Two outstanding scientists have been awarded the prestigious René Baumgart Foundation Research Prize. The award ceremony took place during the 66th Congress of the German Respiratory Society in Munich. A total of eight high-quality scientific papers were submitted and evaluated by a three-member jury. The awarded studies stood out in particular for their originality, innovation, and clinical relevance.
Dr. Fenja Knöpp was honored for her work on the role of the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Her research shows that Piezo1 plays a central role in pathological remodeling processes in the pulmonary vessels as well as in cellular aging processes within the vascular system. In experimental models, targeted deletion of Piezo1 significantly reduced vascular constriction and vascular remodeling. The findings suggest that Piezo1 could be a promising target for future therapies for pulmonary hypertension.
Dr. Athiththan Yogeswaran was recognized for an international registry analysis on pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease. The study demonstrated that pulmonary vascular resistance is a key prognostic factor for survival. Furthermore, the analysis showed that treatment with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors was associated with improved survival in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, particularly in combination with inhaled prostacyclins. The results provide an important foundation for future clinical studies and potential new treatment options.
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare and severe disease of the pulmonary vessels that can lead to right heart failure and ultimately death. Despite significant advances in diagnosis and therapy, the disease is still not curable. This highlights the importance of continued research in this field, to which DZL scientists contribute significantly.
The René Baumgart Foundation was established in 2001 and has awarded an annual research prize since 2004 to support clinical research in pulmonary hypertension in children and adults. The foundation’s goal is to advance research into the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of pulmonary hypertension and to help develop improved treatment options in the long term.
