Dortmund, 30th April 2026
Looking at the heart from the thyroid – until recently, Dr Susanne Camilla Grund and fellow researchers were investigating how thyroid hormones affect heart attacks. At the HI-FIVE project, the postdoctoral researcher is now learning more about the heart from a new perspective.
Dr Susanne Grund is using an electron microscope to examine cardiomyocytes generated from stem cells.
© ISAS
For Dr Susanne Grund, a typical day in the lab involves experiments that she carries out in vitro (in test tubes) and in vivo (in living organisms). The 36-year-old works with human stem cells, to name one example. “We generate heart muscle cells from stem cells, for instance. Then, we expose these to various GRK5 inhibitors and observe the reaction within the cells”, the biologist explains. The findings provide insights into how the various substances influence the signalling pathways of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRK).
“Every little piece of the puzzle that leads to improved heart health will help humanity – and ultimately the healthcare system. For me, it’s exciting to contribute to this
HI-FIVE includes experiments with mice suffering from systolic or diastolic heart failure. Depending on the age, sex and severity of the heart failure, Grund and her colleagues are investigating how GRK5 inhibitors affect the animals’ heart function and physical performance. They use echocardiography (heart ultrasound) to assess the heart’s pumping function, for example.
(Isabell Klitzsch)
HI-FIVE
A new therapeutic approach to heart failure – this is what researchers and physicians at HI-FIVE are working on. The aim of this collaborative project is to enable more precise treatment of heart failure in the future. The project ‘HI-FIVE – GRK5 inhibitors for the treatment of various heart failure entities’ started in July 2025. The North Rhine-Westphalia state government and the European Union are funding the three-year research project with approximately 2.1 million euros.
