About our research
The emerging field of cardio-immunology highlights the significant impact of chronic inflammation on cardiovascular health, identifying new therapeutic targets and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Landmark studies, like the CANTOS trial, have demonstrated how reducing inflammation – specifically by inhibiting IL-1β – can effectively lower major adverse cardiovascular events, underscoring inflammation's central role in disease progression. Immune cell activity, especially in the context of clonal hematopoiesis and somatic mutations like the Y chromosome loss, has been shown to influence cardiovascular health, fueling disease through both direct tissue interactions and systemic inflammatory responses.
Prof. Abplanalp's group is deeply involved in this domain, leveraging advanced technologies to explore how immune cells, particularly T cells, impact cardiovascular outcomes. T cells are increasingly understood not only as predictors of cardiovascular events but also as regulators of cardiovascular function. This research dovetails with pioneering efforts to develop vaccines aimed at preventing atherosclerosis by modulating immune responses, suggesting that cardiovascular disease treatment may soon incorporate immune-based strategies. By advancing knowledge in these areas, Prof. Abplanalp’s team is helping pave the way for innovative, immune-targeted cardiovascular therapies.
Team Members
Prof. Dr. Wesley Abplanalp
Principal Investigator
My work explores the intricate relationship between chronic inflammation and cardiovascular disease, building on my initial research on air pollution's cardiovascular impacts during my PhD. I have since expanded this focus to investigate how ongoing inflammatory processes drive heart failure, fibrosis, and valve calcification. My interests include studying somatic mosaicisms like clonal hematopoiesis and Y chromosome loss, which play a crucial role in heart disease. I am also developing advanced sequencing techniques to better understand disease mechanisms and uncover biomarkers and therapeutic targets, with the goal of transforming treatments for cardiovascular conditions.
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Dr. Akshay P. Ware
PhD, Postdoc
I am a passionate computational biologist with a solid foundation in Bioinformatics, Genomics, Cancer and Cardiovascular Regeneration. With a Ph.D. in cancer genomics, my research has focused on the understanding the role of clustered microRNAs in oncogenesis and cancer progression. Currently I am involved I developing and applying advanced bioinformatics methods and pipelines for next-generation sequencing and 'Omics' based data analysis. I am also deeply interested in analysing and correlating data from large biobanks. My work supports pioneering research that deepens our understanding of complex biological systems, driving both foundational insights and applied discoveries, especially in cardiovascular regeneration and other diseases.
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Dr. Sameen Fatima
PhD, Postdoc
I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, University Hospital Frankfurt. My research focuses on the inflammatory mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases (CVD), driven by risk factors such as aging, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. With extensive expertise in advanced murine models, I have developed and refined models for hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia to study CVD progression. Skilled in surgical techniques for mice, I explore how these risk factors contribute to atherosclerosis and cardiac fibrosis, aiming to inform anti-inflammatory therapies that may slow heart disease progression. My work advances the understanding of targeted treatments with the potential to significantly reduce mortality in cardiovascular patients.
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Salvador Sampere-Birlanga
PhD, technician
I am a research assistant at the Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, specialising in advanced immunology and infection, molecular and cellular biology, with a focus on T cell research. I am experienced in flow cytometry, molecular techniques, and sequencing. During my PhD in the field of infection and immunity at Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, I gained solid training and practical experience in cutting-edge research, focusing on generating new pathways to improve immunotherapy. My main motivation is to understand how the immune system evolves during aging and to explore new strategies for diagnosing and enhancing cardiovascular treatments by modulating the immune system.
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Srisurekha Radhakrishnan
MSc, technician
I am a research assistant at the Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, specializing in molecular biology and cellular gene expression, with a focus on advancing cardiovascular health research. Experienced in high-precision molecular and sequencing techniques, I support critical projects that bridge foundational science with clinical applications. During my Master’s in Biotechnology, I was recognized for academic excellence, and my contributions to immunological studies and sequencing-based research reflect my strong commitment to impactful, innovative science. With analytical rigor and a deep dedication to uncovering complex biological mechanisms, I approach each project with a passion for advancing scientific understanding.
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Dr. Xiao Yang
MD, thesis student
I am a PhD student in molecular medicine with an MD background. I have extensive experience in cell culture, siRNA transfection, qPCR, single-cell sequencing library construction, flow cytometry, and bioinformatics data analysis. I am passionate about bridging laboratory research and clinical practice to advance personalized medicine. Outside the lab, I enjoy swimming and hiking, finding inspiration for scientific exploration through nature and physical activity.
