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What are you doing at ISAS, Theresa?

Dortmund, 30th March 2026

© ISAS

Theresa Pietz (26) is a technical assistant in the Cardiovascular Pharmacology research group. She joined ISAS in February 2025 after completing her master’s degree in medical biology. Among other things, the 26-year-old is working on the HI-FIVE project (see info box). She is primarily responsible for performing echocardiograms on mice. To find out more about her work on this research project, the editorial team asked her to complete the following sentences.

  • My tasks at HI-FIVE...

    have so far mainly consisted of performing echocardiograms, meaning ultrasound examinations, on the hearts of mice, recording the data and evaluating them. I work closely with our researchers, prepare the animals and carefully perform the echocardiograms to observe the morphology and function of the left ventricle over time. This allows us to investigate the effect of certain substances, such as GRK5 inhibitors, on heart function.

  • What excites me about working on this project is...

    above all, the combination of responsibility, teamwork and continuous development. I particularly like that working at HI-FIVE has enabled me to develop my echocardiography skills and work independently, while still having the support of my team whenever I need it. What motivates me a lot is the close collaboration within our research group and the interdisciplinary exchange.

  • A moment at HI-FIVE that I like to remember is...

    when I was allowed to perform the echocardiograms on my own for the first time. I was very nervous because I was responsible for taking the images correctly while also ensuring the well-being of the mice.

  • My hopes for the next phases of the project are that...

    I will be able to become more involved in the in vitro experiments with cell cultures to expand my repertoire of methodological skills. I looking forward to seeing the project develop further and to contributing towards our goals. Ultimately, I hope that our research will provide new insights that lead to the development of a new drug for people with heart failure.

(Protocol: Eske Haverkamp)

HI-FIVE

As part of the HI-FIVE research project, scientists from ISAS, Lead Discovery Center GmbH and Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW (HDZ NRW) are developing a new therapeutic approach to heart failure. The focus is on GRK5 inhibitors which target a key enzyme that becomes overactivated in cases of heart failure. The aim is to treat different forms of heart failure more effectively, particularly in patients for whom existing drugs are ineffective or insufficient. The three-year project, which started in 2025, is funded by the EU and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

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