Kick-off of the European project CARAMEL: an innovative approach to cardiovascular disease prevention in menopausal women
03/12/2024
CARAMEL (CArdiovascular Risk Assessment via multimodal data analysis enabling personalized prevention strategies targeting MEnopausal Women), a European project funded by Horizon Europe, was launched on 3 December with a kick-off meeting at the headquarters of the project coordinator, VICOMTECH, in San Sebastian. CARAMEL, which has 25 partners from 11 countries, aims to revolutionise cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in women aged 40-60 through an innovative AI-based model for personalised risk assessment and preventive healthcare.
Addressing an urgent public health need for women: an innovative approach
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.
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.
CARAMEL is under the umbrella of the European Union with funding of 12 million euros from the Horizon Europe programme. With a total duration of 60 months, the project counts Keralty SAS and Biokeralty among its 25 partners.
CARAMEL Digital platform for self-monitoring and self-care
CARAMEL’s journey will involve several key milestones, including the development of a digital prevention platform and an App for self-monitoring and self-care. The project stands out by actively involving women in the co-creation of the CARAMEL digital tools, ensuring their experiences and preferences are at the core of its solutions. Moreover, CARAMEL addresses the specific needs of women with intellectual disabilities, providing an inclusive approach to cardiovascular prevention. The platform will undergo validation in clinical studies at multiple sites across Europe and Latin America, and it aims to provide new, evidence-based guidelines for healthcare providers and policymakers. The project will also develop clinical guidelines to help healthcare providers integrate these new personalized risk assessment models into clinical practice, thus supporting more effective CVD prevention strategies tailored to women.
Join us
Stay connected with CARAMEL’s progress through our official website and social media profiles. Join us as we work to transform cardiovascular prevention for women and contribute to healthier, empowered communities worldwide.
https://www.caramel-project.eu/
https://www.facebook.com/CaramelEUProject
https://www.linkedin.com/company/caramel-eu-project/
