EEAB

STIMULUS project External Expert Advisory Board (EEAB) guides the direction of research throughout the project, ensuring that any ethical considerations, regulations, end user involvement as well as social acceptance is carefully considered in all phases of the project.

The EEAB Members provide their wide and comprehensive expertise ranging from microcirculation, regulatory aspects and device development to health technology assessment and patient perspective. Our external experts are:

Elisabetta Bianchini, MScEng, PhD 

Italian National Research Council; Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa Italy 

Researcher at the Italian National Research Council (CNR). Main field of interest: ultrasound, vascular ageing, medical device lifecycle with a focus on regulation. Member of the Executive Committee of the Artery (Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology) Society. Vice chair of ESH (European Society of Hypertension) working group on Large Arteries. Master Degree in Electronic Engineering and PhD in “Automation, Robotics and Bio-engineering” at Pisa University (Italy). Certificate in Technology Entrepreneurship at Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University (CA, USA) thanks to a Fulbright scholarship. Co-founder of Quipu, spin off company of CNR and University of Pisa, dedicated to the development of software medical devices. 

Anna-Mari Hekkala, M.D., Ph.D.

Finnish Heart Association 

Anna-Mari Hekkala is a specialist in internal medicine and cardiology. She is currently working as a medical director in The Finnish Heart Association, which is an organization that works for better prevention and patient care. Her thesis included clinical studies with multichannel ECG in patients with long QT syndrome. Recently, her research work has focused in cardiac rehabilitation and health related quality of life.   

Associate Professor Alfons J.H.M. Houben, PhD. 

Dept. of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM); Maastricht University Medical Center, the Netherlands. 

Chair of the Dutch Society for Microcirculation and Vascular Biology; Past-President of the European Microcirculation Society; Chair of the Faculty Council FHML – Maastricht University; Editorial board member Microcirculation journal; and member of several other international scientific societies. 

Research: I have a longstanding expertise in human (non-invasive) micro- and macrovascular function tests in combination with (pharmacological) interventions, and in the epidemiological setting (The Maastricht Study). Using this unique approach, my main research interest is on the role of microvascular dysfunction (both as a cause and a consequence) in cardiometabolic diseases. An additional focus in my recent research is the effects of lifestyle modifications in order to improve microvascular function.  

Dr. Debjani Mueller, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa 

Jani’s research covers health systems sustainability, health policy, and HTA for medical technology. Jani remains dedicated to promoting, collaborating, and raising awareness of pragmatic HTA development and implementation. She is a co-founder of the Southern African HTA Society (SAHTAS) and has served on the INAHTA Board as a director. Jani chairs the Scientific Development and Capacity Building Committee (SDCB) in her capacity as a member of the HTAi board of directors. She leads an interest group of HTAi on HTA in developing countries, is an Associate Editor of IJTAHC, and a member of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) South Africa Chapter. Jani nurtures a keen interest in building competencies and providing education and training in HTA, particularly in developing countries. She has authored and co-authored many articles, contributed to book chapters and presented her research findings to various audiences.