Heart Research Center Göttingen

The Heart Research Center Göttingen (HRCG) investigates the mechanisms which lead to heart diseases and the aggravation of already existing heart diseases. Based hereon, new diagnostics and procedures shall be developed to improve patient care. The HRCG's research work is mainly focused on heart failure which is one of the most frequent diseases in Germany with about two to three million people affected. It leads to shortness of breath, and a reduced fitness and life span. The 5-year mortality is about 50 percent and therefore higher than in most cancer diseases. Heart failure occurs after cardiac infarction, due to high blood pressure, after myocarditis, or in diseased cardiac valves. The HRCG’s key mission is the Translational Medicine, that is to find solutions at the interface between preclinical basic research and clinical development and application. Problems are identified on the patient in hospital, and their solutions are worked out in the scientists’ laboratories. That way, the patients do benefit from the research results as quickly as possible.