ACS provides funds to support talented ACS researchers. This year, three ACS researchers receive talent grants, either to perform post-doctoral research or for continuing research during medical specialist training. Congratulations to all awardees!
Postdoc Grants

Josephine Tan
‘Unraveling Smooth Muscle Cell Fate Dynamics in Thoracic Aortic Disease’

Thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAA/D) are life-threatening conditions that often occur in younger individuals without traditional cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting a strong genetic component. However, over 80% of TAA/D cases lack identified mutations, and more than 87% of dissections occur below current surgical thresholds, underscoring the need for better mechanistic understanding of TAA/D pathogenesis. In response to stress, SMCs in the aorta undergo “fate switching”, adopting a “synthetic” state marked by increased proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Synthetic switching is consistently elevated in TAA/D patient samples, suggesting a potential pathogenic role.

I recently identified the transcriptional regulator PRDM16 as a specific repressor of synthetic SMC switching in atherosclerosis. For Objective 1, I aim to test whether PRDM16 similarly modulates SMC behavior in TAA/D and if its sustained expression can prevent TAA/D. In objective 2 I take an unbiased approach, creating a single-cell RNAseq atlas of human TAA/D using a novel method, to identify divergent SMC states between control, dilated and dissected aortae. Resulting targets will be validated in vitro. With my research I aim to advance our understanding of how SMC fate changes contribute to TAA/D, to support better patient risk stratification in the future.

MD-PhD Grants

Micah Heldeweg
'Tailored ICU Deresuscitation and Electrolyte management (Rising TIDE)’
Fluid overload is a common and serious complication in critically ill patients, often managed with diuretics. However, conventional diuretic strategies can cause significant electrolyte imbalances, acid-base disturbances, and interfere with renal concentration capacity, risking complications such as delirium, impaired renal function, and longer ICU stays. Despite advances in tailored diuretic therapy in cardiology, a precision-based approach in the ICU remains largely unexplored.
The Rising TIDE project aims to transform deresuscitation in critical care by integrating acid-base profiling, electrolyte monitoring, and big data analytics to optimize diuretic therapy. This three-phase study will establish a foundation with observational studies and a feasibility observational study, culminating in a robust randomized controlled trial that compares tailored diuretic therapy to conventional approaches.
By addressing a critical gap in individualized fluid management, this research aligns with the global shift toward precision medicine. If successful, it could enhance patient safety, reduce ICU complications, and redefine deresuscitation strategies worldwide.

Debbie Kalkman
‘Diagnostic potential of the electrocardiogram during pregnancy (CARRIAGE project)’
Pregnancy results in major physiological changes and is often referred as a physiological ‘stress test’. While it is known that the electrocardiogram (ECG) can change during pregnancy. A clear understanding of 'normal' versus pathological ECG changes during pregnancy is still lacking. The current project aims to address this knowledge gap for the first time by focusing on ECG evaluation during pregnancy to provide an in-depth characterization of ‘normal’ ECG changes during pregnancy. To this end, a modeling approach will be combined with the collection of ECG[1]data during pregnancy. Different modeling techniques will be used to get insight in the effect of changing heart orientation, electrode position and body shape to provide preliminary insight in the changes of the ECG during pregnancy. Subsequently, the modeling approach will be validated with findings from the acquired real-world data in a midwifery clinic. Specifically, for ECG analysis, morphological and time-series ECG evaluation will be combined, using both mathematical approaches as well as data driven Artificial Intelligence approaches. During the course of the project, ECG data during pregnancy will be collected to assess validate the findings of the modeling approach.
The MD/PhD Grant

The MD/PhD grants are meant for medical specialists in training who have already obtained their PhD. It is aimed at continuing research in the cardiovascular field and become a good clinical investigator alongside obtaining their medical specialization. These grants of €17.500 per year are used for 1 day a week protected research time during a 1 or 2-year postdoctoral project

Visit the ACS MD/PhD Grant page for more information.

Postdoc Grant

The Postdoc grants are meant to support talented young PhD graduates to perform post-doctoral research at Amsterdam UMC or at another (inter)national institute. These grants of €150.000 are used for a full-time 2 year post-doctoral project in the cardiovascular field, either to attract talent from outside Amsterdam UMC or for talented ACS researchers to perform research within ACS or abroad.

Visit the ACS Postdoc Grant page for more information.