Advanced Clinician Scientist-Programm 2024

Thema: "Quantification of Myocardial Injury after Cardiac Surgery: Mechanistic Approaches in vivo and in vitro"

Zusammenfassung:
The role of hibernating myocardium has gained renewed attention in myocardial protection and our ability to quantify myocardial damage after cardioplegic arrest has been questioned. We had started an investigation on the ability of cardioplegia to protect hibernating myocardium in pigs (IZKF-CSP 2021 Caldonazo) and also started a clinical trial (RORSCHACH – IZKFACSP 2020 Schneider) on the correlation of biomarkers and myocardial injury assessed by magnetic resonance tomography. I have recently assumed the role of PI for the RORSCHACH trial, which has recruited the first patient, but still requires initiation of all participating centers and completion of patient recruitment. The experimental project progressed slower than planned for animal welfare regulatory reasons, but we are close to the point that we are able to submit a research proposal to the DFG. An initial proposal within a DFG-Nachwuchsakademie, received positive reviews. Although not funded at the time, the generation of preliminary results and submission of a full proposal were recommended by the reviewers. I have therefore two goals for this ACS-Program: [1] To complete the preliminary work on the pig model and submit a DFG grant proposal (within the next 2 years). [2] To start the multi-center part of the RORSCHACH trial, recruit patients and complete the trial within the ACSP funding period.