Research Group Schnabel

Systems Medicine of Common Cardiovascular Diseases, Digital Health Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Data Management

Name: Prof. Dr. Renate B. Schnabel
Research Management: Daniel Engler, MSc, d.engler@uke.de
Clinic/Institute: University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg (UHZ), Clinic for Cardiology
Email: r.schnabel@uke.de
Phone: +49 (0) 40 7410 - 53979

Research Focus and Main research questions:

Cardiovascular research, data science, biostatistics

• Generation of guideline-relevant data (2024 ESC guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation, ESOC guidelines) on the epidemiology of lifetime diseases (heart failure, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction)
• Risk scores in primary and secondary prevention, e.g. development of the first AF risk score
• Prognostic biomarkers (blood-based, imaging, (non-)invasive functional diagnostics)
• Therapy monitoring in small cohorts including multi-omics and screening in large-scale studies (>100,000 individuals) in the population
• FAIRification of data in the scientific community
• OMICs for therapeutic guidance (e.g. hypertension)
• Deep Learning approaches for the revival of the ECG as a diagnostic and prognostic marker
• Digitalization for risk prediction, screening, telehealth in interdisciplinary approaches

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Our research aims to understand the underlining pathophysiology and susceptibility to common cardiovascular diseases in the population. The goal of our research group is to detect the predisposition to cardiovascular disease as well as the detection of early, reversible stages of the disease in order to enable prevention and early intervention. We determine blood and tissue biomarkers and genetics including OMICs analyses of noninvasively assessed cardiovascular function in prospective cohort studies in both, initially healthy individuals and patients with manifest cardiovascular disease.

Integrating data from newly discovered and classical risk factors and association with incident disease will improve current risk algorithms to allow preventive, personalized cardiovascular medicine and identify intervention options. International collaborations in ERACoSysMed-funded consortia, AF-SCREEN International Collaboration ( AF Screen International Collaboration ), the Framingham Heart Study, MORGAM cohorts, and the BiomarCaRE project, among others, support this effort. Our research projects are integrated in the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research ( Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V.: DZHK and Netzwerk Universitätsmedizin ) with its mission to rapidly and efficiently transfer results from research into clinical practice (translation). In our Horizon 2020 AFFECT-EU Project ( AFFECT-EU ) including 26 partners we address digital screening from clinic to the population.

Risk prediction of cardiovascular diseases

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is increasing worldwide, with corresponding implications in the clinic and for the health care system. Preventive measures are needed, but relatively little is known about risk factors, except for a handful of established risk factors. For atrial fibrillation we summarized them in a risk score. However, these risk factors explain only 60% of the attributable risk in the population. New approaches to improve risk prediction are urgently needed.

AF is diagnosed by electrocardiogram (ECG). In an epidemiological study, we are investigating electrocardiographic changes that may lead to AF. In addition, innovative methods for biomarker determination, genetic and gene expression analyses are performed in cross-sectional studies and also prospectively to identify new risk factors. Prof Schnabel coordinates the international AFFECT-EU consortium that involves 26 partners world-wide. Its major goal is to develop an accurate, risk-based and ready for implementation AF screening algorithm using digital devices. Early detection may support the reduction of AF-related health inequities, morbidity and mortality in Europe. Close cooperation between data scientists, electrophysiologists, and cardiac surgeons is essential for this purpose.

Our data will provide new insights into epidemiology and prevention, as well as expand the pathophysiological understanding of the disease and potentially reveal therapeutic pathways.

• 
• 

Consortium
AFFECT-EU - DIGITAL, RISK-BASED SCREENING FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY