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Dr. Pascal Syren is a **Researcher** and **Resident** at Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), affiliated with the **Department of Cardiology, Angiology, and Pulmonology** and the **Heidelberg Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias**. His academic role includes contributing to the **Group of Molecular and Translational Cardiac Electrophysiology**, focusing on epigenetic and molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. He holds a PhD from Heidelberg University (2021) on histone deacetylases' influence in cardiac electrophysiology. **Research Interests**: Cardiac electrophysiology, epigenetic regulation (HDACs), ventricular and atrial arrhythmias, echocardiography, and translational cardiology. His work spans basic science to clinical applications, emphasizing ion channel remodeling and therapeutic targets for heart rhythm disorders. **Awards**: Recipient of the **Ernst & Berta Grimmke Foundation Research Grant (2023–2024)** and **Otto-Hess Scholarship (2017–2018)** from the German Cardiac Society. His research bridges molecular mechanisms with clinical cardiology, with contributions to understanding HDAC2's role in action potential dynamics. **Publications**: Over 8 peer-reviewed articles (2016–2025) in journals like *Basic Research in Cardiology* and *Cells*, focusing on histone deacetylase pathways, atrial fibrillation, and ventricular arrhythmia models. Recent work explores neonatal cardiomyocyte electrophysiology and TREK-1 potassium channels in heart failure. **Affiliations**: Active member of the **German Cardiac Society (DGK)** and **European Society of Cardiology (ESC)**, contributing to interdisciplinary cardiac arrhythmia research at Heidelberg's medical faculty.

• Cardiac Electrophysiology
• Histone Deacetylases
• Ventricular Arrhythmias
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Prof. Veronika Somoza is a leading academic in Nutritional Systems Biology, currently affiliated with the University of Vienna and Technical University of Munich (TUM). She holds a professorship in Molecular Food Science and has led key research groups such as the Institute of Physiological Chemistry and the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Bioactive Aromatics. Her career includes roles at institutions like the German Research Institute for Food Chemistry (Garching) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Education: Diplom (Justus Liebig University Giessen, 1991), PhD (University of Vienna, 1995), Habilitation (Kiel University, 2002) Research Focus: Bioactive food compounds, flavor chemistry, taste receptor signaling, and gastrointestinal physiology Her work bridges food science and human health, particularly in understanding how food ingredients influence digestion, inflammation, and disease. Notable contributions include discoveries on bitter peptide effects on gastric acid secretion and flavor perception modulation. Awards: FEMA Excellence in Flavor Science (2016), ACS AGFD Fellow (2020), Hans Adolf Krebs Prize (2004) Prof. Somoza has pioneered methodologies in atomic force microscopy for foodborne virus detection and developed bitterness-masking compounds for pharmaceuticals. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates nanobiophysics with nutrition to advance functional food design and clinical applications.

• Nutritional Systems Biology
• Food Science
• Bioactive Compounds
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Prof. Dr. Stefan Luther is a Max Planck Research Group leader (W2, tenured since 2013) at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, and an Honorarprofessor at the Faculty of Physics, University of Göttingen. He holds adjunct roles as Adjunct Associate Professor at Cornell University (2009–2012) and Northeastern University (2016–2018), and serves as DZHK-Professor at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen. His research focuses on nonlinear spatiotemporal dynamics in excitable biological media, particularly cardiac arrhythmias. He pioneered 4D imaging of heart function and developed algorithms for optogenetic and electrical control of arrhythmias. Translational efforts span basic research to preclinical and clinical studies. Education includes a Diplom in Physics (1997) and PhD (2000) from Georg-August-University, Göttingen. Postdoctoral training followed at the University of Twente (2001–2004) and Cornell University’s LASSP (2004–2006). His lab, the Biomedical Physics group, explores electromechanical coupling in cardiac systems and develops novel therapeutic approaches. Collaborations include work on computational modeling, uncertainty quantification in dynamical systems, and fluid dynamics of multiphase flows.

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiac Physiology
• Nonlinear Dynamics
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Bertram Müller-Myhsok is a Research Professor and Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich, Germany. His research focuses on statistical genetics and transcriptomic data analysis in psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression, PTSD, schizophrenia, and their treatment responses. He integrates machine learning with genetic and clinical data to develop predictive models and stratified treatment approaches. Professional activities include leadership roles in the International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry and collaborations with institutions like the Institut du Cerveau (Paris) and Bernhard Nocht Institute (Hamburg). His work spans genetic epidemiology, psychiatric genomics, and precision medicine, with over 400 publications in high-impact journals. Key research areas include identifying genetic risk factors for mental disorders, developing polygenic scores, and leveraging omics data to uncover disease mechanisms. He leads projects like Psych-STRATA, a Horizon Europe-funded initiative advancing personalized psychiatry through pharmacogenomics.

