RESEARCH INTEREST
It is a multidisciplinary team composed of cardiologists, a physicist, a radiologist, a family physician, primary care nurses, and a resident physician. The group’s main research focus is the application of non-invasive diagnostic techniques and artificial intelligence in clinical cardiology to improve the diagnosis, phenotyping, and prognosis of patients with cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular risk.
The current research lines and projects include:
1. Artificial intelligence-based ECG analysis and prediction of atrial fibrillation (DESCAF).
This research line focuses on the identification of novel ECG markers using artificial intelligence and computer-assisted ECG analysis to predict atrial fibrillation and atrial dysfunction. The group has developed machine-learning approaches based on automatically extracted ECG features and multimodal clinical integration.
The project received FIS funding from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) for the period 2021–2023, later extended to 2025, as well as DTS funding from ISCIII for 2024–2026. The project has also generated a patent.
Additional work in this field includes the identification of ECG predictors of occult atrial fibrillation in patients with cryptogenic stroke using computer-assisted ECG analysis combined with echocardiographic and biochemical markers.
2. Identification of novel markers and phenotypes associated with early myocardial infarction (CAFEECOR).
This line uses innovative imaging techniques, artificial intelligence, metabolic profiling, and genomic approaches to identify new markers associated with early myocardial infarction. The project obtained ISCIII FIS funding for 2022–2025.
3. Artificial intelligence and machine-learning analysis of ECG and cardiac imaging in cardiomyopathies.
This research line focuses on the development of interpretable machine-learning models and computer-assisted ECG analysis to improve diagnosis and prognostic stratification in cardiomyopathies.
Current projects include:
4. Subclinical atherosclerosis and systemic inflammatory diseases.
The group participates as collaborating researchers in a project investigating subclinical atherosclerosis associated with hidradenitis suppurativa and adult atopic dermatitis. This project is led by the Dermatology Department of our hospital and received ISCIII FIS funding for 2021–2024.
5. Artificial intelligence applied to advanced cardiovascular imaging in ischemic heart disease.
The group participates as collaborating researchers in a multicenter project led by the University Hospital of Salamanca aimed at identifying new prognostic markers in acute myocardial infarction using artificial intelligence applied to spectral computed tomography imaging. Funding has been requested through the ISCIII FIS 2025 call.
6. Subclinical atherosclerosis, microbiome, and obstructive sleep apnea.
The group collaborates in a project led by the Pulmonology Department investigating the relationship between subclinical atherosclerosis, microbiome alterations, and obstructive sleep apnea in order to identify novel prognostic markers. A grant application has been submitted to the ISCIII FIS 2025 call.
7. Extramural multidisciplinary collaborations in artificial intelligence applied to cardiovascular medicine.
The group maintains several multidisciplinary scientific collaborations focused on artificial intelligence, electrocardiography, cardiovascular imaging, and predictive modeling. These collaborations include engineers from the Higher Polytechnic School of the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), physicists from the Faculty of Physics of the University of Santiago de Compostela, and physicists from the University of Buenos Aires.
Se trata de un equipo multidisciplinar que incluye cardiólogos, físico, radióloga, médico familia, enfermeras de Atención Primaria y médico residente.
Las principales líneas de investigación actuales del grupo se centran en el ámbito clínico aplicando técnicas diagnósticas no invasivas y la inteligencia artificial para mejorar el diagnóstico y el pronóstico de los pacientes con cardiopatías o con riesgo cardiovascular:
Tenemos colaboraciones científicas extramurales no financiadas y enfocadas en inteligencia artificial aplicada al ECG con científicos multidisciplinares: Ingenieros de Escuela superior de Escuela Politécnica Superior de la UAM, Madrid; físicos de las Facultad de Física de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela y físicos de la Universidad de Buenos Aires.
Detección de nuevos marcadores pronósticos sub-clínicos y precoces mediante inteligencia artificial de > 400.000 electrocardiogramas de la base de datos de un hospital terciario. PI20/00792. ISCIII. 2021-2023.
Identificar nuevos marcadores pronósticos en el electrocardiograma (ECG) mediante el uso de un sistema de análisis masivo de ECGs sobre la base de datos de más de 400.000 ECGs almacenados desde el año 2007 en el Hospital de La Princesa y su centro de especialidades.
Esta ayuda está financiada por el Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020 y el ISCIII – Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación – y cofinanciadas por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, Programa Operativo Crecimiento Inteligente 2014-2020 de acuerdo al Reglamento (UE) Nº 1303/2013.

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