This prize is awarded to non-commercial projects for clinical research in the field of cardiovascular pathology.

The research must be centred on the patients and aimed to explore the benefit of interventions (medical or non-medical) in patients with cardiovascular disease.
The research should have a multicentre study design with randomisation between intervention and control.
The research has to be carried out in at least two Belgian institutions, or more.

Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) may offer a novel therapeutic option in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who are ineligible for CRT. The present cross-over study on CCM therapy will increase our knowledge on the mechanisms of action of CCM. These insights could contribute to patient selection that will benefit the most from this therapy (CCM-responders). Hence, this project is of use if cost-effective health care decisions have to be taken in the future.

Heart failure (HF) is prevalent with an increasing incidence due to ageing. Prognosis remains poor with a reduced quality of life. Novel quadruple HF therapy has proven to reduce morbidity and mortality in HF with a reduced ejection fraction. However, drug implementation is often hampered, especially in patients with chronic kidney disease who may have the largest benefit due to a higher event rate. This trial evaluates the benefit of a protocol-driven initiation and up-titration of therapy.