Andreas Habenicht

Professor Andreas Habenicht is affiliated with the Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK) at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He serves as principal supervisor for doctoral research in the specialized field of atherosclerosis immunity and cardiovascular neuroimmunology.

His research focuses on understanding autoimmunity in atherosclerosis, particularly investigating whether advanced atherosclerotic disease generates arterial wall-specific autoantigens recognized by autoimmune T cells or B cells. His laboratory uses aged ApoE-/- mice as experimental models and has begun isolating germinal center B2 cells from artery tertiary lymphoid organs (ATLOs) that develop in the adventitia of arteries.

Dr. Habenicht's research methodology incorporates state-of-the-art molecular biology toolkits including single cell transcriptome analyses, mass spectrometry, and protein biochemical tools. His team has isolated and cloned B cell receptors from diseased arteries which are used as baits to identify autoantigens, with subsequent research focusing on in vivo models of vaccination and antibody treatment protocols.

He participates in international collaborative research efforts and provides supervision within a graduate student program focusing on cardiovascular disease.