Project Details
KFO 311: Cardiac and pulmonary failure: mechanical unloading andrepair
Subject Area
Medicine
Term
from 2016 to 2024
Website
Homepage
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 286251789
The number of patients with advanced cardiac and pulmonary failure is constantly increasing. Their treatment requires clinical experience, interdisciplinary commitment, and, in many cases, the most advanced medical devices, including microaxial pumps, extracorporal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and ventricular assist devices (VAD) - all very well established at Hannover Medical School (MHH). These intra- and extracorporal devices may transiently or permanently unload failing organs, replace organ function, prevent therapy-related adverse side effects, provide time for endogenous or exogenous repair, or represent an ultimate destination therapy for end-stage heart failure. However, these treatments are often not evidence-based and cost-intensive, and may be associated with severe complications. What is more, the mechanistic underpinnings of mechanical unloading and support in advanced cardiac and pulmonary failure are only incompletely understood. Thus, basic and translational research in this area is urgently needed and promises (i) insight into the biological effects of mechanical unloading in end-stage cardiac and pulmonary failure, (ii) discovery of novel biological and pharmacological therapies, (iii) identification of innovative applications and evidence-based development of future unloading and support strategies. Based on the outstanding scientific and clinical expertise of the participating MHH Departments and Institutes, this Clinical Research Unit (KFO) will explore the effects of mechanical unloading on local and systemic pathomechanisms in advanced cardiac and pulmonary failure to improve current and/or develop novel therapeutic strategies. In an early translational approach, novel approaches will be evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials. The KFO unites cardiovascular, pulmonary, surgical, and imaging expertise on a preclinical and clinical level. Preclinical and clinical trials will greatly benefit from established networks between clinical departments, highly-specialized institutes, and excellent core facilities at MHH. MHH is one of the leading University hospitals in Germany and a center for supramaximal care for patients with the most complex diseases. Basic and clinical research in advanced organ failure has been defined as one of the focus areas at MHH. In the long-term, this KFO initiative will strengthen the national and international role of MHH as a center of excellence in advanced cardiac and pulmonary failure.
DFG Programme
Clinical Research Units
Projects
- Cardiac and skeletal muscle iron deficiency in acute heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy: Pathomechanisms and therapy (Applicant Kempf, Tibor )
- Coordination Funds (Applicant Kempf, Tibor )
- Ex vivo therapy of ischemic cardiomyopathy (Applicants Martens, Andreas ; Wiegmann, Bettina )
- Ex vivo therapy of PAH utilizing hiPSC derived ECs in a SuNx PAH Rat model and development of an organ specific BMPR2 KO animal model in rat and pig (Applicants Hansmann, Georg ; Martin, Ulrich ; Wiegmann, Bettina )
- Human iPS cell based myocardial tissue as model of heart failure and cardiac assist device therapy: molecular characterization and identification of therapeutic strategies (Applicants Gruh, Ina ; Heineke, Jörg )
- Impact of the long non-coding RNA meg3 on unloading and repair during cardiac remodeling (Applicants Cebotari, Serghei ; Thum, Ph.D., Thomas )
- Molecular imaging and modulation of fibrosis and inflammation in cardiac pressure overload and relief (Applicants Bengel, Frank ; Derlin, Katja )
- Molecular mechanisms and therapy concepts in peripartum heart failure (Applicant Ricke-Hoch, Melanie )
- Optimization of transient and permanent cardiopulmonary support in patients with heart and lung failure (Applicants Bauersachs, Johann ; Hoeper, Marius M. ; Schmitto, Jan )
- Pathology platform for heart and lung tissue and Liquid Biobanking (Applicants Illig, Thomas ; Jonigk, Danny David )
- Repair and adaptation in acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure (Applicant Wollert, Kai Christoph )
- Reversing mechanical stress induced remodelling in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (Applicants Prasse, Antje ; Warnecke, Gregor )
- Role of ECMO therapy in cardiopulmonary regeneration and cognitive function during heart and lung failure in mice (Applicants Kühn, Christian ; Maus, Ulrich A. )
Spokesperson
Professor Dr. Johann Bauersachs
Leader
Professor Dr. Tibor Kempf
Project Heads
Professor Dr. Frank Bengel; Privatdozent Dr. Serghei Cebotari; Privatdozentin Dr. Katja Derlin; Professorin Dr. Ina Gruh; Professor Dr. Georg Hansmann; Professorin Dr. Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner; Professor Dr. Marius M. Hoeper; Professor Dr. Thomas Illig; Professor Dr. Danny David Jonigk; Professorin Dr. Theresia Kraft; Professor Dr. Christian Kühn; Professor Dr. Andreas Martens; Professor Dr. Ulrich Martin; Professor Dr. Ulrich A. Maus; Professorin Dr. Antje Prasse; Privatdozentin Dr. Melanie Ricke-Hoch; Professor Dr. Jan Schmitto; Professor Thomas Thum, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Gregor Warnecke; Privatdozentin Dr. Bettina Wiegmann; Professor Dr. Kai Christoph Wollert; Privatdozent Dr. Robert Zweigerdt