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: closing the knowledge gap in thrombosis research
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.
A multi-scale framework
Cell-level modelling
Platelet activation, red blood cell deformation, and leucocyte dynamics analysis at clot initiation, validated through microfluidic platforms and multi-photon microscopy.
Thrombus-level modelling
Structural mechanics assessment of clot growth, contraction, embolisation, and fibrinolysis in native vessels and implantable medical devices.
Circulation-level modelling
Patient-specific haemodynamic simulation combining MRI, 4D ultrasound, and computational fluid dynamics to assess the risk of systemic thrombosis in arterial and venous disease.
AI-based multi-scale integration
Consolidation of cellular, thrombus-level, and circulatory findings into AI-driven models for clinical risk assessment and therapeutic guidance.
Areas of clinical investigation
Arterial and venous thrombosis
Arterial thrombosis and venous thrombosis share cellular mechanisms but differ in their haemodynamic environment.
ThromboRisk develops in silico and in vitro models of arterial and venous thrombosis to build patient-specific haemodynamic models that predict stroke, residual vein obstruction, recurrent deep vein thrombosis, and post-thrombotic syndrome.
Thrombosis in medical devices
The interaction between blood and implantable medical devices, including aortic valves, haemodialysis grafts, ventricular assist devices, and pulmonary artery catheters, poses significant thrombotic risks that remain challenging to assess.
ThromboRisk develops predictive computational models to characterise blood–material interactions with medical devices and assess thrombosis risk, aiming to enable patient-specific device designs tailored to individual anatomy and coagulability.
Training the next generation of thrombosis scientists
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.
