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Significant progress in heart failure research: Göttingen Collaborative Research Center 1002 ends with international symposium


Prof. Dr Gerd Hasenfuß, Director of the Department of Cardiology and Pneumology and Chairman of the Heart Center of the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) and spokesperson for the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1002, at the opening of the CRC 1002 symposium | © umg/hzg, Samer Al Mhethawi


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After twelve years, funding for the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1002 "Modulatory Units in Heart Failure", which is based at the Heart Centre of the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), will end on 30 June 2024. New diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the treatment of heart failure were developed and new insights into the development of the disease were gained. A high-calibre symposium with international speakers was held in Göttingen in May to mark the conclusion of CRC 1002.

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The CRC 1002, headed by Prof Dr Gerd Hasenfuß, was set up with the aim of better understanding the complex mechanisms of heart failure and developing innovative therapeutic approaches and received around 34 million euros from the German Research Foundation (DFG) over three funding periods. The researchers developed new treatment methods that are currently being tested in clinical trials. High-resolution imaging techniques and molecular biological methods were used to investigate signalling pathways that play a role in the development of heart failure.

The CRC  was characterised by interdisciplinary cooperation and international partnerships. A total of 31 projects were successfully completed, resulting in 513 publications. Particular attention was paid to DZHK-studies such as the BioVAT-HF study, which is the first in the world to apply heart tissue developed from stem cells to patients' hearts, and the Reduce-MFA study, which is investigating new drug combinations to improve the survival rate after aortic valve replacement.

In the course of the research work in the CRC 1002, several start-up companies were also founded to further develop and commercialise the knowledge gained, including myriamed and Repairon. The CRC also promoted the training of the next generation of cardiac researchers through initiatives such as the International Graduate School in cooperation with King's College London.

This text is a heavily abridged version of the original press release, that you can find on the website of the UMG.

More information on the CRC 1002 (in German only).

Link to the original article: press release UMG (in German only)