Molecular Cardiology Research Group

Despite the advances in the treatment of heart failure over the past decades, this condition represents an enormous public health burden. Considering this unmet clinical need, the elucidation of novel mechanisms involved in heart failure pathogenesis holds the promise of developing new therapies for this prevalent and deadly disease. We focus on protection and regeneration of the diseased heart utilizing multidisciplinary approaches. We envision to translate the findings obtained in preclinical studies (in vitro and ex vivo models, in vivo preclinical small-animal models and clinically relevant large-animal models) toward clinical application or vice versa, from clinical observations back to mechanistic insights. The primary interests of our research group are in the following areas:

Preclinical studies:

• Identification of novel cardiokine systems regulating cardiac homeostasis (e.g. cardiac function, metabolism, and cell survival) under physiological conditions.
• Elucidation of cross-talk between cardiac non-myocytes (e.g. fibroblasts) and cardiomyocytes regulating cardiac growth and cell survival during cardiac remodeling.
• Development of novel small-animal models of heart failure.
• Establishment of novel large-animal models of heart failure.
• Establishment of cardiac PET-MRI in large-animal models of heart failure to measure simultaneously left ventricular function, structure, and metabolism (in cooperation with the University of Kaposvár).
• Proof of concept studies on the beneficial therapeutic effects of intramyocardial delivery of cardiokines in combination with miRNAs and lncRNAs (e.g. impact on cardiac hypertrophy, cell survival, cardiac regeneration, metabolism, angiogenesis, interstitial fibrosis, underlying signaling mechanisms [e.g. epigenetic changes, chromatin remodeling, etc]) in small- and large-animal models of heart failure.

Clinical studies:

• Identification of novel tissue-specific biomarkers (cardiokines, microRNAs, lncRNAs) for improved prediction of outcome in acute myocardial infarction.
• Identification of new tissue-specific biomarkers (cardiokines, microRNAs, lncRNAs) to improve risk stratification for cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure.