European research money for Max Planck researchers
 

German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, British Heart Foundation and the Dutch Heart Foundation provide 5.3 million euros to international research teams

Four teams with leading scientists from the UK, Germany and the Netherlands want to find new ways to better detect and treat cardiovascular diseases. The British Heart Foundation (BHF), the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) and the Dutch Heart Foundation (DHF) are providing the researchers with 5.3 million euros.

A proven cooperation is going into the next round: For the fourth time, leading European scientific institutions are joining forces to support international teams of scientists in their projects in the field of cardiovascular research. Key topics are heart failure, atherosclerosis, heart failure in pulmonary hypertension. Within the framework of the cooperation, for example, thousands of proteins are to be analysed in order to be able to predict the probability of a heart attack or stroke.

Prof. Stefanie Dimmeler, Spokesperson of the Board of Directors of the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, says: "Still most people die of cardiovascular diseases in Germany and worldwide. One country alone cannot solve the problems in cardiovascular medicine. If we join forces and work together internationally, we will reach our common goal faster - to better treat or even cure cardiovascular diseases."

Soni Pullamsetti is involved in the European cooperation on behalf of the Max Planck Institute. The scientist is project leader in the department "Development and Remodelling of the Lung" and has been professor of "Lung Vascular Epigenetics" at the University Hospital in Gießen for a few years. Her focus is on research into arterial pulmonary hypertension. In this disease, the blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries is dangerously high. In patients with this disease, the heart has to pump against the high pressure. "However, for unknown reasons, the hearts of some pulmonary hypertension patients are unable to adapt. This can lead to what is called right heart failure," Pullamsetti said. This could be because genetic variants determine the heart's ability to adapt. Pullamsetti and her team will research possible genetic differences in order to subsequently identify new ways to treat pulmonary hypertension.                  .

(MH)

 

About the British Heart Foundation

Only with donations from the public can the BHF maintain its life-saving research. Help us turn science fiction into reality. Donations help the BHF fund groundbreaking research that will bring us closer than ever to a world where heart and circulatory disease lose their terror. A world where broken hearts are healed, where millions of people survive heart attacks and where the number of people who die from or are affected by strokes is halved. A world where people affected by cardiovascular disease get the support they need. And a world where cures and treatments are possible that we can't even imagine today. Learn more at bhf.org.uk

About the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research

The German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) is one of six German Centres for Health Research established by the German government to combat major common diseases. The DZHK aims to develop new therapies and diagnostic procedures that improve the lives of people with cardiovascular diseases. To achieve this, the DZHK aims to transfer results from basic research into clinical practice quickly and efficiently. Therefore, it brings together outstanding basic and clinical researchers from seven locations in Germany. It promotes collaboration between scientists to develop synergies and thus accelerate the process of translation.

About the Dutch Heart Foundation

The Dutch Heart Foundation (DHF) is a Dutch-based charity that aims to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and keep hearts healthy by stimulating collaboration in cardiovascular research and improving knowledge and awareness of these momentous diseases. The DHF works with scientists, physicians, patients, public and private organisations and many volunteers to find solutions for early detection of cardiovascular disease and for better treatment of these diseases. The DHF promotes research and innovation and provides support and information for (at-risk) patients.