Massimo Mariani

Prof. Massimo Mariani is a Professor and Head of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery at the University of Groningen, leading the Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery within the Faculty of Medical Sciences. He holds dual expertise in clinical practice and research, focusing on minimally invasive techniques, valve-sparing surgery, and aortic surgery innovations. His academic career spans prestigious institutions including Yale University, the University of Pisa, and TU Twente, with a PhD in Cardiovascular Physiopathology (1994).

Education: Medical degree from the University of Pisa (1989, cum laude); specialized training at Yale-New Haven Hospital, the San Raffaele Institute in Milan, and the Thorax Center in Groningen. Board certifications include the European Board of Cardiovascular Surgery (1998) and the Netherlands Medical Specialist Registration Commission (2003).

Research: Leads initiatives like the BiBo Project (pre-habilitation for cardiac surgery patients) and the PACE project (single-port LV lead delivery). Key interests include robotic surgery, surgical tool development, and heart failure management. Over 160 peer-reviewed publications and multiple awards highlight his contributions, including the 1993 De Gasperis-Donatelli Award and 1999 Outstanding Research Team Award.

Grants & Industry: Holds grants from Abbott, Medtronic, and St. Jude Medical. Serves as a consultant for Artivion, Atricure, and CorCym, advancing medical device innovation.

Teaching & Mentorship: Directed the School of Specialization in Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (2013-2014) and mentored students like C. Van De Wauwer (2014, lung transplantation research).

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with TU Twente on telemanipulation platforms and mechanical valve design, emphasizing translational research between academia and industry.