Rudolf de Boer (1972, Gouda, the Netherlands) is a Clinical Cardiologist and Professor of Translational Cardiology at the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands.
Doctor de Boer’s clinical interests are cardiogenetics, cardio-oncology and end-stage heart failure including VAD therapy and transplant. Professor de Boer has several research lines, and has authored over 400 articles. He received grants from the Netherlands Heart Foundation, the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research, and the European Research Council (ERC). He was appointed a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in 2010, was Board Member of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC from 2014-2020, and currently is Liaison Officer of the ESC Cardio-Oncology Council. He has served as the president of the Heart Failure Working Group of the Dutch Society of Cardiology from 2014-2019, and is President-Elect of the Dutch Cardiac Society per April 2021.
Current activities
The group of Rudolf de Boer works in translational cardiology, with a focus on heart failure, aiming to uncover novel pathways, proteins and biomarkers to better understand the pathophysiology. The projects span from experimental studies all the way to clinical studies. Currently, we focus on reverse Cardio-oncology, on diabetes and HFpEF and on genetic cardiomyopathies.
European Research Council (ERC):
SECRETE-HF: It has been recognized that cancer may develop in response to cancer treatments. However, herein, we have showed for the first time that cancer is more prevalent in patients with heart failure and CV disease. This is an entirely new field with a large number of subprojects, from cell studies to animal studies, but also including patient cohorts.
Collaborators: Professor Alexander Lyon (Imperial College, London, UK), Professor Javid Moslehi (Nashville University, Tennessee, USA), and Professor Rienk Nieuwland (Amsterdam UMC).
Heart Foundation:
CVON-DOUBLE DOSE: This project has recently been awarded, and focuses on environmental factors and stressors and onset of genetic cardiomyopathies. This is a large national collaboration with Amsterdam, Utrecht, Erasmus MC and Maastricht. Collaborators: Professor Jolanda van der Velden (Amsterdam UMC); Professor Folkert Asselbergs and Professor Peter van Tintelen (UMC Utrecht), Dr. Michelle Michels (Erasmus MC, Rotterdam), and Professor Silvia Evers and Stephane Heymans (Maastricht).
CVON SHE-PREDICTS-HF: Sex-specific predictors of new onset heart failure. We make use of large community dwelling cohorts, with a large number of cardiovascular biomarkers. Collaborators: Dr. Vannessa van Empel, Professor Stephane Heymans & Professor Blanche Schroen (Maastricht UMC).
CVON RED CVD: Early detection of heart failure, atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease is difficult and suboptimal in primary care. This project includes a cluster randomized trial in primary care practices in an effort to optimize early recognition. Collaborators: Professor Frans Rutten (Julius Center & UMC Utrecht), Professor Arno Hoes (UMC Utrecht).
PREDICT-2: Consortium working on sudden cardiac death. We will study mutations in phospholamban as a cause for sudden death. Collaborators: Professor Arthur Wilde (Amsterdam UMC), Professor Mark Vos (UMC Utrecht), Professor Paul Volders (Maastricht UMC).
Clinical trials:
My group has several clinical studies in its portfolio, usually in line with our other scientific projects. I have been Dutch National lead on the DAPA-HF trial, a landmark trial with the SGLT2 inhibitor in heart failure. I am member of the executive committee of DELIVER, that studies dapagliflozin in HFpEF. Furthermore, I have been studying biomarkers in heart failure, and am co-PI of the MONITOR HF study, a study that evaluates the pulmonary artery pressure monitor in severe heart failure.
LeDucq Foundation:
CURE-PLaN: In our part of the country, we have a high prevalence of cardiomyopathy due to a founder mutation in the phospholamban (PLN) gene. We have secured substantial funding to work on several aspects of the PLN gene. For more information, go to the CURE-PLaN website.
