Cardiovascular disease is a leading health challenge, especially for women in menopause, a group often underserved in preventive care. That is why we are thrilled to announce the launch of CARAMEL (CArdiovascular Risk Assessment via multimodal data analysis enabling personalised prevention strategies targeting MEnopausaL women): an ambitious Horizon Europe project that aims to revolutionize cardiovascular disease prevention for women aged 40-60. Powered by AI and supported by a consortium of 25 partners from 11 countries, CARAMEL will deliver groundbreaking tools for personalized risk assessment and prevention strategies, setting a new standard in healthcare innovation.
Addressing an urgent public health need for women: an innovative approach
Despite significant advancements in healthcare, cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to pose a major health challenge for women in Europe, particularly during and after menopause when the risk sharply increases. 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 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.
Social IT role within the project
To ensure the project’s groundbreaking results reach those who need them most, Social IT will lead the Work Package about the communication, dissemination and exploitation activities. Moreover, Social IT will develop the CARAMEL CVD Prevention Portal together with a module of the App/Webapp for Self-assessment, with the goal of increasing health literacy and awareness on women’s CVD risks and their prevention, and self-assessment features to identify personal risks.
Follow CARAMEL’s LinkedIn page to stay tuned with the project’s development!