Novel multi-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy approaches for the sensitive and robust assessment of human cardiac energetics

The heart needs a lot of energy to function effectively, and we know that patients with heart failure have an 'energy deficit', which contributes to their disease. Currently available methods allow us to measure large energy deficits, but are not precise enough to be used for individual patients in a clinical setting, or to predict who will develop heart failure. I will develop new magnetic resonance-based methods, which can reliably measure how much energy is available to the heart from its reserves and how fast these reserves replenish. With this, I will be able to measure the extent of the 'energy deficit' much more precisely and, for example, observe the energetic changes that follow the transition towards heart failure in patients with diabetes. Importantly, techniques sensitive on a patient level basis would be ideal to develop, test and monitor novel therapies aimed at improving the energy state of the heart.