This is the fourth time the European funders are working together and joining forces: In four projects, teams with scientists from the different countries are researching heart failure, atherosclerosis, heart failure in pulmonary hypertension and analysing thousands of proteins to predict the probability of a heart attack or stroke. The current funding round was specifically aimed at mid-career scientists.
Professor Stefanie Dimmeler, spokesperson of the DZHK Board of Directors says:
"Still, most people in Germany and worldwide die of cardiovascular diseases. One country alone cannot solve the problems of cardiovascular medicine. If we combine our resources and work together internationally, we will reach our common goal faster - to better treat or even cure cardiovascular diseases."
Researchers from the DZHK are involved in all projects. These four projects were selected:
- PLAK-TALK – Understanding cell-to-cell communication to prevent heart attack- and stroke-causing arterial blockages.
- PROMETHEUS – Revealing genetic clues for why some hearts are unable to adapt to dangerously high blood pressure in the lungs.
- Prot4CVD – Protein deep-dive to improve cardiovascular disease risk prediction and management.
- MegaCardiocyte - Mapping a blood-bone marrow-heart axis to identify new drug targets for heart failure.
The aim of the joint funding is to enable the international teams to solve urgent questions in cardiovascular medicine and to help the scientists to become international leaders in their field.
For a more detailed description of the projects, read the full press release.
