On May 28, 2024, in Florence, Italy, during the project meeting of AFFIRMO, a significant collaboration was announced. The Horizon Europe funded projects AFFIRMO, ARISTOTELES, and TARGET launched a new informal cluster aimed at enhancing research on the management of cardiac diseases and associated multimorbidity. This cluster is set to foster collaboration, expand research impact, and welcome additional projects to join its efforts.

The three projects, primarily centred on atrial fibrillation (AF) and its comorbidities, are developing innovative care pathways. AFFIRMO is taking a holistic approach to optimize clinical management for older AF patients, considering multifaceted health aspects, including multimorbidity, polypharmacy, personal preferences, and social context. ARISTOTELES focuses on creating a multinational harmonized data platform to develop and implement novel AI approaches for complex diseases, predicting the risks of developing or worsening comorbidities. TARGET introduces virtual twin-driven AI models for the personalised management of AF and its complications, such as AF-related stroke (AFRS).

Additionally, the three projects share common partners and researchers. Due to their overlapping domains and collaborative history, the creation of this cluster was a natural progression, exploiting existing synergies to maximize their research impact.

In TARGET, we are delighted to join this cluster and look forward to extending the reach and impact of our activities. There were lots of very interesting ideas and discussions during the launch event in Florence, from joint public engagement events to potential collaborative research. What an exciting opportunity for TARGET!  Stated Dr Sandra Ortega-Martorell, TARGET project coordinator from the School of Computer Science and Mathematics at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, at Liverpool John Moores University.

Areas of collaboration

The newly formed cluster aims to collaborate on research, share non-confidential research results, organise events and workshops, and engage in dissemination activities. By pooling their knowledge and organizing joint activities, the projects aim to promote collaboration with similar initiatives. The cluster is not limited to projects working solely on atrial fibrillation but is open to all research efforts focused on cardiac diseases.

Clusters like this one are highly beneficial for EU-funded projects. They enable the sharing of insights, success stories, and best practices among researchers, enhancing the overall impact of their work. This particular cluster aims to accelerate the development and adoption of comprehensive, integrated care models for cardiac diseases and associated multimorbidity. By doing so, the ultimate goal is to improve patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.

The cluster's contribution to healthcare policy impact is significant, as its collective approach strengthens the alignment of the three projects' goals. Engaging policymakers early, once preliminary findings emerge, ensures that the shared research results will effectively inform and enhance healthcare frameworks. This collaboration amplifies the impact of each project's insights, creating a stronger, unified voice to advocate for more comprehensive, patient-centered care models in cardiac disease and multimorbidity management.

‘There are many opportunities for this clustering activity, where multimorbidity lends itself to novel AI/machine learning methods, and the creation of digital twins to model diagnosis, risk assessment, management and rehabilitation. We are addressing atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common heart rhythm disorder that is often associated with multimorbidity and poor clinical outcomes from stroke, heart failure and dementia.  This clustering activity will bring 3 large project consortia together, addressing different facets of AF, stroke and multimorbidity’, comments Gregory Lip, partner in all three projects, from the Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, at University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

The launch of this cluster marks a significant step towards collaborative research in cardiac disease management. By joining forces, AFFIRMO, ARISTOTELES, and TARGET are set to create a robust platform for knowledge sharing and innovation, paving the way for advancements in the treatment of cardiac diseases and multimorbidities. This initiative stands as an open invitation for other projects to join, further strengthening the collaborative research landscape in this vital field.

Stay tuned for further insights and developments, and to learn more about the exciting initiatives and activities of this innovative cluster.