Welcome

Angiology Research Lab is a part of the University Center for Vascular Medicine at the Technische Universität Dresden, directed by Prof. Norbert Weiss.

Our primary area of research is pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the major cause of mortality in the developed world. Recent epidimiological studies have identified various novel risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in addition to the commonly established ones, such as hypertension, diabetes, dislipidemia and smoking. Some of these novel cardiovascular risk factors serve merely as markers of CVD, while the other ones may play important role in its pathogenesis. We are specifically interested in elucidation of the mechanisms, by which epidemiologically established novel cardiovascular risk factors may cause metabolic impairments and subsequent end-organ damage in CVD. In addion to our research on the novel risk factors for CVD, we are also interested in identification of the endogenous protective mechanisms in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Identification of the novel detrimental and protective signaling pathways in CVD should hopefully lead to development of novel therapeutic strategies for reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

The signaling pathways, which we are studying, are often involved not only in pathogenesis of CVD but also in the pathological processes, which take place outside of the cardiovascular system. We believe that the most intersting discoveries often happen at the intersection between different research areas and therefore follow whereever science leads us, which results in active collaborations with the other clinical and basic research departments.