The research focus of the Department of Experimental Cardiac Surgery includes the investigation of myocardial dysfunction and reconstruction, aortic and peripheral vascular dysfunction and reconstruction as well as inflammation and infection in cardiovascular medicine. These focal points are orientated towards the clinical focuses of the Department of Cardiac Surgery and include basic scientific questions.

For our research projects, we cooperate with the University Department of Cardiology (Prof Elsässer) and the Perioperative Inflammation and Infection working group (Prof Theilmeier). We are also establishing co-operations with neighbouring disciplines such as immunology, pharmacology, microbiology and laboratory medicine as well as external partners.

In our research projects, we investigate the causes and treatment options for diseases of human myocardial tissue. Our focus is on the interaction of the different cell types involved in cardiac tissue and the influence of various factors on tissue mechanics and function.

In addition to clinical research in the field of aortic surgery, we are studying the cellular and molecular biological basis of various diseases of the great vessels and want to investigate how, for example, aneurisms and aortic dissections develop. We want to utilise these findings for early detection, risk assessment and the development of new therapeutic approaches.

Students have various opportunities to get involved in the research projects. On the one hand, they can be involved in research as doctoral candidates or Master's/Bachelor's students or participate in various projects as part of the longitudinal curricular research programme (LCF) (see here).

The Experimental Cardiac Surgery research laboratory also works closely with the cardiology and experimental anaesthesia laboratories in terms of methodology. Various methods are available here:

• Molecular biological methods of DNA, RNA and protein measurements (RT-PCR, Western blot, ELISA, etc.)
• Histological methods for tissue fixation, processing and staining incl. basic histology, immunohistochemistry, colour fluorescence histology and microscopy
• Cell culture with extraction, cultivation, treatment and evaluation of various cell lines, e.g. bacteria, macrophages, cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, also in co-culture
• Techniques of miRNA, siRNA and RNAi
• Organismal isolation and perfusion techniques with associated measurement methods
• Expertise in animal experiments with cardiac models of diseases

A particular focus of the Experimental Cardiac Surgery research laboratory is the use of various cell and tissue models:

• Isolation of human primary cells
• Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)
• Generation of various cardiovascular cell types from iPSCs
• Transgenic cell lines with reporter genes
• Methods of tissue engineering
• Bioreactor development for the cultivation and characterisation of tissues