About
Why ThromboRisk?
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the EU, responsible for 37% of deaths and costing about 210 billion euros annually. Thrombosis, an occlusive blood clot, underlies various conditions, including ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction, which are overall responsible for about 1 in 4 deaths globally.
A limited understanding of thrombus formation, growth, and rupture hampers the development of patient-specific treatment strategies. Interdisciplinary and multi-level research approaches are needed to elucidate the complexity of thrombus formation, which is influenced by numerous biological, chemical, and physical factors.
Our mission
ThromboRisk is a 4-year (1 Feb 2026 – 30 Jan 2030) doctoral training network that aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms of thrombus formation and support more effective disease management.
The project adopts an interdisciplinary combination of computational models and advanced experimental techniques, including microfluidic models, microscopy, and functional imaging, and a multi-scale approach spanning from the cellular to the blood-flow level.
ThromboRisk will train 18 exceptional doctoral students across 6 countries (The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, UK) in diverse scientific fields, including mechanobiology, biochemistry, pathophysiology, and computational modelling.
These researchers will collaborate to advance our understanding of thrombosis and bridge the gap between micro-level thrombus processes and macro-level disease impacts, enabling clinical applications.
Strategic objectives
Cell-level thrombosis modelling
ThromboRisk will develop computational models that describe the cellular mechanisms responsible for thrombus formation, including cellular blood flow and interactions among platelets, red blood cells, and leucocytes, and will validate them in microfluidic experiments.
Thrombus-level growth modelling
ThromboRisk will build computational models that simulate the structural mechanics of thrombus growth, detachment, embolisation, and dissolution, and validate them through microfluidic, in vitro, and in vivo experiments.
Circulation-level thrombosis modelling
ThromboRisk will apply computational models of platelet activation and coagulation to study the effects of thrombus formation on blood flow dynamics in arteries and veins, as well as how hemodynamics affect thrombosis.
Multi-level bridging via AI
ThromboRisk will integrate, analyse, and consolidate factors from cellular, thrombus, and circulation-level models into AI-based models to predict thrombus formation, growth, and rupture across scales.
Challenge-based learning
Thromborisk will implement an innovative doctoral training program that integrates challenge-based learning by setting clinically focused problem areas and co-creating research-based medical solutions in collaboration with the consortium network.
Challenge-based learning
A central element of the ThromboRisk training programme is the implementation of challenge-based learning (CBL), an innovative educational approach that places real-world challenges at the heart of doctoral training. Instead of focusing solely on predefined research-driven questions, doctoral researchers are encouraged to address complex, multidisciplinary, clinically-driven questions related to thrombosis and cardiovascular health, as well as industry-driven questions to enhance device design and functionality.
Within this framework, doctoral candidates work closely with academic supervisors, clinical partners, industry representatives, and other stakeholders who serve as “real-world clients”. Together, they co-develop research questions, explore solutions, and test new ideas using advanced modelling, experimental research, and clinical data.
This approach fosters creativity, critical thinking, and responsible innovation, while helping researchers develop the hands-on skills required to work and collaborate across disciplines and sectors. By integrating CBL into its doctoral program, ThromboRisk aims to train a new generation of scientists capable of tackling complex health challenges and translating research into meaningful societal impacts.