UKE Homepage
DE
Research Group Kirchhof
Aim
Our research aims to improve the lives of patients suffering from atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
Scope of Research
We are probably best known for our research in atrial fibrillation from its genetic causes to evaluation of novel interventions in clinical trials. Our work also studies the genetic and ambient drivers of heart failure and innovative approaches to improve their prevention and therapy, with a focus on the overlap between the two conditions. Our research, often done in interdisciplinary and international teams, involves mechanistic research in disease models and in patients, clinical research in cohorts, controlled clinical trials, and data science. The work integrates genetic predispositions into mechanistic research and uses novel disease drivers to develop and validate quantifiable surrogates for disease mechanisms and outcomes that can be measured in patients.
Research Projects
Additional projects and initiatives work on innovative pathways to select patients (personalised therapy) and to develop new surrogates (assessment of innovations). Watch this space.
Key Techniques
Collaborative research integrating
- mechanistic studies in human samples,
- mouse and iPS-derived disease models,
- blood biomarkers and other quantifiable surrogates,
- analyses in clinical cohorts,
- controlled clinical trials, and
- data science.
Group Members
/uccs/working-group-fabritz/kirchhof_paulus_20200312-3-3_st_plus_300x1.jpg)
I work closely with several HCCR PIs and with national and international collaborators.
Publications
A contemporary list of papers by Paulus Kirchhof can be found
Grants/Awards
Paulus’ research work received continuous funding since 2000, including membership in several EU consortia (EUTRAF, CATCH ME, AFFECT-EU), two Transatlantic Networks funded by Leducq Foundation (ENAFRA, Genetic topology of AF), and two collaborative research centers (CRC 556 and CRC 656, both in Münster) funded the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Paulus led a successful application for a BHF Accelerator Award given by the British Heart Foundation to the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Birmingham and was its director until his move to Hamburg. Additional funding came from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the Medical Research Council UK, the National Institutes of Health Research in the UK (NIHR), the British Heart Foundation, the German Ministry of Education and Research, the Else-Kröner-Fresenius Foundation, The Dutch Heart Foundation, and other funders. Some of the investigator-initiated trials initiated and led by Paulus received financial support from industry.
A current list of Paulus´ DFG-funded projects can be found