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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

Christian Knackstedt

Associate professor

Dr Christian Knackstedt was born in in Giessen (Germany). After completing his secondary school (Gymnasium) in Münster, he started his medical training at the University of Münster, Germany. During his studies, he spent some time abroad in France, Switzerland, and the US and finally obtained his medical degree.

After an interim position at the Department of Cardiology, Herz- und Diabeteszentrum, Bad Oeynhausen, he soon moved to the University Hospital at the RWTH Aachen University where he pursued his formation as internist and cardiologist. Also, he succeeded in obtaining his German 'promotion' and later 'habilitation' besides passing the board examinations for internal medicine, cardiology and sport medicine. Gaining some more expertise in the field of sport cardiology as a senior physician at the Institute of Cardiology and Sports medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany, he finally returned to his roots as a clinical cardiologist at Maastricht UMC+. He now holds a position as senior physician with an expertise in heart failure.

My research interest has always been the niche between heart failure and imaging/ mostly echocardiography. One of the topics I am currently interested in, is early detection of cardiac dysfunction. This goes hand in hand with the application of new echocardiographic techniques in the clinical practice. Also, I have been engaged and involved in research activities to improve therapy of heart failure by different means.

Christian-knackstedt

Department of Cardiology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht

  • 2022
    • Weerts, J., Mourmans, S. G. J., Barandiaran Aizpurua, A., Schroen, B. L. M., Knackstedt, C., Eringa, E., Houben, A. J. H. M., & van Empel, V. P. M. (2022). The Role of Systemic Microvascular Dysfunction in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. Biomolecules, 12(2), Article 278. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12020278
    • Weerts, J., Barandiarán Aizpurua, A., Henkens, M. T. H. M., Lyon, A., van Mourik, M. J. W., van Gemert, M. R. A. A., Raafs, A., Sanders-van Wijk, S., Bayés-Genís, A., Heymans, S. R. B., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Lumens, J., van Empel, V. P. M., & Knackstedt, C. (2022). The prognostic impact of mechanical atrial dysfunction and atrial fibrillation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging, 23(1), 74-84. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/jeab222
  • 2021
    • Verdonschot, J. A. J., Henkens, M. T. H. M., Wang, P., Schummers, G., Raafs, A. G., Krapels, I. P. C., van Empel, V., Heymans, S. R. B., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., & Knackstedt, C. (2021). A global longitudinal strain cut-off value to predict adverse outcomes in individuals with a normal ejection fraction. Esc heart failure, 8(5), 4343-4345. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.13465
    • Moura, B., Aimo, A., Al-Mohammad, A., Flammer, A., Barberis, V., Bayes-Genis, A., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., Fontes-Carvalho, R., Grapsa, J., Hulsmann, M., Ibrahim, N., Knackstedt, C., Januzzi, J. L., Lapinskas, T., Sarrias, A., Matskeplishvili, S., Meijers, W. C., Messroghli, D., Mueller, C., ... Richards, A. M. (2021). Integration of imaging and circulating biomarkers in heart failure: a consensus document by the Biomarkers and Imaging Study Groups of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology. European journal of heart failure, 23(10), 1577-1596. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.2339
    • Amin, H., Weerts, J., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., Knackstedt, C., & Sanders-van Wijk, S. (2021). Future perspective of heart failure care: benefits and bottlenecks of artificial intelligence and eHealth. Future Cardiology, 17(6), 917-921. https://doi.org/10.2217/fca-2021-0008
    • Raafs, A. G., Verdonschot, J. A. J., Henkens, M. T. H. M., Adriaans, B. P., Wang, P., Derks, K., Abdul Hamid, M. A., Knackstedt, C., van Empel, V. P. M., Diez, J., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Brunner, H. G., Gonzalez, A., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Heymans, S. R. B., & Hazebroek, M. R. (2021). The combination of carboxy-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I blood levels and late gadolinium enhancement at cardiac magnetic resonance provides additional prognostic information in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy - A multilevel assessment of myocardial fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy. European journal of heart failure, 23(6), 933-944. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.2201
    • Sanders-van Wijk, S., Barandiaran Aizpurua, A., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Henkens, M. T. H. M., Weerts, J., Knackstedt, C., Uszko-Lencer, N., Heymans, S., & van Empel, V. (2021). The HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF scores largely disagree in classifying patients with suspected heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. European journal of heart failure, 23(5), 838-840. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.2019
