Prof. Dr. Steffen Massberg is Director of the Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I and an internationally renowned scientist in the field of cardiovascular research. His work has contributed significantly to the understanding of the interactions between thrombosis, immunity and inflammation and has opened up new perspectives for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Prof. Massberg combines basic research with clinical translation and drives interdisciplinary research programs as well as large national and international collaborative projects. His research has been published in leading journals and has received numerous awards. In addition to his scientific work, he is intensively involved in the promotion of young scientists and the establishment of sustainable research structures.

Prizes and awards:

- 2024: Paul Morawitz Prize, DGK

- 2019: ERC Advanced Grant (Horizon 2020)

- 2012: Basic Science Award, DGK

- 2011: Martin Villar Haemostasis Prize Award, Spain

- 2006: Hermann Rein Award of the German Society of Microcirculation and Vascular Biology

- 2006: Arthur Weber Award, DGK

- 2005: Heisenberg Scholarship, DFG

Activities in the scientific system

- since 2023: Establishment and supervision of the LMU Cardiovascular Science Ph.D. Program

- since 2020: Board member of the DZHK

- since 2019: Founding director of the ICON LMU research building

- 2019 - 2024: Spokesperson of the DFG-funded Clinician Scientist Program PRIME

- since 2016: Member of the Board of the Munich Clinician Scientist Program (MCSP), LMU

- since 2012: Reviewer for the German Research Foundation (DFG)

- since 2011: DZHK board member and member of the Research Coordinating Committee (RCC) of the "Munich Heart Alliance" of the DZHK

- since 2010: Founding member of the "Munich Heart Alliance" (DZHK partner site Munich)

- 2011 - 2023: Deputy spokesperson (2012-2016) and PI of the SFB 914

Publications:

1. Gaertner F, [...], Massberg S. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells control homeostasis of megakaryopoiesis. Nature. 2024;631(8021):645-653. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07671-y.*

2 Stark K, [...], Massberg S. Antibodies and complement are key drivers of thrombosis. Immunity. 2024;57(9):2140-2156.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.08.007.

3. Thienel M, [...], Massberg S, Petzold T. Immobility-associated thromboprotection is conserved across mammalian species from bear to human. Science. 2023;380(6641):178-187. doi: 10.1126/science.abo5044.

4. Petzold T, [...], Massberg S. Neutrophil "plucking" on megakaryocytes drives platelet production and boosts cardiovascular disease. Immunity. 2022;55(12):2285-2299.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.10.001.

5 Gaertner F, [...], Massberg S. Migrating Platelets Are Mechano-scavengers that Collect and Bundle Bacteria. Cell. 2017;171(6):1368-1382.e23. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.11.001.*

6. Sibbing D, [...], Massberg S. Guided de-escalation of antiplatelet treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (TROPICAL-ACS): a randomized, open-label, multicentre trial. Lancet. 2017;390(10104):1747-1757. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32155-4.

7. Stark K, [...], Massberg S. Capillary and arteriolar pericytes attract innate leukocytes exiting through venules and 'instruct' them with pattern-recognition and motility programs. Nat Immunol. 2013;14(1):41-51. doi: 10.1038/ni.2477.

8 Echtler K, [...], Massberg S. Platelets contribute to postnatal occlusion of the ductus arteriosus. Nat Med. 2010;16(1):75-82. doi: 10.1038/nm.2060.

9.Massberg S., [...], Engelmann B. Reciprocal coupling of coagulation and innate immunity via neutrophil serine proteases. Nat Med. 2010;16(8):887-96. doi: 10.1038/nm.2184.

10 Massberg S., [...], von Andrian UH. Immunosurveillance by hematopoietic progenitor cells trafficking through blood, lymph, and peripheral tissues. Cell. 2007;131(5):994-1008. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2007.09.047.*

Patents:

- #WO03069339: Method for generating recombinant human platelets for identifying therapeutic target proteins

- #WO03104282: Immunoadhesin comprising a glycoprotein VI (GPVI) domain

- #EP1369128: Inhibitors of glycoprotein VI and their therapeutic use