About Us
IRTG3109 “Cellular and molecular plasticity in the cardiovascular system” is conceptualized as an international research and training alliance dedicated to combine cutting edge research into novel mechanisms driving the plastic remodeling of cells with an ambitious training program at the interface of cardiovascular biology and current bioinformatics for the analysis of omics data. IRTG3109 brings together the complementary expertise of 22 project leaders, who investigate selected topics on cellular plasticity in German-American tandem projects. Thus, our IRTG combines a highly relevant biomedical research topic with a timely training program, involves extensive international collaboration in a transatlantic network and promotes career development of junior researchers by enhancing their professional and transferable skills. Therefore, our future alumni will be competent researchers excellently qualified to work in the ever-growing field of interdisciplinary projects combining biomedical research and bioinformatics.
The Partners
Heinrich-Heine-University
Cardiovascular research is the focus with the longest tradition in Düsseldorf. The cardiovascular research focus at Düsseldorf developed over decades. Instrumental was the DFG-funding of hitherto five Collaborative Research Centers (CRCs), CRC30 (Cardiology), CRC242 (Coronary artery disease), CRC612 (Molecular analysis of cardiac (dys)function), and CRC1116 (Master switches in cardiac ischemia), as well as the currently funded TRR259 (Aortic disease). Several Research Training Groups (RTG1089 - protein interactions, IRTG1902 - interorgan communication) further reflect the impact of cardiovascular research at the HHU. The RTG2576 (vivid - early development of type 2 diabetes) is funded since 2020 and is tightly linked to the cardiovascular research field connecting two important medical fields. With these achievements, cardiovascular research at the HHU has gained national and international visibility and acquired extensive third-party funding and, therefore, rightfully belongs to the Life Science flagship of HHU which assembles 4 out 5 research foci of the HHU as declared in the University Development Plan 2022-2026.
The Medical Faculty has declared in its Faculty Development Plan to support novel research topics at the interface of traditional organ-specific research, taking into account the in general systemic character of diseases. The blueprint for such synergistic research activities is the collaboration of cardiovascular and diabetes researchers, the latter working at the German Diabetes Center (DDZ), a Leibniz-Institute in close proximity to HHU and the University Hospital. Cooperative projects within CRC1116 and RTG2576 initiated the cardio-diabetic research network, which is currently expanding. A novel research building named CARDDIAB providing ample lab space and high end MRI imaging facilities for cardio-diabetic research is under construction and will start operations in 2025. Thus, cardio-metabolism will substantially shape the future of research at the HHU.
Thus, IRTG3109 will be embedded in a highly active reserach environment with an excellent infrastructure.
University of Virginia, Charlottesville
The Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) at the University of Virginia belongs to the most prestigious and internationally renowned research centers in the cardiovascular field. After decades of successful cardiovascular research at the UVA, the CVRC was founded in 1992 to foster outstanding basic and translational research. It has grown to currently 110+ faculty members with joint interest in cardiovascular research. More than 50 of its members are approved PhD mentors on CVRC´s NIH cardiovascular research training grant (CVTG). The CVTG funds graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to perform research in an excellent environment of leading laboratories in combination with an established training in basic and translational science. Notably, the CVTG has been continuously allocated to the CVRC since 1977 and it is currently co-chaired by Profs. Owens and Isakson, both PIs of this IRTG. The CVTG laid the grounds for the training of excellent early career scientists at UVA.
In terms of research, CVRC members have continuously contributed pioneering work to the advancement of cardiovascular biology including the impact of adenosine as signaling molecule, cardiovascular immune biology, (micro-) vascular biology, atherosclerosis, epigenetic regulation of cellular phenotypes and phenotype switching. Researchers within the CVRC have an outstanding record of securing extramural research funding from the NIH, industry, and American Heart Association, program project grants (PPG), bioengineering research partnership (BRP) grants, and LeDucq network of excellence funding. The sustained funding of cardiovascular research has led to the development of an excellent scientific infrastructure in terms of high-end equipment available in CVRC member labs. Moreover, the scientific progress made at the CVRC has been promoted by a broad spectrum of state-of-the-art core facilities run by the UVA School of Medicine. Core units for Spatial Biology, Bioinformatics, Genetically Engineered Mouse Models, and Genome Analysis and Technology are highly relevant also for this IRTG, as they provide important technology to address the topic of cellular plasticity.