    • Barandiarán Aizpurua, A., Sanders-van Wijk, S., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., Henkens, M. T. H. M., Weerts, J., Spanjers, M. H. A., Knackstedt, C., & van Empel, V. P. M. (2021). Iron deficiency impacts prognosis but less exercise capacity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Esc heart failure, 8(2), 1304-1313. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.13204
    • van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Schretlen, S., Dohmen, W., Brunner-LaRocca, H. P., Knackstedt, C., & Vernooy, K. (2021). Development and implementation of a cardiac resynchronisation therapy care pathway: improved process and reduced resource use. BMJ Open Quality, 10(1), Article e001072. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2020-001072
    • Hazebroek, M. R., Henkens, M. T. H. M., Raafs, A. G., Verdonschot, J. A. J., Merken, J. J., Dennert, R. M., Eurlings, C., Hamid, M. A. A., Wolffs, P. F. G., Winkens, B., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., Knackstedt, C., van Paassen, P., van Empel, V. P. M., & Heymans, S. R. B. (2021). Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in adult patients with idiopathic chronic cardiomyopathy and cardiac parvovirus B19 persistence: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. European journal of heart failure, 23(2), 302-309. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.2082
  • 2020
    • Verdonschot, J. A. J., Merken, J. J., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Pliger, P., Derks, K. W. J., Wang, P., Henkens, M. T. H. M., van Paassen, P., Hamid, M. A. A., van Empel, V. P. M., Knackstedt, C., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Brunner, H. G., Poelzl, G., Vernooy, K., Heymans, S. R. B., & Hazebroek, M. R. (2020). Cardiac Inflammation Impedes Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients With Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Circulation-Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 13(11), 1311-1320. Article 008727. https://doi.org/10.1161/circep.120.008727
    • Verdonschot, J. A. J., Merken, J. J., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Hazebroek, M. R., Eurlings, C. G. M. J., Thijssen, E., Wang, P., Weerts, J., van Empel, V., Schummers, G., Schreckenberg, M., van den Wijngaard, A., Lumens, J., Brunner, H. G., Heymans, S. R. B., Krapels, I. P. C., & Knackstedt, C. (2020). Value of Speckle Tracking-Based Deformation Analysis in Screening Relatives of Patients With Asymptomatic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. JACC-Cardiovascular Imaging, 13(2), 549-558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.02.032
    • van Loon, T., Knackstedt, C., Cornelussen, R., Reesink, K., Brunner-La Rocca, H., Delhaas, T., van Empel, V., & Lumens, J. (2020). Increased myocardial stiffness more than impaired relaxation function limits cardiac performance during exercise in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a virtual patient study. European Heart Journal - Digital Health, 1(1), 40-50. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjdh/ztaa009
  • 2019
    • Gingele, A. J., Ramaekers, B., Brunner-La Rocca, H. P., De Weerd, G., Kragten, J., van Empel, J. M., van der Weg, K., Vrijhoef, H. J. M., Gorgels, A., Cleuren, G., Boyne, J. J. J., & Knackstedt, C. (2019). Effects of tailored telemonitoring on functional status and health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure. Netherlands Heart Journal, 27(11), 565-574. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-019-01323-x
    • Habib, G., Erba, P. A., Iung, B., Donal, E., Cosyns, B., Laroche, C., Popescu, B. A., Prendergast, B., Tornos, P., Sadeghpour, A., Oliver, L., Vaskelyte, J.-J., Sow, R., Axler, O., Maggioni, A. P., Lancellotti, P., Granada, Mahia, M., Ressi, S., ... EURO-ENDO Investigators (2019). Clinical presentation, aetiology and outcome of infective endocarditis. Results of the ESC-EORP EURO-ENDO (European infective endocarditis) registry: a prospective cohort study. European Heart Journal, 40(39), 3222-3232B. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz620
    • Simonavicius, J., Van-Wijk, S. S., Rickenbacher, P., Maeder, M. T., Pfister, O., Kaufmann, B. A., Pfisterer, M., Celutkiene, J., Puronaite, R., Knackstedt, C., van Empel, V., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2019). Prognostic Significance of Longitudinal Clinical Congestion Pattern in Chronic Heart Failure: Insights From TIME-CHF Trial. American Journal of Medicine, 132(9), E679-E692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.04.010
    • Habib, G., Lancellotti, P., Erba, P.-A., Sadeghpour, A., Meshaal, M., Sambola, A., Furnaz, S., Citro, R., Ternacle, J., Donal, E., Cosyns, B., Popescu, B., Iung, B., Prendergast, B., Laroche, C., Tornos, P., Pazdernik, M., Maggioni, A., Gale, C. P., ... EURO-ENDO Investigators (2019). The ESC-EORP EURO-ENDO (European Infective Endocarditis) registry. European heart journal - Quality of care & clinical outcomes, 5(3), 202-207. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjqcco/qcz018