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Tenglong Xu
MD, thesis student
I am an MD student at the Institute for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt. My work mainly focuses on understanding how immune cell profiles relate to cardiovascular disease mechanisms and outcomes. By combining experimental immunology, multi-omics profiling, and bioinformatics analysis, I seek to identify immune signatures that can guide precision medicine. With a background in clinical medicine, I strive to connect laboratory discoveries with clinical impact in cardiovascular research. My research provides new insights into the immune landscape of cardiovascular disease and supports the development of more precise diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Lili Scheithe
BSc, HiWi
I‘m a master‘s student at Goethe University Frankfurt, participating in the program „Physical Biology of Cells and Cell Interactions“. In August of 2025 I joined Prof. Abplanalp‘s team as a working student to assist with lab organization and experimental work. I am always excited to gain more hands-on experience and expand my theoretical knowledge in biological and clinical research. Completing my Bachelor’s degree with a focus on radiation biology and DNA repair strengthened my passion for learning about cellular and molecular mechanisms in health and disease, and ways how to translate that knowledge into clinical applications. Additionally, I love sharing interesting scientific conversations and discussions with my colleagues.
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Paul Kapfer
BSc, HiWi
I am a student of Goethe Universities M. Sc. Molecular Medicine program. Studying Biosciences in my bachelors degree gave me a broad biological background. For my thesis I did molecular-biological research on the lyme disease agent »Borrelia bavariensis« including gain-of-function experiments. In the group of Prof. Abplanalp I work as a student research assistant, where I aim to aquire new skills in bioinformatics and connect them to my wet-lab experience. I am especially interested in single-cell RNA sequencing, as this technique provides great insights into the inner workings of cells and disease mechanisms.
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Recent Publications
- 1. Abplanalp WT, Schuhmacher B, Cremer S, Merten M, Shumliakivska M, Macinkovic I, Zeiher AM, John D, Dimmeler S. Cell-intrinsic effects of clonal hematopoiesis in heart failure. Nat Cardiovasc Res. 2023 Sep;2(9):819-834. doi: 10.1038/s44161-023-00322-x. Epub 2023 Sep 4. PMID: 39196061; PMCID: PMC11357996.
- 2. Jurado MR, Tombor LS, Arsalan M, Holubec T, Emrich F, Walther T, Abplanalp W, Fischer A, Zeiher AM, Schulz MH, Dimmeler S, John D. Improved integration of single-cell transcriptome data demonstrates common and unique signatures of heart failure in mice and humans. Gigascience. 2024 Jan 2;13:giae011. doi: 10.1093/gigascience/giae011. PMID: 38573186; PMCID: PMC10993718.
- 3. Tamiato A, Tombor LS, Fischer A, Muhly-Reinholz M, Vanicek LR, Toğru BN, Neitz J, Glaser SF, Merten M, Rodriguez Morales D, Kwon J, Klatt S, Schumacher B, Günther S, Abplanalp WT, John D, Fleming I, Wettschureck N, Dimmeler S, Luxán G. Age-Dependent RGS5 Loss in Pericytes Induces Cardiac Dysfunction and Fibrosis. Circ Res. 2024 May 10;134(10):1240-1255. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.324183. Epub 2024 Apr 2. PMID: 38563133; PMCID: PMC11081481.
- 4. Wagner JUG, Tombor LS, Malacarne PF, Kettenhausen LM, Panthel J, Kujundzic H, Manickam N, Schmitz K, Cipca M, Stilz KA, Fischer A, Muhly-Reinholz M, Abplanalp WT, John D, Mohanta SK, Weber C, Habenicht AJR, Buchmann GK, Angendohr S, Amin E, Scherschel K, Klöcker N, Kelm M, Schüttler D, Clauss S, Günther S, Boettger T, Braun T, Bär C, Pham MD, Krishnan J, Hille S, Müller OJ, Bozoglu T, Kupatt C, Nardini E, Osmanagic-Myers S, Meyer C, Zeiher AM, Brandes RP, Luxán G, Dimmeler S. Aging impairs the neurovascular interface in the heart. Science. 2023 Aug 25;381(6660):897-906. doi: 10.1126/science.ade4961. Epub 2023 Aug 24. PMID: 37616346.
- 5. Mas-Peiro S, Abplanalp WT, Rasper T, Berkowitsch A, Leistner DM, Dimmeler S, Zeiher AM. Mosaic loss of Y chromosome in monocytes is associated with lower survival after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Eur Heart J. 2023 Jun 1;44(21):1943-1952. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad093. PMID: 36932691; PMCID: PMC10232276.
- 6. Shumliakivska M, Luxán G, Hemmerling I, Scheller M, Li X, Müller-Tidow C, Schuhmacher B, Sun Z, Dendorfer A, Debes A, Glaser SF, Muhly-Reinholz M, Kirschbaum K, Hoffmann J, Nagel E, Puntmann VO, Cremer S, Leuschner F, Abplanalp WT, John D, Zeiher AM, Dimmeler S. DNMT3A clonal hematopoiesis-driver mutations induce cardiac fibrosis by paracrine activation of fibroblasts. Nat Commun. 2024 Jan 19;15(1):606. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-43003-w. PMID: 38242884; PMCID: PMC10799021.
Extended list of publications:
