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Research focus

The scientific focus of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology is on translational cardiovascular research and in particular on research on vascular disorders. The aim is to decipher new mechanisms that are important for the process of atherogenesis and for the function and regeneration of blood vessels and that can therefore contribute to the development of new pharmacological therapeutic strategies in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In this context, we focus primarily on angiotensin and thromboxane A2 receptors as well as the NO/cGMP cascade. We are also interested in biomarkers that can be used to identify and assess the cardiovascular risk of healthy individuals and patients with existing cardiovascular disease. Moreover, we are investigating genetic factors that influence the efficacy and tolerability of cardiovascular therapeutics.
In our scientific projects, a broad spectrum of basic research techniques is being used. These include state-of-the-art molecular biological, protein biochemical, histological, cell biological and complex microscopic methods (confocal laser scanning microscopy, fluorescence lifetime microscopy, FRET microscopy, live cell analysis, live tissue slices) as well as methods of drug analysis. In vivo, the focus is on the analysis of genetic mouse mutants in experimental models of hypertension, vascular dysfunction (atherosclerosis) and regeneration (angiogenesis) as well as tumor pathophysiology.

Current research projects and research topics include:

  • Interplay of vascular angiotensin, thromboxane A2 and EGF receptors in the pathogenesis of hypertension, endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis
  • Role of G protein-coupled receptors and small Rho-GTPases in the process of angiogenesis
  • Influence of the cGMP/cAMP crosstalk in the context of physiology and pathophysiology (hypertrophy, fibrosis)
  • Real-time studies on cGMP formation in primary cells and live tissue slices obtained from various organs (lung, kidney, heart)
  • Dynamic imaging and FRET microscopy to analyze cellular signal transduction, protein-protein interactions and cellular functions (e.g. angiogenesis)
  • Pharmacogenetics of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters
  • Isoprostanes and methylated arginine derivatives as biomarkers and mediators of cardiovascular diseases