    • Gingele, A. J., Brunner-la Rocca, H., Ramaekers, B., Gorgels, A., De Weerd, G., Kragten, J., van Empel, V., Brandenburg, V., Vrijhoef, H., Cleuren, G., Knackstedt, C., & Boyne, J. J. J. (2019). Telemonitoring in patients with heart failure: Is there a long-term effect?Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 25(3), 158-166. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633x17747641
    • Leicht, L., Skobel, E., Knackstedt, C., Mathissen, M., Sitter, A., Wartzek, T., Moehler, W., Reith, S., Leonhardt, S., & Teichmann, D. (2019). Capacitive ECG Monitoring in Cardiac Patients During Simulated Driving. Ieee Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 66(3), 749-758. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2018.2855661
    • van Mourik, M. J. W., Zaar, D. V. J., Smulders, M. W., Heijman, J., Lumens, J., Dokter, J. E., Passos, V. L., Schalla, S., Knackstedt, C., Schummers, G., Gjesdal, O., Edvardsen, T., & Bekkers, S. C. A. M. (2019). Adding Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography to Visual Assessment of Systolic Wall Motion Abnormalities Improves the Detection of Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, 32(1), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.echo.2018.09.007
    • Simonavicius, J., Knackstedt, C., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2019). Loop diuretics in chronic heart failure: how to manage congestion?Heart Failure Reviews, 24(1), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-018-9735-7
  • 2018
    • Merken, J., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Weerts, J., Verdonschot, J., Hazebroek, M., Schummers, G., Schreckenberg, M., Lumens, J., Heymans, S., & Knackstedt, C. (2018). Heart Failure With Recovered Ejection Fraction. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 72(13), 1556-1557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.06.070
    • Salvi, D., Ottaviano, M., Muuraiskangas, S., Martinez-Romero, A., Vera-Munoz, C., Triantafyllidis, A., Umpierrez, M. F., Waldmeyer, M. T., Skobel, E., Knackstedt, C., Liedes, H., Honka, A., Luprano, J., Cleland, J. G. F., Stut, W., & Deighan, C. (2018). An m-Health system for education and motivation in cardiac rehabilitation: the experience of HeartCycle guided exercise. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 24(4), 303-316. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X17697501
    • Verdonschot, J. A. J., Hazebroek, M. R., Derks, K. W. J., Aizpurua, A. B., Merken, J. J., Wang, P., Bierau, J., van den Wijngaard, A., Schalla, S. M., Hamid, M. A. A., van Bilsen, M., van Empel, V. P. M., Knackstedt, C., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Brunner, H. G., Krapels, I. P. C., & Heymans, S. R. B. (2018). Titin cardiomyopathy leads to altered mitochondrial energetics, increased fibrosis and long-termlife-threatening arrhythmias. European Heart Journal, 39(10), 864-873. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehx808
    • Merken, J., Hazebroek, M., Van Paassen, P., Verdonschot, J., Van Empel, V., Knackstedt, C., Hamid, M. A., Seiler, M., Kolb, J., Hoermann, P., Ensinger, C., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Poelzl, G., & Heymans, S. (2018). Immunosuppressive Therapy Improves Both Short- and Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With Virus-Negative Nonfulminant Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy. Circulation-Heart Failure, 11(2), Article 004228. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.117.004228
  • 2017
    • Baldewijns, K., Bektas, S., Boyne, J., Rohde, C., De Maesschalck, L., De Bleser, L., Brandenburg, V., Knackstedt, C., Deville, A., Sanders-Van Wijk, S., & La Rocca, H.-P. B. (2017). Improving kNowledge Transfer to Efficaciously RAise the level of Contemporary Treatment in Heart Failure (INTERACT-in-HF): Study protocol of a mixed methods study. International Journal of Care Coordination, 20(4), 171-182. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053434517726318
    • Robaeys, W., Bektas, S., Boyne, J., van Empel, V., Uszko-Lencer, N., Knackstedt, C., & Brunner-La Rocca, H. P. (2017). Pulmonary and right ventricular dysfunction are frequently present in heart failure irrespective of left ventricular ejection fraction. Heart Asia, 9(2), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartasia-2017-010914
    • Bektas, S., Franssen, F. M. E., van Empel, V., Uszko-Lencer, N., Boyne, J., Knackstedt, C., & Brunner-La Rocca, H. P. (2017). Impact of airflow limitation in chronic heart failure. Netherlands Heart Journal, 25(5), 335-342. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-017-0965-4
    • van Empel, V., Knackstedt, C., van Paassen, P., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2017). Just air good enough in pulmonary hypertension?European Heart Journal, 38(15), 1169-1171. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehx117
    • Skobel, E., Knackstedt, C., Martinez-Romero, A., Salvi, D., Vera-Munoz, C., Napp, A., Luprano, J., Bover, R., Gloeggler, S., Bjarnason-Wehrens, B., Marx, N., Rigby, A., & Cleland, J. (2017). Internet-based training of coronary artery patients: the Heart Cycle Trial. Heart and Vessels, 32(4), 408-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-016-0897-8
