Geisinger Awarded Grant for Cardiovascular Prediction Breakthrough

Researchers at Geisinger have been awarded funding to pioneer a new approach to predicting thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) — a life-threatening cardiovascular emergency that often occurs without warning.

The grant, from The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, will support development of an advanced AI and machine learning–based predictive tool to identify patients at highest risk for TAD earlier and more accurately than current methods.

“Traditional approaches rely heavily on measuring the size of the aorta, but many patients dissect without ever reaching the guideline thresholds,” said Tooraj Mirshahi, Ph.D., principal investigator, professor, Department of Genomic Health, Geisinger. “By combining imaging features, genetic risk factors, and detailed clinical histories, our project will generate a truly personalized risk model for patients.”

The study will draw on Geisinger’s unique dataset, which includes:

• Over 2.3 million electronic health records
• More than 200,000 CT scans analyzed with a custom AI tool
• Genetic data from more than 230,000 people, including rare variants and risk scores linked to aortic disease

Combining these data streams will allow the team to build a model that can pinpoint which patients are at risk of aortic dissection, potentially years before an event occurs.

“This project has the potential to save lives by identifying high-risk individuals who would otherwise fall through the cracks,” said Evan Ryer, M.D., co-investigator and vice chair, vascular surgery, Geisinger. “Ultimately, we envision a predictive tool that informs clinical decision-making, guides surveillance, and allows for timely preventive interventions.”

Along with improving early detection, the project is expected to personalize patient monitoring and treatment.

“Understanding why and when dissections occur has been a long-standing challenge in cardiovascular medicine. By integrating genetics, imaging, and clinical factors, this project will help us identify at-risk patients and provide new insights into the biology of aortic disease. That knowledge can shape future therapies and improve outcomes for patients worldwide,” added Scott LeMaire, M.D., co-investigator, associate chief scientific officer, professor of cardiothoracic surgery, Geisinger.

The project supports the foundation’s mission to prevent premature deaths from thoracic aortic dissections, honoring the legacy of actor John Ritter, who died from a misdiagnosed aortic dissection in 2003.

“Funding from the John Ritter Foundation allows us to bridge cutting-edge science and clinical care,” said Mirshahi. “We are grateful for their partnership and support in advancing this lifesaving work.”

LeMaire, Ryer and Mirshahi have been invited to participate in a webinar to discuss the grant titled “An AI/ML Framework for Predicting Thoracic Aortic Dissections Using Routine CT Imaging, HER, and Genetic Data” on Monday, November 17 at 7 p.m.

Click here to find more information regarding the webinar.