FH-EARLY

FH-EARLY is an innovative research project redefining the early diagnosis, risk management, and care of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), the most common inherited LDL cholesterol condition. Duration: from 2025 to 2028 Funding: €7.25M HORIZON grant Partners: 15 top international institutions Despite affecting over 30M people globally, incl. 2.5M Europeans, FH remains vastly underdiagnosed, with less than 10% of cases identified. FH-EARLY addresses these challenges through cutting-edge technology and a patient-focused approach to improve early detection, risk stratification, and treatment. Core Innovations • Next-Generation Chip Array: An affordable, fast genetic diagnostic tool to uncover FH’s genetic causes. • Signature Biomarker: A breakthrough for personalized risk assessment & tailored care plans. • Explainable AI-Driven Integrative Precision Health Profiling (iPHP) Tool: A transparent, predictive AI platform offering actionable insights for shared decision-making between patients and clinicains Patient-Centric Solutions FH-EARLY places patients and families, especially younger individuals (16-24), at the centre of innovation. Co-creation ensures solutions are practical, culturally relevant, and tailored to diverse needs. By addressing barriers like health literacy, emotional resilience, and communication, FH-EARLY promotes equitable, real-world care. Transformative Impact FH-EARLY aims to save lives, prevent heart attacks, and reduce the EU’s cardiovascular disease burden (€282B annually). By advancing early detection and precision interventions, it supports Europe’s Cardiovascular Health Plan and offers hope to millions with FH for healthier, heart-attack-free futures. Funded by the European Union (EU) through the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the EU or HaDEA. Neither the EU nor HaDEA can be held responsible for them.