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Start of funding 01.07.2026
Defining multi-organ crosstalk in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)
Prof. Dr. Daphne Merkus
Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich
Institut für Chirurgische Forschung
Prof. Dr. David Liem
University of California, Davis
Divison of Cardiovascular Medicine
HFpEF is a common form of heart failure that is closely linked to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and aging. Rather than being a disease of the heart alone, it is increasingly recognized as a systemic condition involving complex interactions between the heart, kidneys, and adipose (fat) tissue.
In obesity, fat tissue becomes enlarged and inflamed, releasing molecules that can negatively affect the function of other organs, including the heart and kidneys. This project aims to identify and validate early biomarkers that mechanistically connect adipose tissue inflammation with cardio-renal dysfunction, with the goal of detecting HFpEF at its earliest, preclinical stages and enabling more personalized treatment strategies.
A central pillar of the collaboration is the exchange of students and postdoctoral fellows between LMU and UC Davis. LMU trainees will gain expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced data analysis at UC Davis, while UC Davis trainees will receive hands-on training at LMU in HFpEF models and cutting-edge molecular research techniques. By combining computational approaches with mechanistic cardiovascular research, the project will improve our understanding of how risk factors lead to HFpEF development while training interdisciplinary scientists.