IEMR researchers actively initiate and welcome partnerships with scientists that hold complementary expertise. The current list of international collaborators include scientists at the forefront of cardiovascular research from some of the most respected institutions worldwide.
Professor Mark Anderson, Johns Hopkins Medical School, USA
Mark E. Anderson, M.D., Ph.D. is Director of the Department of Medicine and physician-in-chief of The Johns Hopkins Hospital/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is one of the world`s leading experts on the role of CaMKII in arrhythmias. He has long-standing collaboration with the Stokke group on CaMKII in transgenic mouse models of arrhythmias.
Dr Uwe Hansen, University Hospital Münster, DE
Dr. Hansen is head of the Electron microscopy technology platform. Our collaboration was established to investigate how removal of lumican (one of our extracellular matrix proteoglycans of interest) directly alters the structure of collagen fibers in cardiac fibrosis. To do this, Hansen uses electron microscopy to image the tiny, nanometer-scale fibrils which make up these large, fiber structures. Together, we have begun to understand how these small adjustments in fibril organization and assembly in fibrosis may be able to cause significant alterations to the entire cardiac phenotype.
Professor Martin Humphries, University of Manchester, UK
Martin Humphries is a professor of Biochemistry at the University of Manchester, England. A world leading expert in the field of integrin biology, Prof. Humphries is focused on understanding the mechanisms by which cell adhesion regulates cell behavior. Humphries has hosted IEMR post-doctoral researcher Andreas Romaine (2021-22) and has shared his expertise in molecular techniques to assist with elucidating the role of cell adhesion receptors in the pathogenesis of heart disease.
Pete Jones, University of Otago, New Zealand
Associate Professor Jones has a longstanding interest in understanding the mechanisms by which cardiomyocyte calcium channels called Ryanodine Receptors control the heartbeat. His work has focussed on the way in which the channels sense local calcium levels, and how these roles are modified by posttranslational modifications and accessory proteins.
Dr. Enno Klussmann, Max-Delbruck-Center (MDC) for Molecular Medicine, DE
Klussmann’s research group aims to elucidate molecular mechanisms conferring specificity to cAMP signaling, with focus on the A-kinase anchoring protein 18 (AKAP18). Klussmann and Carlson collaborate on cardiac AKAP18 with focus on its role in the heart beat, its protein partners and specific molecular mechanisms.
Professor Stephan Lehnart, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Germany
Stephan Lehnart M.D., Dr.med. is Professor of Translational Cardiology at Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, and an internationally renowned expert on the cardiac ryanodine receptor. His collaboration with the Stokke group and other researchers at IEMR has resulted in notable publications on mechanisms and potential diagnostic strategies in cathecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
Associate Professor Dada Pisconti, Stony Brooks University, NY USA
Pisconti’s research group aims to understand homeostasis and regeneration of muscle stem cells, and has particular interest in muscular dystrophy and proteoglycans. Pisconti and Carlson collaborate on projects investigating the role of proteoglycans, like the syndecans, in various muscle cells.
Professor Llewellyn Roderick, KU Leuven, BE
Prof. Roderick is an international expert in cardiomyocyte Ca2+ homeostasis and IP3 signalling. The last decade, he has dived into different aspects of cardiomyocyte epigenetics. In his present collaboration with researchers at IEMR, he is primarily focusing on regulation of cardiomyocyte regeneration, and, the ageing process.
Prof. Jürgen E. Schneider, University of Leeds, UK
Prof. Schneider is a leading authority on cardiac MRI, and has special competence in developing new and optimized MRI protocols and analysis tools. He has been a vital collaborator with the MR group at IEMR since its initiation. Prof. Schneider has been taking part in e.g. establishing advanced acceleration methods (compressed sensing) and diffusion imaging at our laboratory.
Professor Ralph Sinkus, INSERM, France; King’s College London, UK
Prof. Sinkus is a renowned expert on utilizing advanced medical imaging for disease characterization. In collaboration with him, we are establishing magnetic resonance elastography, a groundbreaking method for measuring heart stiffness using magnetic resonance imaging.
Professor Christian Soeller, Univ. of Exeter, UK
Professor Soeller is a true pioneer in the field of super-resolution imaging, and one of the first to employ techniques such as dSTORM and DNA-PAINT in the heart. His work is aimed at understanding the nanoscale arrangements of key proteins involved with cardiomyocyte calcium homeostasis.