Pascal Corso

Innoviris "Brains for Brussels" Grant Under review

Proposal title: Automated Design and Personalised Tissue-engineered Aortic Valves.

Host: Prof. B. Haut, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)

Collaborative support: Dr F. Vanden Eynden (Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles, H.U.B.), Prof. J. Goole (ULB), Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO/ULB)

F.R.S.-FNRS Research Associate ("Chercheur Qualifié") Grant Rated "A - Excellent"

Independent research position proposal combining multiphysics simulations with data-driven optimisation of patient-specific polymeric aortic valves. Submitted twice, each time awarded the top grade "A - Excellent" yet unfunded owing to the exceptionally low success rate.

• January 2026 (resubmission): revised in light of the evaluators' feedback on the first submission. Proposal title: Integrated Multiphysics Simulations and Machine Learning for the Automated Optimisation of Patient-Specific Polymeric Aortic Valves across Haemodynamics, Durability and Mechanics. Third and final submission permitted. Collaborative support: Prof. C. Oury (Université de Liège), Prof. U. Morbiducci (Politecnico di Torino), Dr S. Celi (Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio), Dr F. Vanden Eynden (H.U.B.).
• January 2025 (first submission): iValve Platform for AI-driven optimisation of patient-specific polymeric aortic valves. Resubmitted in Jan 2026. Collaborative support: Dr F. Coulter (ETH Zurich), Dr E. Krymova (Swiss Data Science Center), Prof. U. Morbiducci (Politecnico di Torino).

Host: Prof. B. Haut, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)

IRIS Fellowship (ULB/VUB - MSCA COFUND) Rated "Excellent"

Status: Not granted (reserve list) | Score: 88.17/100, above the 85/100 MSCA Seal of Excellence threshold | Invited to resubmit to the second call

Postdoctoral fellowship proposal (ADAPT-AV) for the first computational framework simultaneously optimising leaflet geometry and collagen fibre architecture in tissue-engineered aortic valves through GPU-accelerated fluid-structure interaction simulations and Bayesian optimisation.

Host: Prof. B. Haut, ULB

Collaborative support: Dr F. Vanden Eynden (H.U.B.), Prof. J. Goole (ULB), Prof. U. Morbiducci (Politecnico di Torino), Dr S. Celi (Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio)

Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) Grant Granted

Geometrical and material parameter optimisation of 3D-printed silicone aortic valves from computational data.

SNSF Ambizione Grant

Status: Not granted (15% success rate)

Independent group leader position for MLAVOpt: data-driven platform for customised polymeric valve design and optimisation.

Host: Prof. F. Coletti, ETH Zurich

Collaborative support: ETH Zurich (Dr F. Coulter), Swiss Data Science Center (Dr E. Krymova), Politecnico di Torino (Prof. U. Morbiducci)

SNSF-BRIDGE Proof of Concept Grant

Status: Not granted (16% success rate)

Commercialisation pathway for 3D-printed elastomeric valve prosthesis using in vitro-in silico platform to translate calcification insights into improved durability.

Host: Prof. C. Menon, ETH Zurich

Collaborative support: Dr F. Coulter, ETH Zurich

Industry support: Hi-D Imaging AG (CEO letter)

Academic support: Ingenuity Lab Zurich (group head letter)

Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) Grant Granted

3D-printed aortic valves in patient-specific aorta: computational performance study.

Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) Grant Granted

Leaflet motion and flow characteristics of 3D-printed fibre-reinforced aortic valves.

Certificate of Advanced Studies in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Technology Ventures

Advanced programme on founding and scaling deep-tech ventures: entrepreneurial strategy and team dynamics, marketing and sales, venture financing and due diligence, sustainable growth models, storytelling and personal branding, leadership development and principled negotiation for conflict handling.

Scientific Collaborator

Developed deep generative models for spatial resolution enhancement in biomedical imaging. Collaboration with two biology laboratories at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) on mouse brain lipid distribution analysis using mass spectrometry data.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Head of computational haemodynamics sub-group (2021-2023), mentoring 5 postgraduate students. Developed high-fidelity fluid-structure interaction simulations for bioprosthetic valves as digital twins of cardiovascular physics. Research focused on correlating haemodynamic and biomechanical indicators with calcification propensity, characterising transition-to-turbulence downstream of prosthetic valves through spectral and modal analysis and investigating vorticity transport mechanisms. Coordinated collaborative research with ETH Zurich, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology and Università della Svizzera italiana.

Scientific Assistant & Doctoral Candidate

Degree: Doctor of Sciences (Dr sc. ETH Zurich) in Biomedical Flows and Engineering

Dissertation:

Examiners: Prof. R. Stocker (ETH Zurich), Dr M. Holzner (ETH Zurich/Eawag/WSL), Dr Ch. E. Frouzakis (ETH Zurich), Prof. U. Morbiducci (Politecnico di Torino)

Research: Turbulent transitions downstream of stenotic and transcatheter aortic valves. Combined high-resolution computational fluid dynamics (DNS, LES) with experimental techniques (3D-PTV at 2000 fps, 4D Flow MRI, pulse duplicator systems).

Scientific Assistant

Salary award: Research position funded by the Halleux-Mirland endowment, awarded to outstanding engineering Master's graduates

Project: Computational and experimental study of flow-diverter stent filtration in aortic arch applications. Applied intracranial aneurysm methods to aortic flows using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements and CFD simulations.

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Degree (magna cum laude): Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, specialisation in energy production systems

Thesis: Intracranial aneurysm haemodynamics with flow-diverter stents using PIV measurements and COMSOL Multiphysics simulations.

Final year project: Design and study of the mechanical and hydraulic parts of a musical fountain, awarded the Caterpillar Inc. prize for creativity.