I am very pleased to welcome you to the website of our research group. Our work focuses on infectious endocarditis — a severe infection of the heart valves that, despite advancements in antibiotic therapy and heart surgery, continues to have an alarmingly high mortality rate. A Danish registry study impressively demonstrates that only about half of the affected patients are still alive one year after diagnosis.
This high mortality underscores the existence of central, scientifically unresolved questions that we can only address together — interdisciplinarily. This is what our research college stands for. Seven dedicated young clinician scientists from infectiology, cardiology, cardiac surgery, and microbiology are collaboratively working on practical projects aimed at improving patient outcomes. At the same time, the college trains these colleagues to become true experts — not only professionally but also in interdisciplinary work, with strong networks beyond their own disciplines.
The importance of this collaboration is also reflected in our own data: In an interdisciplinary endocarditis board, where each patient is jointly discussed by a team from the aforementioned specialties, we were able to reduce mortality over time by 30%—a strong argument for teamwork in medicine.
I wish you much pleasure and insight while reading our website — and we always welcome interest, inquiries, or scientific collaboration offers!
Best regards,
Prof. Dr. med. Mathias W. Pletz
on behalf of the Steering Committee (Prof. Dr. med. Torsten Doenst, Prof. Dr. med. Bettina Löffler and Prof. Dr. med. P. Christian Schulze)
«
The IKARUS research group at Jena University Hospital is an interdisciplinary research programme focusing on bacterial infections of the cardiovascular system. The college aims to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to improve the care of patients with infectious heart diseases, particularly endocarditis.
IKARUS is funded by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation from July 2024 to November 2027.
Within the college, seven clinician scientists, who are granted time for scientific projects through relief from clinical duties, conduct research. They benefit from a structured training programme that promotes both technical competencies in experimental and translational research and soft skills such as science communication, project management, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The college is led by a steering committee that combines scientific expertise in the fields of infectiology, cardiac surgery, microbiology, and cardiology with experience in promoting young scientists. Close cooperation with the regional endocarditis network and the infrastructure of the University Heart Center at Jena University Hospital create ideal conditions for translational research and the development of innovative approaches to combat severe cardiovascular infections.