€1M Grant Fuels Breakthrough Immunotherapy for Deadly Arterial Plaques

Dr. Kai-Uwe Jarr, a cardiologist at Heidelberg University, has received €1 million in funding for groundbreaking research into atherosclerosis. The Corona Foundation's programme supports his work on immunotherapy to prevent heart attacks and strokes. His findings could change how arterial plaques are treated in the future. Atherosclerosis develops when fats, calcium, and dead cells build up inside major blood vessels. Over time, this buildup can block blood flow, leading to serious conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

Dr. Jarr's research focuses on why the immune system fails to detect and remove these dangerous plaques. His studies show that macrophages, a type of immune cell, often do not recognise or clear the plaques effectively. With the new funding, his team will test a method to reactivate these macrophages. The approach involves using targeted 'appetizers' to restore their scavenging function. The goal is to develop immunotherapy that prevents plaque-related complications before they become life-threatening. The research group, named *Immunotherapy for Atherosclerosis*, operates within Heidelberg University's Faculty of Medicine. The Corona Foundation's support will cover five years of work, aiming to translate lab findings into clinical treatments.

The €1 million grant will allow Dr. Jarr's team to advance their immunotherapy research over the next five years. If successful, their work could lead to new treatments that reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The project is part of the Corona Foundation's broader effort to fund innovative cardiovascular research.