• Psychiatric Genetics
• Statistical Genetics
• Transcriptomics
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Prof. Dr. Nadine Lehnen is a Research Group Leader at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM). Her work bridges computational neuroscience and psychosomatic disorders, focusing on the central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms underlying functional symptoms that lack organic explanations. Research Focus : Functional somatic disorders, sensorimotor processing, vestibular system dysfunction, and computational modeling of symptom pathogenesis. Key Collaborations : EURONET-SOMA Group, interdisciplinary teams in neuroscience and clinical psychology. Her recent studies explore sensorimotor dysregulation in irritable bowel syndrome, post-COVID symptoms, and functional dizziness, emphasizing transdiagnostic mechanisms. Publications highlight translational approaches combining computational and experimental methods to redefine understanding of persistent physical symptoms. She mentors students such as Dr. Lena Schröder and Dr. Dina von Werder, contributing to training in psychosomatic research. While no specific awards are listed, her work has been supported by institutional affiliations and collaborative grants.

• Neurobiology of psychosomatic disease
• Computational and translational psychosomatics
• Sensorimotor gaze control
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Lakshman Samaranayake is a Professor at The University of Hong Kong's College of Dentistry, with expertise spanning clinical research, dental education, and senior academic administration. As a former Executive Dean of two major Hong Kong dental schools over 12 years, his work combines leadership with high-impact clinical studies. His research focuses on oral infectious diseases , epidemiology , and public health implications in dentistry . Recent publications examine fungal infections like mucormycosis, Candida auris decontamination, scarlet fever resurgence, and oral manifestations of emerging diseases such as monkeypox and COVID-19. With over 450 publications cited 20,500+ times (H-index 80), his work emphasizes systematic reviews and translational research . Contributions include developing clinical guidelines, analyzing oral-systemic disease connections, and advancing evidence-based dentistry methodologies.

• Oral Medicine
• Clinical Research
• Dental Education
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Prof. Dr. Agnes Flöel serves as a Professor and Group Leader at the Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Greifswald. Her research integrates clinical neurology with advanced neuroscience methodologies to address cognitive decline and recovery mechanisms. Her core research domains include: Healthy aging and age-related cognitive impairment Post-stroke neurorehabilitation for speech and motor function recovery Vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology Neuronal correlates of learning using fMRI, structural MRI, and EEG Pharmacological interventions (dopaminergic/serotonergic agents) Non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS, tDCS) and lifestyle modifications Her work emphasizes genetic interactions with therapeutic responses, driving clinical studies that translate neuroscientific findings into targeted rehabilitation strategies for neurological disorders.

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neurorehabilitation
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
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Professor Dr. Martin Grepl is a faculty member at RWTH Aachen University, where he holds the Lehr- und Forschungsgebiet Optimierung mit partiellen Differentialgleichungen (Teaching and Research Area in Optimization with Partial Differential Equations). He has been affiliated with RWTH Aachen since 2009, first as a Professor (W1) and since 2014 as a Professor (W2). Education: Diplom-Ingenieur (Aerospace Engineering), University of Stuttgart (2000) Master of Science (Mechanical Engineering), MIT (2001) Doctor of Philosophy (Mechanical Engineering), MIT (2005) His research focuses on numerical methods for partial differential equations (PDEs) , particularly model order reduction , reduced basis methods , finite element methods , and optimal control for parametrized PDEs. He also investigates parameter estimation , inverse problems , and control constraints in elliptic and parabolic PDE systems. The scientific awards he has received include the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (1997-2000), a Fellowship from the Dr. Jürgen Ulderup-Stiftung (1998-1999), and the Lehrpreis der Fachschaft Mathematik/Physik/Informatik (2011). His work spans applications in manufacturing , medical physics , and fluid dynamics , as evidenced by his patents and collaborative research. His publications demonstrate expertise in reduced basis methods for nonaffine/nonlinear PDEs , trust region optimization , and error bounds for real-time and many-query scenarios. His collaborations often involve interdisciplinary applications, including thermal conduction , welding processes , and glomerular filtration modeling .

• Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
• Model Order Reduction
• Reduced Basis Methods
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Insa Feinkohl is a Professor at the Chair of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology within the Faculty of Health at the University of Witten/Herdecke . Her research focuses on risk factors for cognitive dysfunction and mental health in older adults, particularly post-surgery, with emphasis on metabolic and cognitive risk factors. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology (1 st class honors) – University of Dundee (2006-2009) Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology of Individual Differences (with distinction) – University of Edinburgh (2009-2010) PhD in Community Health Sciences – University of Edinburgh (2010-2014) Post Doc in Knowledge Construction Group – Leibniz Institute for Knowledge Media, Tübingen (2014-2015) Postdoc in Molecular Epidemiology Group – Max Delbrück Center, Berlin (2015-2022) Habilitation in Molecular Epidemiology – Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin (2021) Her research integrates medical biometry and epidemiology to study postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), delirium, and aging-related cognitive decline. Key areas include biomarker validation (e.g., leptin, interleukins), brain connectivity (dopaminergic networks, thalamus), and metabolic risk factors (diabetes, obesity). She contributed to the BioCog project , an EU-funded initiative for personalized risk prediction of postoperative cognitive impairment. Her recent publications highlight trends in perioperative neuroscience, including brain mineralization, cytokine associations with neurocognitive disorders, and structural/functional imaging in delirium. Articles also explore metabolic syndrome, cognitive reserve, and delirium prediction models using machine learning. Insa Feinkohl is affiliated with major academic societies, including the German Society for Epidemiology , German Society for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology , and the German University Association .

• Medical Biometry
• Epidemiology
• Cognitive Dysfunction
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Dr. Gencer Sancar is a Senior Scientist at the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) in Tübingen, part of Helmholtz Munich. His research focuses on adipose tissue dysfunction and its role in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, aiming to translate molecular insights into therapeutic strategies. Education : PhD in Biochemistry, Heidelberg University (2007-2011) M.Sc., Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center Dr. Sancar's work investigates molecular regulators like the FGF1/PDE4D axis and p21-activated kinases (PAKs) in metabolic diseases. His team uses advanced in vivo models, human primary adipocytes, and biosensors to uncover mechanisms linking adipose signaling to systemic glucose and lipid balance. Publications highlight his expertise in adipose-organ crosstalk, incretin-responsive organoids, and novel therapeutic targets. Recent articles in Molecular Metabolism and Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology demonstrate his translational approach bridging basic science with clinical applications. Scientific Awards : DFG Individual Grant (2026) DZD Research Fellowships (2024-2026, 2025-2027) DDG Research Fellowships (2023, 2024) DFG Postdoctoral Fellowship in US (2016-2019) He maintains collaborations across the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Helmholtz Munich, and international institutions, particularly with Prof. Ronald M. Evans at the Salk Institute. His research spans molecular mechanisms to human pathophysiology, emphasizing therapeutic translation.

• Adipose tissue dysfunction
• Insulin resistance
• Type 2 diabetes
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Jakob Körbelin is a Principal Investigator at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and the II. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic. His research focuses on vascular biology, gene therapy, and neurological disorders, particularly targeting the blood-brain barrier using adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors. He leads studies on pulmonary hypertension, neurovascular interactions, and genetic diseases like Niemann-Pick type C2. His work bridges basic science and translational medicine, emphasizing AAV engineering and therapeutic applications. Key research interests include endothelial cell biology, neuroinflammation, and the pathophysiology of vascular diseases. Notably, he received the UCCH Hubertus Wald Young Investigator Award 2013 for his contributions. His lab explores mechanisms of vascular dysfunction, gene delivery optimization, and the impact of viral vectors in treating rare diseases. Collaborations span molecular neurobiology, immunology, and translational oncology. Publications highlight breakthroughs in AAV-mediated therapies, such as reversing neurodegeneration in NPC2 models and identifying novel targets for pulmonary hypertension. Ongoing projects address microvascular brain pathology in SARS-CoV-2 infection and the role of transcription factors in vascular diseases.

