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Research Group Blankenberg
Cardiovascular Data Science
Aim:
We integrate genomic, clinical, and cohort data to uncover drivers of cardiovascular disease and develop better prediction and diagnostic tools.
Scope of Research
Cardiovascular Genetics • Risk Prediction & Big Data • Acute Coronary Syndromes & Aortic Stenosis • Global Cohorts & Translational Studies
Research Projects
1. Hamburg City Health Study (HCHS)
The Hamburg City Health Study is one of the world’s largest population-based cardiovascular cohorts, integrating genomics, imaging, biomarker profiling, and extensive clinical phenotyping. It provides a unique platform to study early determinants of cardiovascular disease and long-term health trajectories. The study enables deep characterization of subclinical disease processes and the identification of novel predictive markers. Through rigorous event surveillance and long-term follow-up, HCHS supports the development of improved prevention and risk-stratification strategies. Its data infrastructure allows seamless integration of translational, epidemiological, and clinical research.
2. Global Cardiovascular Risk Consortium (GCVRC)
The GCVRC unites individual participant data from more than 2 million individuals across over 130 cohorts worldwide. Its aim is to harmonize global epidemiological data and refine cardiovascular risk prediction models through large-scale, standardized analyses. The consortium generates insights into the impact of major risk factors across diverse populations, age groups, and geographic regions. Findings from the GCVRC underpin international prevention guidelines and shape global cardiovascular health strategies. The group’s NEJM publications highlight its central role in advancing precision risk prediction on a global scale.
3. Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF)
The GCRFF brings together leading international funding organizations to improve coordination and efficiency in global cardiovascular research. It promotes harmonized standards for data use, biosample governance, and methodological alignment across countries and institutions. Through joint initiatives, the forum accelerates the development of large, multi-national cardiovascular studies and enhances research transparency and reproducibility. Its collaborative framework supports rapid responses to emerging scientific challenges. The partnership strengthens global investment in cardiovascular science and enables shared long-term research agendas.
4. Translational Disease Programs: Acute Coronary Syndromes & Aortic Stenosis
These programs focus on understanding the molecular, clinical, and imaging-based mechanisms underlying acute coronary syndromes and aortic stenosis. They integrate biosamples, advanced diagnostics, and longitudinal patient data to identify predictors of clinical outcomes. The research aims to refine diagnostic pathways, optimize timing of interventions, and develop improved risk-stratification tools. By linking translational insights with clinical practice, the program generates evidence for personalized treatment strategies. The work closely interfaces with national and international clinical trials and registries.
5. Clinical Studies and Registries
The group contributes to and leads several large-scale interventional and observational cardiovascular studies. These include trials investigating diagnostic pathways, treatment strategies, and disease mechanisms across a broad spectrum of cardiac conditions. The DEDICATE trial, for example, evaluates optimal management strategies for aortic stenosis, while SCAD and PREDICT explore distinct clinical phenotypes and biomarker profiles. The studies incorporate state-of-the-art imaging, molecular analyses, and long-term follow-up to generate clinically actionable evidence. Results from these trials support guideline development and inform everyday cardiovascular patient care.
Key Techniques
- Population Genetics & Genomic Analyses (GWAS, WGS)
- Multimodal Data Integration (clinical, omics, imaging)
- Predictive Modelling & Machine Learning
- Biostatistics & Large-Scale Cohort Analytics
- Translational Clinical Trial Methodology
Group Members
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Publications
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Global Effect of Modifiable Risk Factors on Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality.
Magnussen C., Ojeda F.M., Leong D.P., […], Blankenberg S.
N Engl J Med. 2023 Oct 5;389(14):1273-1285. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206916. -
Global Effect of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Lifetime Estimates.
Magnussen C., […], Blankenberg S.
N Engl J Med. 2025 Jul 10;393(2):125-138. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2415879. -
C-reactive protein modifies lipoprotein(a)-related risk for coronary heart disease: the BiomarCaRE project.
Arnold N, Blaum C, Goßling A, Brunner FJ, Bay B, Ferrario MM, Brambilla P, Cesana G, Leoni V, Palmieri L, Donfrancesco C, Padró T, Andersson J, Jousilahti P, Ojeda F, Zeller T, Linneberg A, Söderberg S, Iacoviello L, Gianfagna F, Sans S, Veronesi G, Thorand B, Peters A, Tunstall-Pedoe H, Kee F, Salomaa V, Schnabel RB, Kuulasmaa K, Blankenberg S, Koenig W, Waldeyer C.
Eur Heart J. 2024 Mar 27;45(12):1043-1054. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad867. -
Impact of Sex and Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Myocardial T1, Extracellular Volume Fraction, and T2 at 3 Tesla: Results From the Population-Based Hamburg City Health Study.
Cavus E, Schneider JN, Bei der Kellen R, di Carluccio E, Ziegler A, Tahir E, Bohnen S, Avanesov M, Radunski UK, Chevalier C, Jahnke C, Ojeda F, Kirchhof P, Blankenberg S, Adam G, Lund GK, Muellerleile K.
Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2022 Sep;15(9):e014158. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.122.014158. -
Multi-organ assessment in mainly non-hospitalized individuals after SARS-CoV-2 infection: The Hamburg City Health Study COVID programme.
Petersen EL, Goßling A, Adam G, Aepfelbacher M, Behrendt CA, Cavus E, Cheng B, Fischer N, Gallinat J, Kühn S, Gerloff C, Koch-Gromus U, Härter M, Hanning U, Huber TB, Kluge S, Knobloch JK, Kuta P, Schmidt-Lauber C, Lütgehetmann M, Magnussen C, Mayer C, Muellerleile K, Münch J, Nägele FL, Petersen M, Renné T, Riedl KA, Rimmele DL, Schäfer I, Schulz H, Tahir E, Waschki B, Wenzel JP, Zeller T, Ziegler A, Thomalla G, Twerenbold R, Blankenberg S.
Eur Heart J. 2022 Mar 14;43(11):1124-1137. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab914. -
Screening the general population: a role for cardiac biomarkers?
Blankenberg S, Mills NL, Mueller C.
Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. 2022 Jul 21;11(7):581-583. doi: 10.1093/ehjacc/zuac067.
Grants
- PREDICT
Innofond
2025 - 2029 - DEDICATE
Clinical Study
2017 - 2028 - APT-SCAD
Clinical Study
2025 - 2032 - Large genome decoding project
funded by the Kühne Foundation - Global Cardiovascular Risk Consortium
(GCVRC; supported by multiple EU framework grants incl. FP7 and Horizon 2020). - EU-CANShare
(EU Horizon 2020, 2018–2023)
Most important collaboration partner
- Max Delbrück Center, Berlin, Germany
- Salim Yusuf, McMaster University, Canada
- Cardio-Care AG, Davis, Switzerland
- GCVRC