SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS — The European Society of Cardiology (ESC), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), has announced the launch of the NextGen project aimed at transforming CVD treatment through the power of artificial intelligence (AI). With a substantial €7.6 million grant from the EU’s Horizon Europe program, the initiative brings together a formidable consortium of 21 members, led by ESC, according to a press release published on EuropaWire.

CVD remains the leading cause of mortality globally, claiming nearly 18 million lives annually, with the EU accounting for approximately one-third of these fatalities. This health crisis imposes a significant economic burden of €282 billion on the EU economy each year, coupled with profound individual consequences such as disability and premature retirement.

NextGen seeks to harness the potential of personalized medicine by tailoring prevention and treatment strategies to individual genetic profiles and health data. Leveraging advancements in genetic analysis and AI methodologies, the project aims to revolutionize cardiovascular health.

The consortium, consisting of clinical research organizations, universities, SMEs, and professional associations, faces diverse challenges, including data privacy, disparate standards, and data volume. However, by synergizing efforts, NextGen aims to securely and ethically integrate diverse data sources, overcoming barriers to data integration in CVD research.

Professor Panos Deloukas of Queen Mary University of London, UK, a member of the consortium, emphasized the significance of the project, stating, “This is a tremendous opportunity and a challenge we have in building the right toolbox that will allow us to unite CVD patient data across Europe and implement precision medicine to improve cardiovascular healthcare.”

Project coordinator Professor Pim van der Harst of University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, highlighted the importance of personalized medicine in optimizing health outcomes, stating, “No two people are exactly the same, and so it makes sense that each person needs a slightly different strategy to optimize their health. Personalized medicine is therefore the way forward for preventing heart disease, speeding up diagnosis, and monitoring and treating people with CVD.”

NextGen aims to compile comprehensive individual information to develop personalized therapies, ultimately improving cardiovascular health and well-being.