Team

  • Team
  • Principal Investigators
  • Postdocs
  • PhD Students
  • Lab Technicians
  • MD Students
  • Administration
  • Alumni


 

Johannes Holfeld

Contact Data

Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. univ. Johannes Holfeld
E-Mail: johannes.holfeld@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 80800
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Johannes Holfeld is the founder and head of CARE - Cardiac Regeneration Research Lab, at Innsbruck Medical University. He graduated from Medical University of Vienna (MD) and was a research fellow at the Cell Signaling Center, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas (Supervisor: nobel laureate Prof. Ferid Murad). He is a senior consultant at the Department of Cardiac Surgery and besides his clinical program lead for conventional heart failure surgery dedicated to translational research. This includes a focus on myocardial regeneration and the role of the innate immune system in cardiovascular disease. His pre-clinical research led to successful Phase II and III trials in heart failure patients, for which he acts as a PI (www.cast-trial.com).

Research Interests

  • myocardial regeneration
  • innate immunity and inflammation in cardiovascular disease

Clinical Interests

  • heart failure surgery
  • minimal invasive valve surgery

Key Publications

  • Gollmann-Tepeköylü C, Lobenwein D, Theurl M, Primessnig U, Lener D, Kirchmair E, Mathes W, Graber M, Pölzl L, An A, Koziel K, Pechriggl E, Voelkl J, Paulus P, Schaden W, Grimm M, Kirchmair R, Holfeld J.
    Shock Wave Therapy Improves Cardiac Function in a Model of Chronic Ischemic Heart Failure: Evidence for a Mechanism Involving VEGF Signaling and the Extracellular Matrix.
    J Am Heart Assoc. 2018 Oct 16;7(20):e010025. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.118.010025.
  • Holfeld J, Tepeköylü C, Reissig C, Lobenwein D, Scheller B, Kirchmair E, Kozaryn R, Albrecht-Schgoer K, Krapf C, Zins K, Urbschat A, Zacharowski K, Grimm M, Kirchmair R, Paulus P.
    Toll-like receptor 3 signalling mediates angiogenic response upon shock wave treatment of ischaemic muscle.
    Cardiovasc Res. 2016 Feb 1;109(2):331-43. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvv272.
  • Lobenwein D, Tepeköylü C, Kozaryn R, Pechriggl EJ, Bitsche M, Graber M, Fritsch H, Semsroth S, Stefanova N, Paulus P, Czerny M, Grimm M, Holfeld J.
    Shock Wave Treatment Protects From Neuronal Degeneration via a Toll-Like Receptor 3 Dependent Mechanism: Implications of a First-Ever Causal Treatment for Ischemic Spinal Cord Injury.
    J Am Heart Assoc. 2015 Oct 27;4(10):e002440. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.115.002440.
  • Huang C, Holfeld J, Schaden W, Orgill D, Ogawa R.
    Mechanotherapy: revisiting physical therapy and recruiting mechanobiology for a new era in medicine.
    Trends Mol Med. 2013 Sep;19(9):555-64. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2013.05.005. Epub 2013 Jun 18.

Nikolaos Bonaros

Contact Data

Assoc. Prof. Dr. med. univ. Nikolaos Bonaros
E-Mail: nikolaos.bonaros@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 80764
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Nikolaos Bonaros is the Deputy Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery and the Head of the Clinical Research Team within the Carelab. His clinical and academic interests focus on minimally invasive and endoscopic valve and coronary surgery and structural valve interventions. His scientific interests extend from clinical research on valvular heart and coronary artery disease to basic research on ischemic heart failure. He has a Master’s Degree on Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery and Innovation form the University of Pisa, and on Health Economics and Policy from the London School of Economics.

Research Interests

  • Minimally invasive valve surgery
  • Coronary surgery

Clinical Interests

  • mitral valve surgery
  • heart failure surgery
  • minimal invasive valve surgery

Key Publications

  • Association of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T With 30-Day and 5-Year Mortality After Cardiac Surgery. Pölzl L, Engler C, Sterzinger P, Lohmann R, Nägele F, Hirsch J, Graber M, Eder J, Reinstadler S, Sappler N, Kilo J, Tancevski I, Bachmann S, Abfalterer H, Ruttmann-Ulmer E, Ulmer H, Griesmacher A, Heuts S, Thielmann M, Bauer A, Grimm M, Bonaros N, Holfeld J, Gollmann-Tepeköylü C.

  • Predictors of safety and success in minimally invasive surgery for degenerative mitral disease. Bonaros N, Hoefer D, Oezpeker C, Gollmann-Tepeköylü C, Holfeld J, Dumfarth J, Kilo J, Ruttmann-Ulmer E, Hangler H, Grimm M, Mueller L. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2022 Feb 18;61(3):637-644.

