of Dark-Blood Late Gadolinium Enhancement MRI Without Additional Magnetization Preparation. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 55(1), 190-197. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.27805
  • 2021
    • Curila, K., Jurak, P., Vernooy, K., Jastrzebski, M., Waldauf, P., Prinzen, F., Halamek, J., Susankova, M., Znojilova, L., Smisek, R., Karch, J., Plesinger, F., Moskal, P., Heckman, L., Mizner, J., Viscor, I., Vondra, V., Leinveber, P., & Osmancik, P. (2021). Left Ventricular Myocardial Septal Pacing in Close Proximity to LBB Does Not Prolong the Duration of the Left Ventricular Lateral Wall Depolarization Compared to LBB Pacing. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 8, Article 787414. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.787414
    • Augustin, C. M., Gsell, M. A. F., Karabelas, E., Willemen, E., Prinzen, F. W., Lumens, J., Vigmond, E. J., & Plank, G. (2021). A computationally efficient physiologically comprehensive 3D-0D closed-loop model of the heart and circulation. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 386, Article 114092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2021.114092
    • Prinzen, F. W., Lumens, J., Duchenn, J., & Vernooy, K. (2021). Electro-energetics of Biventricular, Septal and Conduction System Pacing. Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review, 10(4), 250-257. https://doi.org/10.15420/aer.2021.30
    • Ghossein, M. A., Zanon, F., Salden, F., van Stipdonk, A., Marcantoni, L., Engels, E., Luermans, J., Westra, S., Prinzen, F., & Vernooy, K. (2021). Left Ventricular Lead Placement Guided by Reduction in QRS Area. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(24), Article 5935. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10245935
    • Hedeer, F., Ostenfeld, E., Heden, B., Prinzen, F. W., Arheden, H., Carlsson, M., & Engblom, H. (2021). To what extent are perfusion defects seen by myocardial perfusion SPECT in patients with left bundle branch block related to myocardial infarction, ECG characteristics, and myocardial wall motion?Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, 28(6), 2910-2922. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-020-02180-7
    • Heckman, L., Luermans, J., Salden, F., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Mafi-Rad, M., Prinzen, F., & Vernooy, K. (2021). Physiology and Practicality of Left Ventricular Septal Pacing. Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review, 10(3), 165-171. https://doi.org/10.15420/aer.2021.21
    • Shahmohammadi, M., Luo, H., Westphal, P., Cornelussen, R. N., Prinzen, F. W., & Delhaas, T. (2021). Hemodynamics-driven mathematical model of first and second heart sound generation. PLoS Computational Biology, 17(9), Article e1009361. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009361
    • 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. https://cardiologia.hungarica.eu/backend/public/api/v1/media/uploads/2021/07/2021_III_1_The_year_in_cardiovascular_medicine.pdf
    • 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 e14687. 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://doi.org/10.1016/j.hroo.2020.07.003
    • 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
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