We are delighted to congratulate our spokesperson, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Stefanie Dimmeler, on being awarded the Officer's Cross (First Class) of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by the Prime Minister of Hesse, Boris Rhein.

This prestigious distinction, awarded on behalf of the Federal President, recognizes not only her groundbreaking contributions to cardiovascular research, but also her unwavering commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists, fostering international collaboration and strengthening the dialogue between science, society and policymaking.

Stefanie, you have shaped our collaborative work with scientific excellence, vision and an extraordinary ability to bring people together. This prestigious honor is richly deserved. We are proud and privileged to work with you - congratulations from all of us!

Prof. Stefanie Dimmeler has been awarded the 2026 Feldberg Foundation Award for her work in cardiovascular research. The prize recognizes her research achievements in cardiovascular regeneration and disease mechanisms. Prof. Dimmeler’s research focuses on the basic mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease and vessel growth. Specifically, her group investigates epigenetic mechanisms and non-coding RNAs to develop new cellular and pharmacological therapies.

The Feldberg Foundation promotes scientific exchange between Germany and the United Kingdom, choosing one German and one British scientist each year. As part of the award, Prof. Dimmeler visited Imperial College London to meet with colleagues, discuss current research, and connect with early-career investigators, highlighting the value of Anglo-German collaboration in medicine.

Read more HERE.

CPI member Dr. Julian Wagner has received the 2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Prize for his work on the molecular mechanisms of cardiac aging. The prize, endowed with €60,000 (€5,000 personal award + €55,000 research funding), recognizes his discovery of ZBTB16 as a key protective factor against age-related cardiovascular decline.

The award-winning project integrates multi-omics, stem cell models, and human tissue data to decode how neuronal regulation, atrial function, and aging intersect – an understudied axis with critical implications for diseases like atrial fibrillation. This work asks: How does aging impact atria and atrial remodeling and how does this contribute to atrial fibrillation, the most prevalent form of arrhythmia in the elderly? His findings lay the groundwork for novel RNA- or small molecule-based therapies to combat age-associated heart failure.

The project reflects the collective effort of Wagner’s team at Goethe University and collaborators across the CPI network.

Read more HERE.

Original publication:
Stilz et al., Endothelial ZBTB16: A Molecular Shield Against Cardiac Aging. European Heart Journal (2026).
DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf1063

CPI Associate Member Prof. Leo Kurian and his laboratory at the Institute for Vascular Physiology at Goethe University Frankfurt have been awarded an ERC Proof of Concept Grant for TRANSLATE.

Building on discoveries from the ERC Consolidator Grant TRANSCEND, TRANSLATE combines systems RNA biology, quantitative modeling, and machine learning to explore how the selective control of mRNA translation can be harnessed for therapeutic intervention. The project seeks to develop RNA engineering strategies for the targeted control of mRNA translation as a new therapeutic modality, asking whether the regulatory logic that determines which mRNAs are translated, when, and how much, can be redirected to restore biological function.

The project reflects the collective effort of the entire Kurian Lab. Acknowledgment and thanks go to everyone in the team who contributed to the science from which TRANSLATE emerged, with particular thanks to Jakub Zeman and Zhanhua Xing for their key contributions to this next step.

The TBX4-PRECIS research project, led by CPI Core Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Soni Savai Pullamsetti, has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept Grant.

The grant supports researchers in translating groundbreaking discoveries into real-world applications by exploring their commercial and societal potential. In the highly competitive 2026 funding round, 554 proposals were submitted from across Europe, with only 182 projects selected for funding. TBX4-PRECIS is among these outstanding initiatives, helping to bridge the gap between frontier research and future clinical innovation.

With this funding, the Pullamsetti Lab will further develop a technology pioneered at CPI that has the potential to transform the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases. The project focuses on enabling safer, highly precise, lung-targeted gene therapies, opening new avenues for delivering genetic medicines directly to the lungs.

Congratulations to Prof. Dr. Soni Savai Pullamsetti and her team - Dr. Chanil Valasarajan and Hanieh Anari Beigdiloo - on this remarkable achievement. We also thank the European Research Council for supporting innovative research at CPI and helping translate scientific discoveries into future benefits for patients.

Further information HERE.

Prof. Dr. Susanne Herold, PhD, spokesperson of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute, has officially received her membership certificate from the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. The ceremony took place on June 17 in Halle (Saale), where the Leopoldina welcomed its new members of Class III – Medicine.

Founded in 1652, the Leopoldina is one of the world’s oldest academies of science and has served as Germany’s National Academy of Sciences since 2008. With around 1,700 members from nearly all fields of science, it represents German science internationally and provides independent, transparent, and forward-looking advice to policymakers and the public. The Leopoldina promotes the freedom and value of science, interdisciplinary exchange, and the responsible use of scientific knowledge for the benefit of people and nature.

Congratulations to Prof. Herold and a warm welcome to all newly appointed members!

Photo: Ralf K. Wegst

Christina Malainou, MD, PhD, a member of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), was honored with the DZL Publication Award at the DZL Annual Meeting 2026 for her publication “TNF superfamily member 14 drives post-influenza depletion of alveolar macrophages, enabling secondary pneumococcal pneumonia”, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

The study investigates why influenza A virus infection can increase the risk of severe secondary bacterial pneumonia, often caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Using in vivo infection models, single-cell transcriptomics, and cell-specific profiling, the researchers identified the TNFSF14 ligand/receptor axis as a key driver of alveolar macrophage depletion after influenza infection. The findings suggest that targeting this pathway may help improve host defense and reduce the risk of subsequent pneumococcal pneumonia.

The DZL Publication Award was initiated by the DZL Academy a few years ago to recognize outstanding scientific publications within the DZL network. This year, 16 publications were submitted for consideration.

Congratulations on these well-deserved achievements!

Photos: Lars Möller, DZL

On May 31, 2026, the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute took part in the “Straße der Experimente” in Giessen with the topic “Crime Scene Lung – Tracking the Smoke.” 🫁🔎

Through two experiments, we were able to demonstrate in a vivid and memorable way how smoking affects the lungs.

In our first experiment, cigarette smoke was guided through a transparent glass lung. The components of the smoke became visibly trapped in cotton wool – illustrating what can also remain in the lungs. Over the course of the day, our “lung” smoked a total of 97 cigarettes.

Visitors also had the opportunity to compare healthy lung tissue with smoking-damaged lung sections under the microscope. In COPD lung samples, black particles in the tissue were clearly visible.

In addition, we provided information about the risks of e-cigarettes and the dangers of second-hand smoke.

It was a day full of inspiring encounters, great conversations and a lot of fun bringing science and health education to the public. And perhaps we even convinced one or two children never to start smoking.

A heartfelt thank you to all helpers and supporters who made this day possible! 🙏