von Healing lab
Metabolische Kardiologie
Prof. von Haehling and his team investigate the interactions between cardiac dysfunction, skeletal muscle, metabolism, and cognitive function. A particular focus is placed on sarcopenia and muscle wasting, as the loss of muscle strength and muscle mass significantly affects physical capacity, independence, and prognosis. Current research investigates biomarkers of muscle wasting and demonstrates that the regulation of microRNA-22-3p differs between age-related and disease-associated sarcopenia.
Another key research area is energy metabolism in heart failure. The team particularly investigates iron deficiency, mitochondrial function, and the utilization of ketone bodies as an alternative energy substrate. In the FAIR-HFpEF interventional study, the research group demonstrated that intravenous iron administration can significantly improve walking distance in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and iron deficiency. In addition, the team explores the relationships between metabolic disorders, physical performance, and cognitive impairment within the framework of the heart–brain axis.
In cardio-oncology, the research group investigates how cancer and its treatment affect the heart, skeletal muscle, and metabolism. The main areas of focus include physical exercise capacity, cardiac and skeletal muscle wasting, and biomarkers for the early detection of adverse changes. Recent studies demonstrate associations between cardiac wasting, dysregulation of the GH–IGF-I axis, and elevated cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with advanced cancer.
Team
secretariat
- telephone: +49 551 3964250
- fax: +49 551 3920918
- e-mail address: anja.janssen(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
Assistant
contact information
- telephone: +49 551 3964250
- fax: +49 551 3920918
- e-mail address: anja.janssen(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
Project Management
contact information
- telephone: +49 551 3965191
- fax: +49 551 3962524
- e-mail address: tania.garfiasveitl(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
- location: 4.B4 621
contact information
- telephone: +49 551 3968397
- e-mail address: christoph.gertler(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
Research Staff
contact information
- telephone: +49 551 3968133
- e-mail address: breno.wozne(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
Medical Doctors
contact information
- telephone: +49 551 3968990
- e-mail address: guglielmo.fibbi(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
contact information
- telephone: +49 551 68133
- e-mail address: mirela.vatic(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
Clinical Research Unit
contact information
- telephone: +49 551 3965047
- e-mail address: zahra.gholizadeh(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
PhD Students
Best Publications
Vatic M, et al.
Aging Cell. 2025;24. doi:10.1111/acel.70284.
von Haehling S, et al.
J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2025;16. doi:10.1002/jcsm.13841
von Haehling S, et al.
Eur Heart J. 2024;45:3789–3800. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehae479.
Anker MS, et al.
Eur J Heart Fail. 2025;27:1047–1055. doi:10.1002/ejhf.3497.
Fröhlich AK, et al.
Clin Res Cardiol. 2025;114:1118–1132. doi:10.1007/s00392-024-02400-x.