• Gene Therapy
• Vascular Biology
• Neurology
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Thomas Wachtler-Kulla is a Professor in the Department of Biology II at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, where he leads the Computational Neuroscience research group. He is a GSN full member and serves as the GSN Ombudsperson, offering neutral and confidential counseling for students. He is also the Group Leader and Scientific Director at the German Neuroinformatics Node (G-Node), contributing significantly to neuroscience data infrastructure. His research focuses on how the brain processes sensory signals, particularly in the visual system, aiming to understand neural coding, perceptual stability, and color vision under natural conditions. He employs neurophysiology, psychophysics, and computational modeling to investigate sensory processing, eye movement compensation, and efficient coding mechanisms. At G-Node, he develops software and hardware tools for organizing, storing, analyzing, and sharing neurophysiological data, promoting reproducible research. His recent work spans Bayesian models of hue perception, data management frameworks like DataLad and odML, and studies on honeybee neuroethology. He actively supervises graduate students and contributes to major initiatives such as NFDI-Neuro and the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility, advancing standards for open and FAIR neuroscience. Scientific Contributions and Leadership: Scientific Director, German Neuroinformatics Node (G-Node) GSN Ombudsperson for student conflict resolution Key contributor to NFDI-Neuro and INCF Developer of tools for metadata management and data sharing He advises several current and former graduate students and is deeply involved in shaping data policies and infrastructure for the neuroscience community, ensuring scientific rigor and accessibility.

• Computational Neuroscience
• Visual System
• Sensory Coding
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Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Stahl is a faculty member at the University of Greifswald , serving as the Director of the University Eye Clinic . His work integrates clinical practice and research in ophthalmology, with a focus on retinal diseases. University: University of Greifswald Role: Director of the Clinic Contact: clinic-management-eyes@med.uni-greifswald.de Research Interests: Stahl’s research centers on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) , anti-VEGF therapies , angiogenesis , and diabetic retinopathy . He explores pathophysiological mechanisms and innovative treatments for retinal vascular disorders, collaborating across disciplines to improve neonatal and adult ophthalmological outcomes. Recent Publications: His 2021–2022 work includes clinical decision support tools for ROP screening, comparative studies of ranibizumab and laser therapy, and analyses of retinal vascular occlusion post-COVID vaccination. These reflect his commitment to advancing treatment protocols and understanding disease mechanisms. Teaching: Involved in student education and e-learning development for ophthalmology. Projects: Participates in the INTERREG European Region Pomerania (INT118) initiative.

• Ophthalmology
• Retinopathy of Prematurity
• Angiogenesis
• +3 more

Prof. Norbert Stefan is a Full Professor at the University of Tübingen's Department of Internal Medicine IV, specializing in clinical and experimental diabetology. His work focuses on metabolic health in obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and hepatokine research. Pioneered metabolic phenotyping studies in the Tübingen Lifestyle Intervention Program (TULIP) Conducted seminal NIH/NIDDK research on adiponectin's role in insulin resistance in Pima Indian populations Developed the concept of hepatokines in 2008 with his colleagues His 2025 publications span GLP-1 receptor agonists' effects on liver fibrosis, SGLT2 inhibitors' impact on liver events, and precision medicine approaches for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Current research integrates urinary peptidomics, brain insulin action studies, and advanced visceral fat quantification techniques. Scientific Awards Innovation Award of the German Society for University Medicine (2010) Heisenberg-Professorship for Clinical and Experimental Diabetology (2011) Editorial Board Member, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (2015) Senior Associate Editor, Diabetes (2021) Stefan maintains collaborative networks with Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, the NIH, and consortia like SOPHIA IMI EU Consortium and the German Center for Diabetes Research.

• Metabolic Health in Obesity
• Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
• Hepatokine Research
• +5 more

Antonia Beitzen-Heineke is a Medical Specialist in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Oncology at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). She holds dual affiliations in the II. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic (Center for Oncology) and the Institute of Tumor Biology within the Center for Experimental Medicine. Her expertise spans oncology, hematology, and hemostaseology , with a focus on cardio-oncology, chemotherapy-induced toxicity, and coagulation disorders in cancer patients. Her research emphasizes translational studies in tumor biology, including the molecular mechanisms of coagulation activation in acute myeloid leukemia and the role of AXL inhibition in myeloproliferative neoplasms. She also investigates long-term cardiovascular effects of cancer therapies, leveraging cardiac MRI for early detection of myocardial dysfunction. Publications highlight her work on thrombosis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy’s impact on hemostasis, and athlete cardiac adaptations. She collaborates with multidisciplinary teams in radiology, immunology, and pharmacology. Her clinical roles involve managing patients with hematologic malignancies and complex coagulation pathologies. No scientific awards are explicitly noted, but her active research profile underscores contributions to cardio-oncology and thrombosis biology.

• Oncology
• Hematology
• Hemostaseology
• +4 more