Unravelling the physics of the pressure drop in blood flow constrictions 

Some cardiac conditions cause an obstruction to the blood flow, and thus an extra burden to the heart. When cardiologists measure this extra burden, they can use either accurate but risky sensors introduced in vessels or the heart, or a non-invasive but less accurate measurement based on medical images.

We aim to produce a non-invasive, accurate measurement of the extra burden caused by a flow obstruction by combining sophisticated imaging and computational technologies. We will investigate three of the most common obstructions and the best way to predict their life-threatening risks. This will allow the definition of the optimal strategy to resolve the obstruction, with surgery only when actually needed.

The integration of clinical data with the physics of how the heart works will lead to the best management for patients with cardiac diseases.