Objective Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of arrhythmia and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. AF is principally treated with catheter ablation. Unfortunately, the mechanisms that initiate and sustain the arrhythmia are still incompletely understood and, as such, ablation remains a highly operator-dependent procedure with low success rates. Two recent studies promise to lead to better ablation outcomes, showing that a) the amount of atrial fibrosis directly correlates with the non-responsiveness to ablation and that b) AF is maintained by electrical rotors and targeting their suppression improves the success rates. Nonetheless, the lack of a rigorous mechanistic framework of AF pathophysiology deprives those studies of solid fundaments so that their effective value is still debated.This project aims therefore to provide such a framework by exploiting advanced biomedical engineering concepts. The focus will be on explaining and connecting recent experimental findings about fibrosis and rotors. The relationship will be first analyzed in vivo from AF patient data acquired with state-of-the-art instrumentation in the field of interventional electrophysiology. Measured data will be then integrated within a multi-scale personalized computational model of the fibrillating atrium that will determine, on a patient-specific basis, the mechanistic connection between fibrosis and reentries. Furthermore, the tool will provide an in silico environment for personalized ablation planning. Key in the project will be the synergy between complementary state-of-the-art expertise in the fields of medical imaging and computational modeling provided by applicant and host institutions. All partners will strongly benefit from the implied two way knowledge transfer, in terms of career advancement (the applicant) and enlarged network/grant proposal opportunities. The study will foster more focused clinical research aiming at better treatment for the AF patients. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseasescardiac arrhythmiamedical and health sciencesbasic medicineanatomy and morphologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologypathophysiologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineendocrinologydiabetesmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologystroke Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA Net EU contribution € 168 277,20 Address VIA ZAMBONI 33 40126 Bologna Italy See on map Region Nord-Est Emilia-Romagna Bologna Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 168 277,20