Holger Gerhardt

Professor Gerhardt is DZHK Professor for Experimental Cardiovascular Research at the Charité Berlin and Head of the Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory at Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch. Research focus The Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory aims to unravel the fundamental principles and molecular/genetic regulation of functional vascular network formation in development and disease. The ultimate goal of Professor Gerhardt’s group’s research is the advancement of our understanding of mechanisms and molecules controlling the formation and patterning of a hierarchically branched vascular network such that we can inform, innovate and implement therapeutic approaches to mitigate cardiovascular complications and establish or restore tissue homeostasis in compromised patients. In their research efforts, the research group focuses on unraveling how endothelial cells collectively integrate mechanical and chemical stimuli to achieve functional vascular patterning and pave the way towards translational research into maladaptive behavior in disease. To study these processes, the Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory develops and uses genetic tools to image and manipulate molecules, complexes, and cells in a spatiotemporal controlled manner in vivo in mouse and zebrafish models. Professor Gerhardt’s group further uses iteration between predictive computational modeling and experimentation to develop hypotheses and systems-level understanding of the processes at play. Key findings of the past few years include the discovery of the mechanism of vascular lumen formation by inverse membrane blebbing under blood pressure, the identification of a phase transition in Notch signaling dynamics that switch blood vessel formation from branching to expansion, a role for YAP/TAZ signaling in controlling junctional dynamics and plasticity to enable endothelial cell rearrangements while keeping vessels tight, and a role of primary cilia in endothelial cells sensitizing nascent vessels to the stabilizing activity of BMP under blood flow. Additionally, Professor Gerhardt is the Vice-spokesperson of the DZHK Partnersite Berlin and Speaker of the DZHK Professors. He also holds a Professorship at the Berlin Institute of Health and is the European coordinator for the Fondation Leducq transatlantic network of excellence ATTRACT.