Publication of one of our projects in Nature Cardiovascular Research
In this study, we show that overactivation of CAMK2D underlies the disease phenotype of patients with pathogenic RBM20 variants. What’s more, we could show that this is targetable, and that pharmacological CAMK2 inhibition rescues cardiac dysfunction in a pre-clinical model of RBM20 cardiomyopathy.
Our data position CAMK2D inhibition as the first mechanism-based therapeutic approach for DCM.
Lab-outing 2026 - Bowling and Indian food!
To celebrate our successes and have some fun outside the lab, we went bowling and had indian food after. Let's just say, it's good none of us aspired to be a professional bowler :)
Our collaborative research consortium has been granted funding for an additional 4 years!
Priyanka has secured a DGK Research Stipendium of €50.000! Congrats to her!
Publication of a one of our projects in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine
Even though Priyanka has only been a year in our lab, she really pushed this project to the finish line. This study is important, because it shows that purely loss-of-function of RBM20 also leads to disease, especially to an increased arrhythmic burden. RBM20 expression modulation, either in RBM20 cardiomyopathy with more severe RS-domain mutation or in cardiometabolic disease to increase compliance of the ventricle, should be carefully considered and monitored.
At this year's DZHK partnersite retreat, Zakiya won first prize for her scientific poster. Congrats!
David successfully defended his thesis, and is up for a Summa cum laude!
This year's lab Retreat in Sigmaringen, where Elena, Zakiya, and Tianshu presented their projects!
Our new Leica MICA has arrived!
Happy holidays!
Secret Santa after labmeeting
Visit to the Christmas market in Heidelberg
Visit to the Christmas market in Heidelberg
We have a joined labmeeting with the Beisaw lab, and after labmeeting we had Secret Santa for the first time. A good time was had by all!
Visit to the Christmas market in Heidelberg
Visit to the Christmas market in Heidelberg
Visit to the Christmas market in Heidelberg
Together with the Beisaw lab, on December 9th we visited the Heidelberg Christmas market for some gluhwein and Hot Pot afterwards. Javier (far right) from the Backs lab has been collaborating with us for a long time, and also joined us :).
Acceptance of manuscript at the American Journal of Physiology
David's manuscript on sex and gender differences has been accepted at the American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology! Congrats, David!
You can find the manuscript here.
Lab attends RBM20 cardiomyopathy congress at EMBL
On Oct 13th, Zakiya, Fabian, and Maarten visited the EMBL to attend a congress on RBM20 cardiomyopathy