  • Impact of myocardial injury after coronary artery bypass grafting on long-term prognosis
    Pölzl L, Thielmann M, Cymorek S, Nägele F, Hirsch J, Graber M, Sappler N, Eder J, Staggl S, Theurl F, Abfalterer H, Reinstadler SJ, Holfeld J, Griesmacher A, Ulmer H, Grimm M, Bauer A, Ruttmann-Ulmer E, Ruhparwar A, Bonaros N, Gollmann-Tepeköylü C. Eur Heart J. 2022 Jul 1;43(25):2407-2417.

Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü

Part of the team since 2009

Contact Data

Priv.-Doz. Dr. Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü, PhD
E-Mail: can.tepekoeylue@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 80466
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü is a consultant for Cardiac Surgery at the Medical University of Innsbruck with a clinical focus on heart failure surgery. He obtained a PhD in Molecular Cell Biology focusing on heart regeneration and the role of innate immunity in valve disease. He has performed done research fellowships in Taiwan and the USA. He has been the chair of the EACTS Residents Committee from 2020-202, is currently am member of the EACTS Heart Failure Task Force and serves as associate editor in the EJCTS and ICVTS.

Research Interests

  • innate immunity and inflammation in cardiovascular disease
  • perioperative myocardial infarction

Key Publications

  • Pölzl L, Thielmann M, Cymorek S, Nägele F, Hirsch J, Graber M, Sappler N, Eder J, Staggl S, Theurl F, Abfalterer H, Reinstadler SJ, Holfeld J, Griesmacher A, Ulmer H, Grimm M, Bauer A, Ruttmann-Ulmer E, Ruhparwar A, Bonaros N, Gollmann-Tepeköylü C.. Impact of myocardial injury after coronary artery bypass grafting on long-term prognosis. Eur Heart J. 2022;43:2407-2417.
  • Gollmann-Tepeköylü C, Nägele F,  Graber M, Pölzl L, Lobenwein D,  Hirsch J, An A,  Irschick R, Roehrs BT,  Kremser C, Hackl H, Huber R,  Venezia S,  Hercher D, Fritsch H, Bonaros N, Stefanova N, Tancevski I, Meyer D,  Bandtlow C,  Grimm M, Holfeld J. Toll-like receptor 3 activation by shock wave therapy induces an evolutionary conserved mechanism of regeneration in traumatic spinal cord injury. JCI Insight. 2020 Aug 6;5(15).
  • Gollmann-Tepeköylü C, Pölzl L, Graber M, Hirsch J, Nägele F, Lobenwein D, Blume MJ, Kirchmair E, Zipperle J, Hromada C, Hermann M, Förster M, Lichtenauer M, Mittermayr R, Paulus P, Fritsch H, Kirchmair R, Davidson S, Grimm M, Holfeld J. miR-19a-3p containing exosomes mediate mechanotransduction of shock waves and improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Cardiovasc Res. 2019 Aug 13.

 

Michael Graber

Part of the team since 2014

Contact Data

Dr. med. univ. Michael Graber, PhD
E-Mail: michael.graber@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 9003 71122
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Michael Graber studied Medicine at Innsbruck Medical University. Since 2016 he attends the PhD program Molecular Cell Biology at Innsbruck Medical University.

Research Interests

  • myocardial regeneration
  • ageing
  • aortic valve pathology

Key Publications

  • Tepeköylü C, Primessnig U, Pölzl L, Graber M, Lobenwein D, Nägele F, Kirchmair E, Pechriggl E, Grimm M, Holfeld J.
    Shockwaves prevent from heart failure after acute myocardial ischaemia via RNA/protein complexes.
    J Cell Mol Med. 2016 Dec 20. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.13021.
  • Tepeköylü C, Lobenwein D, Urbschat A, Graber M, Pechriggl EJ, Fritsch H, Paulus P, Grimm M, Holfeld J.
    Shock wave treatment after hindlimb ischemia results in increased perfusion and M2 macrophage presence.
    J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2016 Sep 30. doi: 10.1002/term.2317
 

Felix Nägele

Part of the team since 2015

Contact Data

Dr. med. univ. Felix Nägele
E-Mail: felix.naegele@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Felix Nägele is currently on exchange at The Houston Methodist (TX, US) with a Max Kade scholarship.

