Voigt, Niels, Prof. Dr.

Professor of Molecular Pharmacology

2007: MD, Dresden University of Technology, Germany
2008-2010: Postdoc at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dresden University of Technology, Germany
2010-2012: Postdoc at the Division of Experimental Cardiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany
2012-2016: Postdoc at the Institute of Pharmacology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
Since 2016: Professor and head of the Molecular Pharmacology Group at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany

Major Research Interests
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly due to embolic stroke and heart failure. Current approaches to restore normal sinus rhythm (antiarrhythmic drugs, AF ablation) have major limitations including dissatisfying efficacy and risk of life-threatening proarrhythmic events. Therefore, we aim to unravel novel molecular mechanisms contributing to AF initiation and maintenance. In particular, we employ modern experimental techniques including cellular electrophysiology and calcium imaging to investigate atrial myocytes and tissue samples from patients undergoing open heart surgery. In addition, we utilize advanced techniques in the generation of atrial engineered heart tissue (aEHM) and modern gene editing approaches (CRISPR/Cas9) in order to develop new experimental models of AF. These approaches will provide the molecular basis for novel and patient-tailored therapeutic strategies for AF.

Homepage Department/Research Group
https://pharmacology.umg.eu/research/voigt-lab/
https://mbexc.de/
https://sfb1002.med.uni-goettingen.de/

ORCID: 0000-0001-8230-2341