“My name is Caterina Vidal Horrach, and I’m from Majorca, Spain. I moved to the UK in 2018 to pursue my studies. Currently, I’m working on a PhD titled “Designing mechanism-specific treatment approaches for atrial fibrillation through patient-specific modelling & artificial intelligence”. This research focuses on a specific type of arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition where the heart beats irregularly, which can lead to stroke, heart failure and other complications. I use artificial intelligence to explore the best treatment approaches for this condition.

“I collaborate with clinicians who provide hospital data, which we use to create a digital twin of the patient’s heart. A digital twin is a virtual model of the heart that lets researchers study its function and test treatments without involving the patient directly. This allows us to study the arrhythmia and understand its underlying mechanisms, as it affects each patient differently. We also test how the heart might respond to various treatments. Our ultimate goal is to identify the most effective procedure for each patient model.”

“I studied biomedical sciences at university and really enjoyed it. After finishing my master’s, I wanted to pursue a PhD because I had a strong passion for research, and I became particularly interested in artificial intelligence. Although I had never worked in cardiology before, I thought it would be an exciting area to explore because I’ve always been fascinated by the heart and its anatomy.

“My mum, being a doctor and active in these fields, reads a lot of papers and often tells me, ‘You have no idea how much is needed in cardiology and how hard it is to find effective treatments.’ I decided to go for it, and I’m so glad I did because it’s been an amazing field to dive into. The clinicians and cardiologists I speak to are incredibly kind and passionate, as are other researchers in the field.

“My family has a long history of heart problems. At first, I thought it was just my grandparents who had aortic aneurysms, but I realised it affected many more of us. People often think of heart problems as just heart attacks, but there’s so much more to it. The heart is a vast field, and heart problems can affect other areas of the body as well. Thinking about my grandparents and other family members who have experienced heart problems, I knew there was real meaning behind this work.”

“I went to watch the London Marathon last year because a friend of mine was running, and I felt really inspired. I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to run it!’

“I’d always said to my supervisor that I wanted to do something big to mark the end of my PhD. She told me about how she once did a charity cycle from London to Brighton, and that really stuck with me. That’s when I had the idea of running the London Marathon. I just thought it would be so much fun. I kept saying, ‘What if I did it and finished strong? Wouldn’t that be amazing?’

“So, I watched the marathon, entered the ballot, and of course didn’t get in because it’s so competitive. But I still really wanted to do it. I had this idea stuck in my head that I wanted to do something big and meaningful, something for a really good cause. And I didn’t tell anyone I was applying to run for charity. I knew I wanted to support a smaller charity because for me, that felt more personal and impactful.

“Given my family history of heart diseases and having dealt with that kind of loss and even just going through the process of being in hospitals and seeing it firsthand, it’s really hard. It’s painful and sad to watch because once you have a cardiac issue, it can recur, and that’s terrifying. You start wondering, ‘Will my parents develop it? Will I?’ You can do all the right things, exercise, stay healthy, but it still lingers in your mind. It’s tough to think about.

“I try not to anticipate the worst and just take things one day at a time. Medicine has come such a long way, and if anything else happens, we’ll deal with it as it comes. There are treatments and support now, so we try not to live in fear. But it’s still scary, especially when you’ve already seen what it can do.”

“When I talk to people who have had heart problems and when I do the research, the best way to stay calm and positive is by reminding myself that I’m making a difference.

“I’m doing research to help address this issue, and I’m also running the London Marathon for charity to raise money for the same cause. The funding for research needs to come from charities, and they’re the ones who make it happen. For me, the best way to approach the situation is to ask myself, ‘What can I do to make a change?’ I’ve chosen to focus on research, and by raising money for charities, I’m contributing to the full circle of support that drives progress.”

“It’s really comforting when people tell you that they appreciate the work you’re doing. Within our research group and marathon team, some have had heart problems themselves or know people who have and hearing their gratitude is so encouraging. It reminds me why I’m doing this. I’ve received so many thanks from family members, friends, and others and it’s just really rewarding. It keeps me going, knowing that, in some way, I’m helping other people.

“Training is also motivating. I follow a plan, push through it, and talk to people who constantly ask how it’s going. Staying motivated is key, and running really helps. It’s not just physical, it helps my mental health too. Running gives me good energy for the day, and that ties back into my research. It keeps me focused, and I’m really excited to see how it all goes. From what I’ve seen, the environment at the marathon is incredible, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”