Cooperation with the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)

Vera Regitz-Zagrosek is coordinator of "Cardio-Berlin", the Berlin representation in the novel "German Centre for Cardiovascular Research" (DZHK), where the partners bundled their research in the fields of the cardiovascular and metabolic systems. Berlin is with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) and the German Heart Institute (DHZB) one of seven locations of the GCCR. Goal of the GCCR is the direct translation of basic research results to praxis by close cooperation with the clinics. "Cardio-Berlin" focuses on prevention and additionally on sex differences in cardiovascular diseases. Clinicians and researchers work together interdisciplinarily and deal with the latest methods in molecular genetics and imaging techniques as well as approaches of systems biology.
Women suffering from heart failure (HF) have a better prognosis than men. Furthermore, the relevance of risk factors and the therapeutic response differ between women and men. Based on own previous results and external as well, the scientists of the GiM hypothesize that 17b-estradiol and/or its receptors regulate cardiac Ca²⁺ metabolism  and contractility in a sex-specific manner and lead to sex differences within the cardiovascular system. We want to clarify underlying mechanisms to develop new therapeutic target structures.  

BMBF, PI: Vera Regitz-Zagrosek, 2012-2018

Partner: German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Berlin

To achieve further advances in cardiovascular research, patient-oriented, interdisciplinary research is becoming increasingly important with large studies, cohorts and biobanks. In the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), scientists find the possibilities for such research projects. The most important aim of the DZHK is to make new research results available to all patients in Germany as quickly as possible, and to promote therapies and the diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Prof. Vera Regitz-Zagrosek is the speaker for the DZHK partner site Berlin, one of seven partner sites throughout Germany. The partner site Berlin, represented by the partner institutes Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), the German Heart Center Berlin (DHZB), the German Institute for Nutrition Research (DIfE) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is focussing on the investigation of diseases of the myocardium, the vascular system as well as on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, sex and gender differences in the development and manifestation of cardiovascular diseases as well as gender-specific therapeutic possibilities are investigated. To this end, clinicians and researchers from a wide range of disciplines work together and use state-of-the-art molecular genetic methods and imaging methods as well as holistic approaches (system biology). Women have a better prognosis than men in cardiac insufficiency (HF) and the relative importance of risk factors and the response to therapy is different. The working group of the GiM postulates on the basis of its own and external preliminary findings that 17b-estradiol and / or its receptors regulate the Ca2+ metabolism and the contractility in the heart dependent on sex and contribute to sex differences in the cardiovascular system. We want to elucidate the mechanisms involved in order to gain new target structures for therapies. These studies are supplemented by small cooperative projects with DZHK scientists from other locations, where the working group uses shared expertise offered there. In return, the working group itself provides 2 shared expertises for other scientists. In addition, the group offers its expertise in the field of experiments with small animals for all DZHK scientists at the partner site Berlin and has established a DZHK core facility with the small animal echocardiography device Vevo3100 for this purpose.