Belgian Heart Foundation
- Project calls
- Young Investigator Award
- Dr. Leon Dumont Prize
- BHF Basic Research Grant
- BHF Clinical Research Grant
- BHF Cardio Oncology Grant
- BHF Sports Cardiology Grant
The submission platform for BHF research projects, in collaboration with the King Baudouin Foundation, is now open for the following calls with a deadline of 9th October:
N° 1 – Basic research in cardiology (up to 3 winners, € 20.000 per project)
The call concerns non-commercial projects for basic research in the field of cardiovascular pathology. This research encompasses scientific disciplines such as biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology and their interplay, and involves laboratory studies with cell cultures, animal studies or physiological experiments. Patients are not in the centre of the study but biological samples (e.g. blood) can be used for this purpose.
Further information and submission link
N° 2 – Clinical research in cardiology (up to 3 winners, € 20.000 per project)
The call concerns non-commercial projects for clinical research in the field of cardiovascular pathology. The research must be centred on the patients and aimed to determine the role of medication, intervention, diagnosis, symptoms or prevention in the physiological or pathological processes of the cardiovascular system.
Further information and submission link
N° 3 – Randomised clinical research trial (€100.000), supported by the Cardiac Surgery Fund
The call concerns non-commercial projects for clinical research in the field of cardiovascular pathology. The research must be centred on the patients and aimed to explore the benefit of interventions (medical or non-medical) in patients with cardiovascular disease. The research should have a multicentre study design with randomisation between intervention and control. The research has to be carried out in at least two Belgian institutions, or more.
Further information and submission link
N° 4 – Dr. Léon Dumont Grant (€ 40.000)
The prize concerns basic or clinical research in the field of cardiovascular pathologies. The Prize is intended as a recognition for realized research in cardiology and an encouragement to continue research in this field.
Further information and submission link
We look forward to receiving your research proposals – deadline 9th October 2023
The Young Investigator Award with an associated prize of € 6,500 is given to individuals, whose research reflects new and relevant work in basic or clinical research in cardiology.
Past winners
2023
Basic Science: Géraldine Hubesch– ULB, Brussels
Right ventriculo-pulmonary arterial uncoupling in an experimental HFpEF in rats
Clinical: Matthias Engelen – University Hospitals Leuven
Modulation of thromboinflammation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with aprotinin,
2022
Basic Science: Justine Dontaine – UClouvain, Brussels
AMPK and O-GlcNAcylation: a new paradigm to protect the failing hypertrophic heart
Clinical: Lennert Minten – University Hospitals Leuven
Does coronary lesion complexity and pre-procedural revascularization affect 5-year outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation?
2021
Basic Science: Isabel Witvrouwen, UZ Antwerp
Micrornas as predictors for exercise response in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Clinical Science: Simon Calle, UZ Ghent
A strain-based staging classification of left bundle branch block-induced cardiac remodeling
2020
Basic Science: Sander Trenson, UZ Leuven
Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells in Pressure Overload-induced Heart Disease
Clinical Science: Jürgen Duchenne, UZ Leuven
Acute re-distribution of regional left ventricular work by cardiac resynchronization therapy
2019
Basic Science: Kautbally Shakeel
Platelet acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphorylation: a risk stratification marker evidencing platelet-lipid interplay in CAD patients
2018
Clinical Science
2017
Basic Science
2016
Clinical Science
2015
Basic Science: Peter Haemers
2014
Clinical Science
2013
Basic Science: Guido Claessen
Right ventricular fatigue developing during endurance exercise: a real-time exercise cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study 2012 Clinical Science
2011
Basic Science: Ward Heggermont, KU Leuven
Micro-RNA 146a: a new kid on the block in the pathophysiology of cardiac hypertension, and an interesting therapeutic target
2010
Clinical Science: Alexandre Van De Bruaene, KU Leuven
Iron deficiency in patients with Eisenmenger’s syndrome: does it affect outcome, is oral anticoagulation involved and can there be too
2009
Basic Science: Jozef Van Herck, UZ Antwerpen
Impaired elastin function promotes features of plaque instability in ApoE-deficient mice
2008
Clinical Science: An Van Berendoncks, UZ Antwerpen
Circulating adiponectin levels in patients with chronic heart failure. The effect of exercise training
2007
Basic Science: Pieter-Jan Guns, UZ Antwerpen
Paraoxonase 1 gene transfer lowers vascular oxidative stress and improves endothelial cell function in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice with pre-existing atherosclerosis
2006
Clinical Science: Johan Saenen, UZ Antwerpen
Multi-level study of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the Long QT Syndrome
2005
2004
Katrien Lemmens
2003
Stefan Heymans
2002
Christophe Beauloye
The Doctor Léon Dumont Prize of €40,000 is awarded every two years to an European researcher in cardiovascular medicine for clinical and experimental research projects.
Past winners
2022
Guido Claessen, UZ Leuven
PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF CARDIAC REMODELING IN YOUNG COMPETITIVE ATHLETES – IDENTIFICATION OF GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS (PRO@HEART). THE PROSPECTIVE ATHLETE’S HEART (PRO@HEART) STUDY
2020
Luc Bertrand – UCLouvain
Importance of protein O-GlcNAcylation in cardiac hypertrophy development
Sandrine Horman – UCLouvain
Limiting platelet lipid synthesis: a defense mechanism against atherothrombosis in coronary artery disease
The prize is awarded to non-commercial projects for basic research in the field of cardiovascular pathology. This research encompasses scientific disciplines such as biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology and their interplay, and involves laboratory studies with cell cultures, animal studies or physiological experiments. Patients are not in the centre of the study but biological samples (e.g. blood) can be used for this purpose.
Past winners
2023
Patrick Sips, Ghent University
Exploring the cell-specific mechanisms of aortic disease using fibrillin-1 mutant mouse models
Didier Communi, ULB
Role of adiponectin and PD-L1 in the release of cardioprotective exosomes
Laurent Bultot, UCLouvain
Study of the molecular mechanisms linking protein acetylation and diabetic cardiomyopathy development
Alice Marino, UCLouvain
Myo-inositol/SMIT1 axis: a novel pathway to prevent of treat heart failure
2022
Aernout Luttun, KU Leuven
STUDY OF THE CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS UNDERLYING CARDIOMYOPATHY CAUSED BY TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR PR DOMAIN CONTAINING 16 (PRDM16) DEFICIENCY IN CARDIOMYOCYTES AND NON-CARDIOMYOCYTE CELL TYPES
2021
Jolanda van Hengel, UGhent
Generation and characterization of three novel induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte lines as a model to study the pathophysiological mechanisms of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
2020
An Zwijsen – KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (CMVB)
Contribution of BMP-SMAD regulated biogenesis of microRNAs in organ-specific functions of lymphatic endothelium
2019
Alaerts Maaike – UZ Antwerp
Promising novel approach to Brugada syndrome research: identification of genetic modifiers using genome and transcriptome analysis in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte model
The prize is awarded to non-commercial projects for clinical research in the field of cardiovascular pathology. The research must be centred on the patients and aimed to determine the role of medication, intervention, diagnosis, symptoms or prevention in the physiological or pathological processes of the cardiovascular system.
Past winners
2023
Caroline Van De Heyning, Antwerp University Hospital
The value of 7-day rhythm surveillance as a novel tool for risk prediction in acute myocarditis
Ines Joye, GZA vzw Ziekenhuizen
Cardiac stereotactic radiation treatment for the ablation of ventricular tachycardia
Constantijn Franssen, Antwerp University Hospital
The incidence of cardiovascular events and revascularizations in patients treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Belgium
2022
Jan De Pooter, UZ Ghent
Conduction system pacing: a bench and bedside study. Insights in cardiac conduction disease translated to novel pacing strategies
2021
Henri Gruwez, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg
SURGICAL-AF 2 study: The clinical impact of remote heart rhythm monitoring by photoplethysmography-based smartphone technology in the rehabilitation after cardiac surgery: A randomized, open-label, multicenter, pragmatic clinical trial
2020
An Van Berendoncks – Antwerp University Hospital
Prevention of recurrence of hypertensive pregnancy disorders in women with active desire for pregnancy, a randomized controlled trial: a smartphone-based aerobic exercise training program during pregnancy versus usual care
2019
Christophe Vandenbriele – KU Leuven
Mechanical circulatory support: a complex process of thrombosis and haemostasis
The prize is awarded to non-commercial projects in the field of cardio-oncology. The research can be centred on basic insights in cardio-oncology or cover broad aspects related to the clinical practice.
Past winners
2022
Lucas Van Aelst, UZ Leuven
PRECLINICAL AND CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF HEPCIDIN, A PIVOTAL ENDOGENOUS REGULATOR OF IRON METABOLISM, ON ANTHRACYCLINE-INDUCED CARDIOTOXICITY
2021
Gilles De Keulenaer, Antwerp University
Cardiovascular disease and cancer are linked through the NRG1/ERBB3 signaling system
2020
Emeline Van Craenenbroeck – UZ Antwerp
Discovering the role of titin (TTN) in anthracycline-induced cardiac dysfunction in breast cancer.
The call is made for the first time and concerns non-commercial research projects in the field of sports cardiology and in the field of sudden cardiac death related to physical activities. The research can be centred on basic insights, or cover broad aspects related to the clinical practice.
Past winners
2022
Wendy Hens, UZ Antwerp
ECCENTRIC OVERLOAD TRAINING IN ADDITION TO A TRADITIONAL CARDIAC REHABILITATION PROGRAMME: RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL TO EVALUATE EFFECTIVENESS AND FEASIBILITY IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS WITH REDUCED EJECTION FRACTION
2021
An Van Berendoncks, UZ Antwerp
Supervised home-based combined endurance resistance exercise training programme in asymptomatic adult patients with congenital heart disease. A prospective randomised-controlled trial to evaluate effectiveness, safety and quality of life
