Joint Project I-CHECK-HEART | Reading time 2 min.

Fraunhofer IMS Provides AI Expertise for Digital Cardiac Follow-Up Care for Immunotherapy Patients

Duisburg, March 24 2026 – Beginning Immunotherapies open up new possibilities in cancer treatment, but they also carry cardiovascular risks. Led by the University Hospital Essen, the I-CHECK-HEART project is developing an AI-supported solution for structured and personalized cardio-oncological follow-up care. The Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS is contributing its expertise in intelligent sensor and vital sign analysis to enable early risk detection and sustainably improve patient care.

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As part of World Cancer Day, representatives of the I-CHECK-HEART Consortium were presented with the grant certificate (from left): Prof. Tienush Rassaf, MD, PD Dr. Raluca Ileana Mincu, Prof. Albert Sickmann, Prof. Mitra Tewes, and Caroline Reßing.
AI-powered analysis of vital signs supports personalized post-treatment care for patients following immunotherapy.

Immunotherapies have fundamentally transformed cancer treatment. At the same time, cardiovascular side effects are increasingly common, necessitating structured and long-term follow-up care. This is where I-CHECK-HEART (»IImmunCHECKpoint-Inhibitor-associated cardio-oncological follow-up care through artificial intelligence-supported technologies (I-CHECK-HEART)«) comes in: Through continuous monitoring, intelligent data analysis, and individualized risk assessment, the goal is to sustainably improve care for cancer survivors.

AI-based sensor and vital signs data analysis from Duisburg

In the project, Fraunhofer IMS is responsible for developing AI-based methods for analyzing sensor and vital signs data. The goal is to detect relevant changes early on and automatically identify risk patterns. The algorithms developed are intended to enable robust, privacy-compliant, and practical solutions for everyday clinical practice. »By combining microelectronics, intelligent signal processing, and AI, we are laying the foundation for reliable, continuous evaluation of physiological data,« explains Caroline Reßing from Fraunhofer IMS. »This allows potentially critical developments to be detected early and supports targeted interventions.«

Interdisciplinary Consortium

The project is coordinated by the University Hospital Essen and brings together expertise from cardiology, dermato-oncology, and palliative care. In addition to Fraunhofer IMS, participants include the Jülich Research Center and the Leibniz Institute for Analytical Sciences (ISAS). The app development for the digital support of patients is being carried out in collaboration with the company Fimo Health GmbH.

I-CHECK-HEART is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space. The total funding amount is 1,798,176 euros for the project period from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2029 (funding code: 16SV9602).

With I-CHECK-HEART, Fraunhofer IMS is strengthening its activities in the field of AI-supported medical technology and helping to translate innovative technologies into structured, safe, and patient-centered care.