    • Knackstedt, C., Heymans, S., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2017). ICD Implantation in Patients with Nonischemic Heart Failure. New England Journal of Medicine, 376(1), 91-92. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc1614441
  • 2016
    • Klinkenberg, L. J. J., Luyten, P., van der Linden, N., Urgel, K., Snijders, D. P. C., Knackstedt, C., Dennert, R., Kietselaer, B. L. J. H., Mingels, A., Cardinaels, E. P. M., Peeters, F. E. C. M., van Suijlen, J. D. E., ten Kate, J., Marsch, E., Theelen, T. L., Sluimer, J. C., Wouters, K., Bekers, O., Bekkers, B., ... Meex, S. J. R. (2016). Cardiac Troponin T and I Release After a 30-km Run. American Journal of Cardiology, 118(2), 281-287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2016.04.030
  • 2015
    • Knackstedt, C., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Schummers, G., Schreckenberg, M., Muraru, D., Badano, L. P., Franke, A., Bavishi, C., Omar, A. M. S., & Sengupta, P. P. (2015). Fully Automated Versus Standard Tracking of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Longitudinal Strain The FAST-EFs Multicenter Study. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 66(13), 1456-1466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2015.07.052
    • Knackstedt, C., Hildebrandt, U., Schmidt, K., Syrocki, L., Lang, A., Bjarnason-Wehrens, B., Schummers, G., Stapf, D., Becker, M., & Predel, H. G. (2015). Analysis of right and left ventricular deformation in former world class swimmers: evaluation using speckle tracking. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 55(9), 978-987. https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84962505145&origin=inward
    • Knackstedt, C., Schmidt, K., Syrocki, L., Lang, A., Bjarnason-Wehrens, B., Hildebrandt, U., & Predel, H.-G. (2015). Long-term follow-up of former world-class swimmers: evaluation of cardiovascular function. Heart and Vessels, 30(3), 369-378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-014-0481-z
  • 2014
    • Skobel, E., Martinez-Romero, A., Scheibe, B., Schauerte, P., Marx, N., Luprano, J., & Knackstedt, C. (2014). Evaluation of a newly designed shirt-based ECG and breathing sensor for home-based training as part of cardiac rehabilitation for coronary artery disease. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 21(11), 1332-1340. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487313493227
    • Sanders-van Wijk, S., van Empel, V., Knackstedt, C., & Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P. (2014). Heart failure and COPD: Time to SHIFT?International Journal of Cardiology, 172(2), 293-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2013.12.285
    • Peeters, J. M. P. W. U., Sanders-van Wijk, S., Bektas, S., Knackstedt, C., Rickenbacher, P., Nietlispach, F., Handschin, R., Maeder, M. T., Muzzarelli, S. F., Pfisterer, M. E., & Brunner-La Rocca, H. P. (2014). Biomarkers in outpatient heart failure management; Are they correlated to and do they influence clinical judgment?Netherlands Heart Journal, 22(3), 115-121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-013-0503-y
    • Napp, A., Joosten, S., Stunder, D., Knackstedt, C., Zink, M., Bellmann, B., Marx, N., Schauerte, P., & Silny, J. (2014). Electromagnetic Interference With Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators at Power Frequency An In Vivo Study. Circulation, 129(4), 441-450. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.003081
  • 2013
    • Stapf, D., Franke, A., Schreckenberg, M., Schummers, G., Mischke, K., Marx, N., Schauerte, P., & Knackstedt, C. (2013). Beat to beat 3-dimensional intracardiac echocardiography: theoretical approach and practical experiences. International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging, 29(4), 753-764. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-012-0136-z
    • Mischke, K., Knackstedt, C., Marx, N., & Vollmann, D. (2013). Insights into atrial fibrillation. Minerva Medica, 104(2), 119-130.
  • 2012
    • Totzeck, M., Hendgen-Cotta, U. B., Rammos, C., Frommke, L.-M., Knackstedt, C., Predel, H.-G., Kelm, M., & Rassaf, T. (2012). Higher endogenous nitrite levels are associated with superior exercise capacity in highly trained athletes. Nitric Oxide-Biology and Chemistry, 27(2), 75-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.niox.2012.05.003
    • Knackstedt, C., Becker, M., Mischke, K., Pauling, R., Rocca, H. P. B.-L., & Schauerte, P. (2012). A dedicated cardioversion unit for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Reducing costs by optimizing processes. Herz, 37(5), 518-526. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00059-011-3546-0
  • 2011
    • Mischke, K., Knackstedt, C., Fache, K., Reith, S., Rana, O., Saygili, E., Gemein, C., Becker, M., Marx, N., & Schauerte, P. (2011). Electrical remodelling in cardiac resynchronization therapy: decrease in intrinsic QRS duration. Acta Cardiologica, 66(2), 175-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/AC.66.2.2071248
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