Our research group is working on deciphering the early mechanisms in hypertensive cardiomyopathy. At present, diagnoses are usually only made at an advanced stage of the disease, as the early phases are often asymptomatic. This in turn means that the currently available forms of therapy are aimed at merely alleviating the symptoms. It is therefore essential to understand the molecular processes that underlie increased blood pressure-induced cardiac remodeling in order to improve the possibilities for diagnosis and create new therapeutic options.
Recent evidence suggests that Ca 2+ -cycling may be an early driver of cardiac remodeling through the influence of Ca 2+ on the regulation of transcription. CaMKII could play a central role in this process.
This project, funded by BioTechMed-Graz, aims to fully characterize CaMKII-mediated transcription in hypertensive cardiomyopathy at all levels. In addition, we will focus on designing peptide-loaded nanoparticles to inhibit CaMKII inhalation and thereby prevent disease progression or even delay its manifestation.
Through our multidisciplinary and translational approach, we will better understand the early phases of cardiac remodeling. This will provide the necessary basis for further clinical studies on the use of peptide-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of hypertensive cardiomyopathy.
Our research group operates from the Center for Medical Research, which is affiliated to the University Hospital Graz. This gives us the opportunity to use state-of-the-art techniques at any time. To further advance our research we collaborate, in true BioTechMed-Graz spirit, with several other research groups in Graz as well as worldwide.
At the Medical University of Graz
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