Ludwig-Maximilians University

Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich [LMU], (Hospitals of the University of Munich [KUM]) LMU is the leading teaching and research university in Germany, ranking 1st in Germany in the latest Times Higher Education World University Ranking.

Along with the neighbouring Max-Planck, Helmholtz, and Technical University institutions, it can be regarded as a major European science hub. LMU is a large beneficiary of the German excellence initiative, and has been awarded more than 35 ERC grants.

Under FP7, LMU was the recipient of 226 grants, 57 of which are/were located at the University Hospital.

Drs. Kääb and Sinner have a long-standing expertise in the conduction of epidemiological studies in the field of AF. Together, they have described laboratory-based risk factors for AF including B-type natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein, and liver transaminases, and also has established a community-based risk score to predict the occurrence of AF. Both spearheaded a series of genome-wide association studies and follow-up studies describing so far 12 genome-wide significant susceptibility loci for AF. Most currently, work is under revision establishing additional 5 associated variants, which are also analyzed functionally to resolve the pathophysiological importance.

Dr. Wakili is an experienced senior scientist with particular expertise in the study of microRNAs. He has characterized several such microRNAs in relation to AF, which is mediated by atrial fibrosis. Most recently, his focus is the development of peripherally measurable microRNA to estimate atrial fibrosis a mechanism causing AF. The scientific team is embedded into a well-established research community with top-level expertise (Dr. Müller) in the statistical analyses of genetic and non-genetic data, as well as a state-of-the-art genotyping facility providing all aspects in genotyping and sequencing technology. Clinically, Drs. Kääb, Sinner, and Wakili run a systematic, large AF clinic. Annually, around 350 new AF patients are recruited; about 200 patients / year receive ablation therapy for their disease.

Beyond AF, the arrhythmia clinic specifically focuses on arrhythmias in the context of structural heart disease. Also Drs. Kääb and Beckmann run a dedicated outpatient clinic for inherited arrhythmia syndromes, which is among the largest in the country.

Stefan Kääb

Stefan is a professor of Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich. He is a translational scientist and section chief of Clinical and Experimental Electrophysiology and Cardiogenetics with broad research expertise in AF and sudden cardiac death. A special focus is on improving pathophysiological concepts aiming at individualised and personalised strategies for preventing, diagnosing and treating cardiac arrhythmias.

Moritz Sinner

Moritz is an assistant professor working in electrophysiology at the University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, where he is the research group leader of cardiovascular epidemiology and genetic epidemiology of cardiac arrhythmias. He has participated and coordinated several studies elucidating the complex genetic background of AF, including genome-wide analyses.

Reza Wakili

Reza is a cardiologist and interventional electrophysiologist at the University of Munich. As a staff physician at the Department of Cardiology he is specialised in interventional therapy of arrhythmias. His research focus lies in clinical and translational research in the field of electrophysiology and heart failure.