 

Research Interests

  • spinal cord regeneration
  • innate immunity
  • regeneration of the autonomic nervous system

Jakob Hirsch

Part of the team since 2016

Contact Data

Dr. med. univ. Jakob Hirsch
E-Mail: jakob.hirsch@student.i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

 

Research Interests

  • aortic valve pathology
  • small animal ultrasound imaging

Leo Pölzl

Part of the team since 2015

Contact Data

Leo Pölzl
E-Mail: leo.poelzl@student.i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

 

Research Interests

  • exosomes
  • microvesicles
  • cell culture

Dominik Hau

Part of the team since 2021

Contact Data

Dominik Hau, MSc.
E-Mail: dominik.hau@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 6818 818 429 10
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Dominik Hau obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology at the Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck. Since 2020, he is studying Molecular Cell- and Developmental Biology and joinedthe cardiac surgery research department of the Innsbruck Medical University as scientificpersonnel as well as for his master’s thesis.

Research Interests

  • resurrection of human endogenous retroviruses in cardiovascular disease 
  • radiation induced cardiac diseases
  • bioinformatics
  • immunity and inflammation
  • cardiac regeneration
  • cardiomyocyte proliferation

Sophia Lechner

Part of the team since 2020

Contact Data

Sophia Lechner, MSc.
E-Mail: sophia.lechner@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Sophia Lechner obtained her master’s degree in chemistry at the Leopold-Franzens-University in Innsbruck. Since 2021, she attends the PhD program Molecular and Cellular Biology of Diseases at the Innsbruck Medical University. She is currently on exchange at the IMBA in Vienna. 

Research Interests

  • aortic valve pathology
  • ageing
  • innate immunity and inflammation

Key Publications

  • Pölzl L, Nägele F, Hirsch J, Graber M, Lebenwein D, Kirchmair E, Huber R, Dorfmüller C,  Lechner S, Schäfer G, Hermann M, Fritsch I, Grimm M, Holfeld J, Gollmann-Tepeköylü.
    Defining a teherapeutic range for regeneration of ischemic myocardium via shock waves.
    Sci Rep 11, 409 (2021) doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79776-z 

Clemens Engler

Part of the team since 2022

Contact Data

Dr.med.univ. Clemens Engler
E-Mail: clemens.engler@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Research Interests

  • atherosclerosis
  • clinical cardiovascular research
  • clinical statistics

Lynn Muller

Part of the team since 2023

Contact Data

Lynn Muller
E-Mail: lynn.muller@vascage.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Research Interests

  • immunity and ageing
  • aortic valve pathology
  • inflammation

Elke Kirchmair

Part of the team since 2014

Contact Data

Elke Kirchmair
E-Mail: elke.kirchmair@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Veronika Niedrist

Part of the team since 2019

Contact Data

Veronika Niedrist, BSc
E-Mail: veronika.niedrist@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Sophia Schmidt

Part of the team since 2021

Contact Data

Sophia Schmidt
E-Mail: Sophia.schmidt@student.i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

 

Research Interests

  • biobanking
  • cardiac imaging
  • shock wave therapy

Jonas Eder

Part of the team since 2019

Contact Data

Jonas Eder
E-Mail: jonas.eder@student.i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

 

Research Interests

  • reverse cardiac remodelling
  • myocardial infarction
  • myocardial regeneration
  • right ventricular adaption

Berit Zellmer

Part of the team since 2021

Contact Data

Berit Zellmer
E-Mail: berit.zellmer@vascage.at
Tel: +43 512 504 81424
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

 

Research Interests

  • shock wave therapy
  • aortic valve pathology

Nathalie Zürcher

Part of the team since 2021

Contact Data

Nathalie Zürcher
E-Mail: nathalie.zürcher@student.i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

 

Research Interests

  • aortic valva pathology
  • innate immunity

Vanessa Heim

Part of the team since 2021

Contact Data

Vanessa Heim
E-Mail: vanessa.heim@student.i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 27804
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

 

Research Interests

  • aortic hemodynamics and pathology

Tina Pancheri

Part of the team since 2021

Contact Data

Tina Pancheri, BSc.
E-Mail: tina.pancheri@vascage.at
Tel: +43 50504 84526
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Innrain 66a, 5th floor
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Ruth Baldauf

Part of the team since 2021

Contact Data

Ruth Baldauf
E-Mail: ruth.baldauf@i-med.ac.at
Tel: +43 512 504 26291
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Innrain 66a, 5th floor
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Franziska Klaushofer 

Part of the team since 2023

Contact Data

Franziska Klaushofer, BA
E-Mail: franziska.klaushofer@vascage.at
Tel: +43 50504 80724
University Clinic of Cardiac Surgery
Innsbruck Medical University
Innrain 66a, 5th floor
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Dr. med. univ. Victor Schweiger

Monika Lindebner-Hubai

Siglinde Hörtnagl

Dr. med. univ.Nadja Franz

Dr. med. univ. Rosalie Huber

Dr. med. univ. Daniela Lobenwein

Dr. med. univ. Wolfgang Mathes

Katarzyna Koziel, PhD

Dr. med. univ. Radoslaw Kozaryn

Dr. med. univ. Angela An