Nuclear-Cardiology

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Ulrike Hendgen-Cotta received her Diploma in 2004 from the Ruhr University Bochum in Biology with the specialization in Parasitology and Neurobiochemistry. She performed her diploma thesis with focus on the insect vector of Chagas Disease. In 2008 she earned her Dr. rer. nat. at the University Essen-Duisburg, Faculty of Biology, under the mentorship of Prof. Rassaf and Prof. Bayer with the thesis „Myoglobin-mediated reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide: Impact on the myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Since 2009 she joined the RWTH Aachen, Department of Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology and the University Hospital Düsseldorf, Department for Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology, as the Experimental Leader of the Heisenberg-Group of Prof. Rassaf and as Head of the Cardiology Lab since 2010. In August 2015, she moved to the University Hospital Essen where she is currently Head of the CardioScienceLabs at the Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine and Principal Investigator. In 2017 Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Hendgen-Cotta obtained habilitation and venia legendi in Experimental Cardiology („Impact of Nitrite and Nitrate on Pathological and Aged-related Alterations of the Cardiovascular System“).

My lab aims to integrate physiological, pharmacological, biochemical and molecular techniques to study basic and translational aspects relating to the physiopathology and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Particular interest is on myocardial injury in ischemia/reperfusion and cancer therapy with main focus on regulation of mitochondrial energetics and integrity, calcium cycle, nitric oxide metabolism, associated BNIP3 signal transduction mechanisms and posttranslational protein modification as tractable therapeutic targets.

Find a list of my publications at Pubmed

Currently, Stephan is examining the mechanisms of mitochondrial structural and functional damage related to cancer-therapy to find new ways to protect mitochondria from perturbation and people from developing heart failure.

With his expertise in invasive and non-invasive cardiac imaging, he is key researcher in the small-animal ultrasound facility of the CardioScienceLabs.

• German Research Foundation grant DFG HE 6317/2-1 – Ulrike Hendgen-Cotta (Nitrite-induced protection of mitochondria in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion-injury)
• Jürgen Manchot Stiftung for Jacqueline Heinen-Weiler (Identification and characterization of the ultrastructural damage of mitochondria in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury)
• Medical Faculty of University of Duisburg-Essen funding UMEA Junior Clinician Scientist Program for Stephan Settelmeier
• German Research Foundation funding UMEA Clinician Scientist Program for Stephan Settelmeier
• Medical Faculty of University of Duisburg-Essen funding W.I.R. (Winterseminar Interdisziplinär Reloaded) for Stephan Settelmeier (Investigating the in vivo biodistribution of a novel peptide tracer)

Find a list of my publications at Pubmed