At the core of Europe's healthcare transformation, the ASSIST Consortium is set to revolutionize the way we approach cardiovascular diseases. 

Launched in July 2023, this consortium is comprised of 14 international partners and led by Idoven, and has secured €1.5 million in funding from EIT Health, a European Union agency, with the goal of developing the world's first AI-based solution for early diagnosis and accurate triage of acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack. 

Revolutionizing cardiovascular care efficiency with AI

The scale of this problem is huge. Every year, 4 million Europeans lose their lives due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)⁽¹⁾, with ~20% of these deaths attributed to ischemic heart disease⁽²⁾, a chronic condition that increases the risk of heart attacks as it involves the obstruction of coronary arteries, which can lead to a lack of oxygen in the heart muscle.

Dr. Alfonso Jurado, cardiologist at Hospital Universitario La Paz, stated, "There are still some areas in ECG interpretation that require improvement, and we firmly believe that AI can play a crucial role in enhancing the care of these patients." 

Willem, Idoven's cutting-edge AI cloud-based platform, is the driving force behind ASSIST. With the potential to improve the accuracy and reduce diagnosis time by up to 67%, it is expected to make a significant impact.

We are focused on identifying these patients at high risk in order to use in a wise manner the resources and the available systems to treat the right patient at the right moment.

- Dr. José Montero, cardiologist at Leiden University Medical Center.

This project is poised to reach over 1.2 million patients with suspected acute ischemic heart disease, potentially saving more than 1,400 lives and reducing healthcare costs by over €74 million.

14 international partners, one united consortium for global impact

ASSIST will enhance healthcare efficiency and elevate patient care, with the ultimate goal of saving lives. As Dr. Manuel Martínez-Sellés, Clinical Chief of Cardiology at Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón & President of the Official College of Doctors of Madrid, emphasizes, “We believe this project will truly change clinical practice in the future. Early diagnosis is crucial for patients with acute coronary syndrome, and with this project, we will be able to provide prompt, improved treatment.”

Early diagnosis is crucial for patients with acute coronary syndrome, and with this project, we will be able to provide prompt, improved treatment.

- Dr. Manuel Martínez-Sellés, Clinical Chief of Cardiology at Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón

Under the leadership of Idoven, the ASSIST consortium is comprised of leading international institutions in the sector: Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC, Netherlands), NOVA Medical School (NMS, Lisboa), the Inter-American Society of Cardiology (SIAC) which includes 28 of the world's leading scientific societies of cardiology (such as the American Heart Association, Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia, Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología, and Sociedad Española de Cardiología), the Servicio Madrileño de Salud (SERMAS), Fundación para la Investigación Biomédica del Hospital Gregorio Marañón (FIBHGM), Fundación para la Investigación Biomédica del Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), Instituto Catalán de Salud (ICS), Instituto de Investigación Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundación para la Investigación e Innovación Biosanitaria de Atención Primaria (FIIBAP) (which includes the Servicio de Urgencia Médica de la Comunidad de Madrid - SUMMA 112), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Girona Josep Trueta (IDIBGI), and Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (FRCB-IDIBAPS).

Together, we are all committed to advancing global cardiovascular care—because every heartbeat matters.