Awards and funding

PhD student Johanna Siegel received the award for best poster for her research entitled “Heart-reactive Antibodies Impair Myocyte Function and Fuel Post-myocardial Infarction Inflammation,” which she presented at the World Immune Regulation Meeting.

Johanna Siegel was awarded the Young Investigator Award at the 21st Dutch-German Joint Meeting of the Molecular Cardiology Working Groups for her work on “Antibody Responses to Myocardial Antigens Released in the Context of a Myocardial Infarction.”

From June 26 to 28, 2024, researchers from the emerging discipline of cardioimmunology from around the world gathered at Banz Monastery. 135 participants from all over the world came to Bad Staffelstein in Upper Franconia to spend three days discussing the latest research at the interface between immunology and cardiology, gaining an overview of the latest advances in the management of therapeutic interventions for cardiac inflammation, and, last but not least, networking.

This provided a unique opportunity for interaction, especially for the numerous young scientists in attendance. Eleni Dapergola received the award for the best poster at the congress. Johanna Siegel took second place.

Since December 1, 2023, Gustavo Ramos has held a Heisenberg Professorship in Immunocardiology funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

In the immunocardiology laboratory, Gustavo Ramos and his team are investigating the role of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in heart attacks and myocardial healing. Current research findings show that a heart attack activates auto-reactive T lymphocytes, which in turn act as “mediators” influencing myocardial inflammation, healing, and fibrosis. 

Further information about Gustavo Ramos' research can be found on his website