Prognostics and precision imaging with advanced CMR in pulmonary hypertension

What will be done?We will develop precision medicine in precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) by novel cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and patient-specific modelling to improve outcome.

Specifically, we aim to increase the precision of diagnosis, provide early detection of structural deterioration to personalize treatment.How will it be done?This 5-year project will be conducted in the Lund Cardiac MR Group and builds on a unique multidisciplinary collaboration of researchers and clinicians with expertise in PH, physiology, cardiology, CMR, advanced flow, functional assessment, invasive heart catheterization, image segmentation and post-processing in Lund.

We will develop new beyond-state-of-the-art methods to measure diastolic and regional function, myocardial strain, non-invasive pressure-volume loops, advanced assessment from 4D-flow such as intracardiac hemodynamic forces, kinetic energy, and vortex formation. 350 patients, with this rare disease, have undergone CMR since 2002, whereof currently 30 are investigated with advanced CMR sequences.Why is it important?By patient-specific modelling and novel imaging biomarkers to personalize treatment strategies, we have the potential to markedly benefit the wellbeing of the individual patient as well as provide cost-benefit for the healthcare system.

The new CMR imaging biomarkers has potential to be applied in clinical practice and change outcome for the patients within the next 5-years.