Additional Information

GOALS

The goal of the international PhD program "Endothelium in Health and Disease" (EH&D) is to provide an excellent educational and experimental training as well as career support for both national and international PhD students and to promote endothelial research within the Dresden scientific community.
 

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

The endothelium, as the inner lining of blood vessel, has an important structural and regulatory function in preserving tissue homeostasis and integrity. The luminal side of the endothelium interacts with circulating blood cells whereas its abluminal side contacts the extracellular matrix and adjacent cells such as pericytes and smooth muscle cells. Endothelial function and dysfunction play therefore an essential role in maintaining health and triggering pathogenesis of the cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis but also in the development of metabolic disorders, cancer and inflammation. The manifold functional role of endothelium is the focus of our PhD program EH&D. 
 

HISTORY / FUTURE

The program was initiated in 2006 with more than 40 PhD students from 13 nationalities (Brazil, China, Czechia, Egypt, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, and Vietnam) enrolled to date. Since then, 19 students have already successfully completed their theses and received highest notes. Based at the Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, the program is tightly embedded into the Dresden scientific network and enjoys the benefits of the Dresden scientific community. Scientific input is provided by the Departments of Physiology, Pathology, Pathophysiology, Vascular Endothelium and Microcirculation, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring and Nephrology.