Louth company takes part in revolutionary heart health project targeting women over 40

Louth based Heart Rhythm Ireland has announced it is participating in a new €12m European project, which aims to revolutionise the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The Horizon Europe project, CARAMEL, will focus on women aged 40 – 60 and will deliver an innovative, AI-supported model for personal risk assessment and preventative healthcare.  

The project will utilise Heart Rhythm Ireland’s AI and cardiac data capabilities to deliver the individualised risk assessment and healthcare solutions which the project organisers expect will improve heart health.  Heart Rhythm Ireland has been operating at the cutting edge of cardiac rhythm management since 2008. Based in Ardee, Co. Louth they offer cloud based cardiac rhythm platform to hospitals around Ireland and beyond.  They also operate as the national registry for cardiac devices implants in Ireland.  

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in Europe, with an especially sharp increase in risk during and after menopause. Despite these realities, CVD remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in women, as current risk models often lack consideration for sex and gender specific factors. CARAMEL aims to close this gap by creating tailored risk assessment models that are uniquely suited to the needs of middle-aged women.

Project CARAMEL (standing for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in MEnopausaL women via multimodal data analysis enabling personalised prevention strategies), includes 25 different partner organisations from 11 different countries, including four from Ireland. As well as Heart Rhythm Ireland, the other Irish organisations involved are Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University and iBreve Limited. 

At the core of CARAMEL’s approach is the integration of multiple data sources – clinical records, medical imaging, wearable devices, and lifestyle information – to develop AI-based models capable of assessing risk levels and tailoring prevention plans. By leveraging emerging technologies, CARAMEL will enable women to take proactive steps toward their heart health through self-assessment tools and a digital ecosystem designed for empowerment and self-management. In addition, the project will incorporate advanced diagnostic tools and new biomarkers, including non-invasive skin nanosensors and NMR spectroscopy-based lipoprotein and inflammation markers, to enable earlier and more accurate risk assessment. 

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Speaking about their involvement in the project, Robert Kelly, CEO of Heart Rhythm Ireland said: “We are honoured to be part of this important project, which we hope will ultimately have a significant impact on women’s cardiovascular health. The project will utilise Heart Rhythm Ireland’s AI modelling and predictive analytic capabilities to enhance personalised risk assessments and preventative care, creating pioneering solutions for patients and clinicians alike. We are very proud to be able to contribute towards such a vital endeavour and to able to provide 15 years of expertise in cardiac device data analytics towards the project, which we hope will enable some of Europe’s brightest healthcare minds to deliver long lasting, cardio health solutions,” Mr. Kelly concluded.  

The project has received funding from the European Project Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme.