The DZHK consists of 31 partner institutions at 7 partner sites. The members of the DZHK cover the entire spectrum of cardiovascular research at a world class level. The partner institutions include 14 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 seven partner sites, more than 1,400 scientists are now uniting their expertise.