EXC 2026:  Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI)

• Subject Area: Medicine ; Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: since 2019
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 390649896

Despite significant advances, heart and lung diseases remain the leading causes of death worldwide. In addition, the success of current therapies combined with improved long-term survival and an aging society, has changed the course of disease and created new challenges that need innovative solutions. The development of targeted therapies requires deep understanding of the complex metabolic, (epi-)genomic and proteomic changes underlying cardiopulmonary diseases and a collaborative effort to translate discoveries. The Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI) was established to address this problem, building on outstanding expertise in cardiopulmonary biology and medicine, and connecting the Universities of Giessen and Frankfurt with the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research. The CPI recognizes the cardiopulmonary system as an integrated unit, and the need to understand the dynamics between the heart, lungs and vasculature in order to identify new therapeutic opportunities. These challenges are addressed by an interdisciplinary consortium of accomplished basic scientists, translational researchers and clinicians united by the mission that precision biology drives precision medicine. To elucidate molecular mechanisms of disease at the cellular, organ and inter-organ levels, we have identified six Discovery Areas: Cellular Heterogeneity, Cellular Surveillance, Development and Regeneration, Cellular Microenvironment and Macroenvironment. The unmet medical need of heart failure associated with lung vascular disease, innervation and aging will be addressed in the Discovery Area Heart-Lung-Neuro Interdependencies. To address currently unmet challenges in cardiopulmonary diseases, we plan to explore four new fields of research that require an integrative, multidisciplinary approach across different areas. Our efforts will focus on mechanisms of disease chronification induced by somatic mutations or by acute injury or infection, that accelerate or alter disease trajectories and organ aging, together with the search for novel approaches to restore organ function. Finally, we will address sex-specific disparities in cardiopulmonary disease for the development of targeted therapeutics. Three Translational Hubs provide expertise in cardiopulmonary Disease Modeling, Systems Biology and Medicine and Precision Medicine, and facilitate the translation of basic science insights into clinical innovation. The Hubs also provide a state-of-the-art data management structure, and develop algorithms and machine learning approaches to detect patterns in large datasets and for digital translation. The CPI Academy trains the next generation of scientists and clinician-scientists, while a robust governance structure ensures equity and diversity, data integrity, and reproducibility. Finally, effective outreach strategies inform relevant stakeholders and the public. Together this will ultimately achieve our vision to improve cardiopulmonary health.

• DFG Programme: Clusters of Excellence (ExStra)
• Applicant Institution: Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
• Co-Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Participating Institution: Max-Planck-Institut für Herz- und Lungenforschung; W.G. Kerkhoff-Institut
• Spokespersons: Professorin Dr. Stefanie Dimmeler; Professorin Dr. Susanne Valerie Herold, Ph.D.
• Participating Researchers: Professor Wesley Abplanalp, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Denisa Bojkova; Professor Dr. Ralf P. Brandes; Professor Dr. Thomas Braun; Dr. Pieterjan Dierickx, Ph.D.; Dr. Gabrijela Dumbovic; Professor Elie El Agha, Ph.D.; Professorin Ingrid Fleming, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Hossein Ardeschir Ghofrani; Professorin Grazyna Kwapiszewska, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. David M. Leistner; Professorin Michaela Müller-McNicoll; Professor Dr. Christian Münch; Professor Dr. Eike Nagel; Professor Dr. Stefan Offermanns; Professorin Dr. Ana Pardo-Saganta; Professorin Dr. Soni Savai Pullamsetti; Professor Dr. Marcel Schulz; Professorin Natascha Sommer, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Samuel Sossalla; Professor Didier Y. Stainier, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Khodr Tello; Professor Dr. Norbert Weißmann