Holger Gerhardt

Professor Holger Gerhardt is DZHK Professor for Experimental Cardiovascular Research at the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Head of the Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory at Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin-Buch. He also serves as Vice-spokesperson of the DZHK Partnersite Berlin, Speaker of the DZHK Professors, and holds a Professorship at the Berlin Institute of Health. Additionally, he is the European coordinator for the Fondation Leducq transatlantic network of excellence ATTRACT and a member of the DZHK Board of Directors since July 2024.

Professor Gerhardt's research focuses on unraveling the fundamental principles and molecular/genetic regulation of functional vascular network formation in development and disease. His work aims to advance understanding of mechanisms controlling the formation and patterning of vascular networks to inform therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular complications and tissue homeostasis restoration. He has made key discoveries including the mechanism of vascular lumen formation by inverse membrane blebbing under blood pressure, the identification of a phase transition in Notch signaling dynamics that switch blood vessel formation from branching to expansion, a role for YAP/TAZ signaling in controlling junctional dynamics and plasticity, and a role of primary cilia in endothelial cells sensitizing nascent vessels to the stabilizing activity of BMP under blood flow.

His publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on vascular biology, angiogenesis, and cardiovascular research, with recent work expanding into areas such as bone healing, renal fibrosis, and immune-metabolic crosstalk in cardiovascular disease. His research combines advanced imaging techniques, genetic manipulation, and computational modeling to address fundamental questions in vascular development and disease.

• Chair Gordon Research Conference Angiogenesis (2015)
• Hooke Medal of the British Society for Cell Biology (2012)
• Judah Folkman Award of the North American Vascular Biology Organization (2011)
• Walter Flemming Medal of the German Society for Cell Biology (2009)
• Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine Prize (2008)

Professor Gerhardt actively mentors PhD students and leads a research team at the Max-Delbrück Center. His laboratory receives funding from various sources including the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) and the Fondation Leducq. He collaborates extensively with researchers across Europe and internationally, particularly through the ATTRACT network. The Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory maintains state-of-the-art facilities for in vivo imaging, genetic manipulation, and computational modeling. The lab is part of the vibrant research community at the Max-Delbrück Center and collaborates closely with clinicians at the Charité hospital to translate basic research findings into potential clinical applications.