A biodatabase for recording clinical, laboratory chemical, genetic and epigenetic characteristics of patients with coronary heart disease is being created in Linz in cooperation with the VIVIT Institute in Vorarlberg.

The TENDRING registry is an international registry that collects clinical and anatomical data from patients after ring valve implantation with the Tendyne bioprosthesis.

Clinical safety and performance of the VDyne transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement system for the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation.

Evaluation of the metabolic effects of Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy as a model for transient heart failure.

The epicardial adipose tissue lies against the heart and surrounds the coronary arteries. The physiological function of this beige/brown adipose tissue is to protect the heart from ischemia/hypoxia and hypothermia. However, the cardioprotective properties of epicardial adipose tissue are lost with aging. As part of this project, tissue samples of epicardial adipose tissue will be taken in order to isolate corresponding stem/progenitor cells. These will then be differentiated into fat cells in a 3D model in the laboratory. Molecular biological methods will be used to induce ageing processes and identify the genes responsible for this. The results should contribute to finding new possibilities for healthy ageing through cardioprotection.

Dysfunctional epicardial adipose tissue secretes a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines that negatively affect cardiac function. Since epicardial adipose tissue is not or only rudimentarily present in lower mammals, research in this area is limited. The aim of the project is therefore to isolate multipotent stem/progenitor cells from epicardial adipose tissue and to differentiate them into adipocytes and cardiomyocytes in the laboratory. A special co-culture system will be used to analyze the interactions between adipocytes and cardiomyocytes. In the future, the envisaged model will also be used to test potential active substances that promote the cardioprotective properties of epicardial adipose tissue. The envisaged in vitro system thus also represents a replacement method for animal experiments.