Renowned Immunocardiologist Leads Charité's Heart Center Amid Major Expansion

Prof. Dr. Ingo Hilgendorf has taken charge of the Clinic for Cardiology, Angiology, and Intensive Care Medicine at the Charité's Campus Virchow Clinic (CVK). His appointment at the German Heart Center of the Charité (DHZC) began on October 1, 2025. The move follows a distinguished career in immunocardiology, with a strong focus on inflammation, heart disease, and metabolic disorders.

Hilgendorf studied human medicine at the University of Tübingen and Brown Medical School in Providence, USA. He later completed his specialist training in internal medicine and cardiology at the University Hospital Freiburg.

His research career gained momentum during a multi-year stay at Massachusetts General Hospital, part of Harvard Medical School. There, his work on inflammatory processes in cardiovascular disease shaped his academic direction. In 2017, he earned his habilitation with a thesis on The Influence of Inflammatory Cells on Atherosclerosis and Its Complications.

By 2016, Hilgendorf had become a senior physician at the University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen. He took on the role of deputy medical director in 2018 and later expanded his responsibilities across sites from 2022. His reputation grew further in 2022 when he was named W3 Heisenberg Professor for Immunocardiology at the University of Freiburg.

Hilgendorf's new position at the DHZC places him at the helm of a major institution with over 2,200 staff across eight clinics and institutes. The centre is currently navigating challenges tied to merging sites, including IT integration, process harmonisation, and preparations for a new building set to open in 2029. His ongoing research, backed by years of funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG), will continue alongside his clinical leadership.

The appointment strengthens the DHZC's focus on linking inflammation research with cardiovascular care. Hilgendorf's dual role as a W3 professor at Charité and clinic director ensures his work will span both patient treatment and scientific advancement. His leadership begins as the institution prepares for major structural and operational changes in the coming years.