New Health~Holland-funded project aims to improve diagnosis of hidden heart disease

September 9, 2026

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BmE) has secured funding for AutoCMD (Automated non-invasive diagnosis of coronary microvascular disease), a new research project led by Cian Scannell in collaboration with Philips Medical Systems Nederland.

Cian Scannell. Photo by Vincent van den Hoogen.

The project has received support through a PPP Subsidy awarded by , Top Sector Life Sciences & Health, to stimulate public-private partnerships.

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Yet for many patients experiencing symptoms of heart disease, especially women, finding the underlying cause can be challenging. In a significant number of cases, the problem is not located in the large coronary arteries, but in the heart's smallest blood vessels, a condition known as coronary microvascular disease.

Currently, diagnosing this condition often requires invasive procedures. Through AutoCMD, researchers aim to develop a non-invasive alternative based on cardiac MRI and artificial intelligence.

Combining AI and cardiac MRI

The project will develop advanced physics-based AI methods capable of detecting coronary microvascular disease from standard cardiac MRI scans. By combining the reliability of physics models with the power of artificial intelligence, the researchers hope to uncover information hidden within MRI data that cannot easily be detected by the human eye.

The ultimate goal is to provide clinicians with a fast and reliable diagnostic tool that can be integrated into existing MRI workflows. This could help patients receive earlier and more accurate diagnoses, leading to more effective treatment decisions and improved patient outcomes.

Collaborating for impact

AutoCMD brings together expertise from Eindhoven University of Technology and . The project is led by from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, with PhD candidate contributing to the research over the coming years. On behalf of Philips, Jouke Smink serves as the project's main collaborator.

The project will run from 29 June 2026 to 28 June 2030 and aims to contribute to the future of cardiovascular care through innovative AI-driven medical imaging solutions.