Claudia Crocini

Claudia Crocini is a DZHK junior research group leader at the Max Rubner Center for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Her work bridges cardiac physiology, epigenetics, and sex-specific medicine to address critical gaps in cardiovascular research where female hearts have been historically neglected.

Her research program centers on sex-dependent differences in human cardiac cells, investigating how biological sex influences contractility, ionic currents, gene expression, and epigenetic regulation. By leveraging induced pluripotent stem cell technology, tissue engineering, and computational modeling, her lab identifies fundamental mechanisms underlying sex-specific cardiac responses to disease. This approach integrates cardiac mechanobiology with molecular analysis to uncover targets for precision medicine.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent trajectory toward understanding sex-dimorphic cardiac function, with recent work emphasizing sarcomere mechanics, RNA splicing, and nuclear mechanosensing. Her methodology combines voltage/calcium imaging, contractility assays, and next-generation sequencing to establish sex-specific biomarkers and therapeutic pathways.

Dr. Crocini's scientific contributions have been recognized through competitive awards:

• First prize: Best Postdoc at the MDC (2022)
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship for 'TiGER: Titin can govern epigenetic remodelling' (2021)
• American Heart Association Postdoc Fellowship (2020)
• Biophysical Society Travel Award (2020)
• HSFP Long-Term Fellowship (2017)

As principal investigator of her DZHK-funded research group, she directs projects examining sex-dependent cardiac adaptation mechanisms while securing major grants including the Marie Skłodowska-Curie and American Heart Association fellowships. Her work directly addresses the urgent need for sex-inclusive cardiac research to improve clinical outcomes.

The Crocini Lab operates within the Max Rubner Center, utilizing stem cell differentiation platforms, engineered cardiac tissues, and advanced imaging to dissect sex-specific cardiac physiology. Current projects focus on translating cellular findings into clinically relevant insights for sex-tailored cardiovascular therapies.