The DZHK consists of 25 partner institutions at six partner sites (by 2025: seven partner sites). The members of the DZHK cover the entire spectrum of cardiovascular research at a world class level. The partner institutions include 17 university clinics and universities as well as centres of the Helmholtz Association, Leibniz and Max Planck Institutes and a federal departmental research institution.

In cardiovascular research, research has already achieved a great deal in recent years so further progress can be expected in incremental steps. This requires ever larger studies, patient registers and biobanks. This can be implemented much better in a national centre than in many small individual institutions. 

At the DZHK's six partner sites, more than 2,400 scientists are now uniting their expertise.