Philips leads European 27.6 million euro project against cardiovascular diseases
In a press release published on October 15, 2026 in Amsterdam, Royal Philips announced the launch of a five-year research project with a total budget of 27.6 million euros, co-financed by the European Union's Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) and industrial partners. The consortium is jointly led by the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and Philips.
Three exit points targeted in the cardiac care pathway
The EXIT-CVD project aims to transform the way cardiovascular diseases are detected, monitored and treated. It is structured around three "exit points" in the care pathway: preventing disease before it occurs, reversing its progression, and halting its evolution at advanced stages.
Specifically, the studies will focus on early detection through digital monitoring, personalized risk assessment with targeted interventions, as well as advanced therapies designed to support recovery at late stages. According to the press release, more than 60 million people live with cardiovascular disease in the European Union.
Bert van Meurs, head of Diagnostic and Treatment at Royal Philips' Image Guided Therapy division, stated that the consortium is exploring technologies ranging from contactless monitoring of vital signs to detect early patient deterioration, to spectral computed tomography imaging, which reveals tissue characteristics beyond anatomy. Patient recruitment is scheduled to begin in October 2026.
42 partners in 17 countries and over 14,000 patients expected
The consortium will conduct a total of 22 clinical studies involving more than 14,000 patients across Europe. Among these is the CARDIO-CAM study, which evaluates a hospital video surveillance system continuously capturing cardiorespiratory signals, and the LEADER-PAD study, dedicated to early detection of cardiovascular diseases using spectral computed tomography in asymptomatic or low-risk symptomatic patients.
The randomized GUIDANCE-PCCT study will compare percutaneous coronary interventions guided by photon-counting computed tomography to those guided by standard angiography. The project will rely on a data platform compliant with FAIR principles and aligned with the European Health Data Space (EHDS). Interventions will be designed with patients, according to an "equity by design" principle addressing socio-economic access gaps, gender-related disparities, and digital divides.
Industrial partners include GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Medtronic, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson MedTech Heart Recovery. The partnership also brings together hospitals and universities, including KU Leuven, UMC Utrecht and King's College London, as well as the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and patient organization Stichting VrouwenHart.
