DFG awards EUR 7 million for new Dresden Research Unit on immune regulation after heart attack

Heart attacks and the resulting myocardial insufficiency are among the leading causes of death worldwide. After a heart attack, the immune system triggers a strong inflammatory reaction that is necessary for healing but can also cause additional tissue damage. The intensity and nature of this reaction play a decisive role in the healing process and subsequent heart function. The new research unit at the TUD Faculty of Medicine is investigating how to modulate this immune response in order to limit harmful processes and strengthen mechanisms that promote healing. The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding the project with roughly EUR 7 million for an initial period of four years.

Research Unit FOR 5953 is led by Prof. Ali El‑Armouche, Director of the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the TUD Faculty of Medicine and Unit Speaker, and Prof. Kaomei Guan. The team is studying specific subpopulations of immune cells whose activity and interactions in the early phase following a heart attack are critical to the subsequent course of the disease. While previous therapies have sought to broadly suppress this immune response, the project “Modulation of the Innate Immune Response in the Early Phase of Myocardial Infarction (ETNA)” is developing new treatment approaches that pharmacologically modify the affected cells after infarction. The aim is to limit harmful inflammatory reactions and enhance healing mechanisms.

The Research Unit is primarily based at the TUD Faculty of Medicine. Cardiovascular researchers, immunologists, and pharmacologists work closely together to bring new findings into clinical practice more quickly. “This funding will allow us to establish a high‑performing network and strengthen cardioimmune research at the Dresden University Medicine campus in the long term,” explains Prof. El‑Armouche. “Together, we want to break new ground and significantly improve patient treatment following a heart attack.”

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved on this success, which highlights the Faculty of Medicine’s broad scientific expertise in cardiovascular research. Going forward, our aim is to strengthen the connection between university research and clinical expertise even further by collaborating closely with clinical partners such as the Dresden Heart Center to translate new therapeutic approaches into clinical care faster,” says Prof. Esther Troost, Dean of the TUD Faculty of Medicine.

With the number of patients affected by heart attacks rising worldwide, the treatment of this condition is becoming increasingly relevant to society. Research Unit FOR 5953 aims to lay important foundations for future therapies and open new avenues for long‑term scientific collaboration. The DFG funding provides the consortium with a valuable opportunity to build comprehensive research infrastructure and consistently advance innovative pharmacological approaches.

Background
Research Units funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) allow researchers to explore key questions in their fields and establish innovative areas of research. They receive funding for up to eight years. The new Research Units will receive a total of approximately EUR 65.7 million, including a fixed allowance of 22 percent to cover indirect project costs. Alongside the 14 new groups, the DFG has also extended funding for seven existing groups. The DFG currently funds a total of 196 Research Units, nine Clinical Research Units and 17 Centers for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences.

Contact for scientific inquiries
Prof. Ali El-Armouche, Prof. Kaomei Guan
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Fiedlerstr. 42
01307 Dresden
+49 351 458 6255
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Media contact
Anne-Stephanie Vetter
Staff Unit Public Relations of Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine
at TUD Dresden University of Technology
+49 351 458 17903