RVNet(work): Research Group on the (Dys)Function of the Right Ventricle

RVNet(Work)

Welcome to RVNet(Work), a network of like-minded experts in right ventricular imaging and physiology. We are a team of physician-scientists who are passionate about advancing the understanding of how the right ventricle works in health and disease, using cutting-edge cardiovascular imaging techniques.

Our mission is to standardize image acquisition and analysis, to create a platform for sharing knowledge and resources among researchers and clinicians across the globe, and to foster collaborations between academia and industry to drive innovation and improve the care of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases.

Core Members

Core RVNet(Work) Members

Elena Surkova, MD, PhD, MSc, FESC

Cardiologist, Researcher,
Clinical Trialist

Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, London, and Imperial College, London, United Kingdom

Special interest in advanced echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, congenital heart disease, right ventricular assessment, health economics, and cardiovascular imaging endpoints validation and development in clinical trials.

Prof. David Oxborough, FBSE

Professor of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Physiology

Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom

Special interest in sports cardiology and cardiac mechanics. Co-chair of Education for the British Society of Echocardiography.

Prof. Dr. Harry Magunia, FASE

Anesthesiologist, Critical Care Specialist, Associate Professor, Head of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesia Division

Eberhard Karls University, University Hospital Tübingen; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Tübingen, Germany

Special interest in perioperative and peri-interventional echocardiographic imaging with a focus on 3D echocardiography and 3D-derived quantifications and the right heart. Clinical interest in extracorporeal circulation and hemodynamics. Clinical researcher and group lead "Echocardiographic Imaging".

Marius Keller, MD, MHBA, FASE

Board-certified in Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Emergency Medicine

Researcher at the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Eberhard Karls University & Head of ICU at Nagold Medical Center, Academic Teaching Hospital of Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany

Involved in periopeorative and critical care-based echocardiographic imaging with a special focus on 3D acquisition and strain computation of the right ventricle.

Alina Nicoara, MD, FASE

Anesthesiologist, Associate Professor, Director of Perioperative Echocardiography

Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

Involved in perioperative and critical care-based echocardiographic imaging with a special focus on 3D acquisition and 3D post-processing of the right ventricle. Interest in advanced heart failure therapies, including mechanical circulatory support - durable and temporary. Co-chair of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Echo Conference.

Prof. André Denault, FRCPC, FASE, FCCS

Professor of Anesthesiology, Director of Research

University of Montreal, Canada

Academic physician with special interests in ultrasound. His medical qualifications and specialties include internal medicine, critical care medicine, and anesthesia. PhD in Biomedical Science at the University of Montreal. Major interests include right ventricular function, venous congestion, brain monitoring, and bedside whole-body ultrasound.

Arie van Dijk, MD, PhD

Congenital Cardiologist, Researcher

Academic Center for Congenital Heart Disease,

Location Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

Special interest in congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, and right ventricular function assessment using noninvasive methods.

Dr. habil. Attila Kovács, MD, PhD, FASE

Cardiologist, Researcher, Medical Device Developer

Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Associate Professor and Head of Echocardiography Research and Core Laboratory. Special interest in 3D echocardiography, right ventricular function, athlete's heart, and machine learning. Co-inventor of the ReVISION software, Chief Medical Officer of Argus Cognitive.

Prof. Francois Haddad

Clinical Professor of Medicine, Director of Biomarker and Phenotypic Core Laboratory

Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

Special interests in cardiovascular imaging, pulmonary hypertension, advanced heart failure, and transplantation. His lab focuses on identifying early biomarkers, along with bioengineering and informatics approaches to cardiovascular disease modeling.

Prof. Dick Thijssen

Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology

Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom

Special interest in non-invasive imaging of the heart and vessels, to understand mechanisms underlying the development of cardiovascular disease and explaining lifestyle-related health benefits.

Prof. Dan Augustine, FHEA, FRCP, FBSE

President of the British Society of Echocardiography, Consultant Cardiologist, and Honorary Professor

Royal United Hospitals, and University of Bath, United Kingdom

Author of Echocardiography (Oxford University Press) and specialising in cardiac imaging (echocardiography and cardiac MRI). Interests include pulmonary hypertension and sports cardiology.

Survey

RVNet(Work) Publications

RVNet(Work): A Collaborative Platform Advancing Right Heart Imaging and Innovation.

Oxborough D, Denault A, Magunia H, Surkova E, Nicoara A, Kovacs A, Thijssen D, Augustine DX, Van Dijk A, Keller M, Haddad F.

Can J Cardiol. 2025 Jun;41(6):1020-1022. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2024.12.012.

Challenges and opportunities in assessing right ventricular structure and function: a Roadmap for standardization, clinical implementation and research.

Kovács A, Magunia H, Nicoara A, Oxborough D, Keller M, Augustine DX, Thijssen D, van Dijk A, Denault A, Haddad F, Surkova E.

Nat Rev Cardiol. 2025 Jun 25. doi: 10.1038/s41569-025-01180-9.

International Practices and Variability in Right Heart Echocardiography: results from The RVNet(Work) International Survey.

Magunia H, Augustine DX, Kovács A, Nicoara A, Keller M, Thijssen D, Hahn RT, Muraru D, Rudski L, Addetia K, Mukherjee M, van Dijk A, Denault A, Surkova E, Haddad F, Oxborough D.

Stay tuned!