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Cardiometabolic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity-related disorders, are major global health concerns affecting millions of people. These conditions often lead to cardiomyopathies, contributing to heart muscle dysfunction and significantly increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications such as heart attacks and strokes. What makes these diseases particularly challenging is their insidious nature, often progressing silently without early symptoms. Even when the heart appears to be functioning normally, underlying damage to the heart tissue can be occurring, making early detection crucial for effective intervention.

My research leverages advanced, non-invasive imaging techniques, particularly MRI and quantitative tissue phenotyping, to uncover hidden myocardial changes and disease mechanisms that are often undetectable through conventional methods. The "Beyond the Surface" project utilizes cutting-edge imaging tools—such as ultrahigh-field 7T human scanners and preclinical 9.4T systems—enabling "virtual biopsies" that detect subtle alterations in cardiac and other tissues. This multidisciplinary approach integrates MRI, AI-enhanced analysis, metabolomics, and advanced optical imaging to decode complex metabolic patterns and mitochondrial health, offering insights into the development and etiology of chronic cardiometabolic diseases.

By incorporating data from the German National Cohort, which provides valuable insights into disease progression, and back-translating human findings into animal models, we bridge critical gaps in knowledge. This research uncovers early fibrosis, vascular remodeling, and metabolic shifts that precede clinical symptoms, driving the development of predictive models and personalized diagnostic approaches. Ultimately, this work aims to improve early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies for cardiometabolic diseases, potentially improving outcomes for millions of patients worldwide.