Experimental Vascular Medicine
Blood vessel and vascular cells play important roles in many pathophysiological processes, not only in atherosclerosis, but also in restenosis, bypass surgery and vein graft diseases, neovascularisation, angiogenesis, wound healing, or complications in patients diabetes. A blood vessel is more the just a tube though which blood flows: it is a complex organ with many functions for which multiple cell types need to collaborate in a way we still do not fully understand. My research is directed at increasing our knowledge of vascular biology, the pathophysiological processes in the vessel wall and processes involved in vascular remodelling. The goal is to increase our knowledge about vascular functions and the develop new therapeutic interventional option to modulate vascular remodelling. In this translational research program a close interaction between pre-clinical and clinical research is a prerequisite for success, in order to translate the findings for the laboratory to new therapeutic options and eventual clinical application.