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DZHK Principal Investigator Derk Frank is the new Clinic Director at Campus Kiel


Prof. Dr. Derk Frank has been the new director of the Clinic for Internal Medicine III at Campus Kiel. | © UKSH


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At the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Prof. Dr. Derk Frank has been the new director of the Clinic for Internal Medicine III, focusing on cardiology, angiology and internal intensive care medicine since October 1. Previously, he was the acting director of the clinic for two years. Prof. Frank has been Principal Investigator at the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) since 2015 and Deputy Spokesperson for the DZHK partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck since 2020.

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In addition to interventional cardiology, his scientific interests lie in the study of myocardial hypertrophy. In particular, translational aspects of the so-called reverse remodelling of the myocardium after valve therapy are the goal of his research. For example, he has made progress in biomarker development with the help of a biobank he has set up with patients with high-grade aortic valve stenosis.

Prof. Frank studied medicine in Göttingen with stays abroad in Boston and Zurich and received his doctorate from the Georg-August University in Göttingen. In 2003, he began further training as an internist and cardiologist at Heidelberg University Hospital. As a resident, he received the Young Investigator Award from Heidelberg University and the Hengstberger Research Fellowship from the German Society of Cardiology. In 2010, he moved to the Kiel Campus as a specialist, where he has been a senior physician since 2011 and later a senior consultant. His clinical focus is on interventional cardiology with a focus on catheter-based valve therapy and the care of critically ill patients.

Prof. Frank is concerned with further developing innovative, minimally invasive interventions for structural heart disease. In addition, he would like to expand further interdisciplinary clinical and scientific collaborations within the Heart Center to optimize the comprehensive care of patients with complex heart diseases.

Source: Press release of the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein