The German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) established a DZHK Patient Advisory Board on November 25, 2024. To set up the advisory board, the members came together for a constituent meeting. The task of the advisory board is to actively incorporate the perspectives and experiences of patients into cardiovascular research.

“The establishment of the patient advisory board is an important step towards integrating the perspectives of patients more closely into our research,” emphasizes DZHK board member Prof. Dr. Steffen Massberg. ”The participation of patients in the advisory board is a great enrichment for the DZHK. Their commitment gives us the opportunity to align our activities even better with the actual needs of those affected.”

Aims and tasks of the Patient Advisory Board

The DZHK Patient Advisory Board is composed of people from different backgrounds and with different experiences of illness who are actively committed to cardiovascular research. The tasks of the advisory board include, among other things:

• advising the DZHK on patient communication issues,
• providing feedback on patient-friendly study design, and
• strengthening patient participation and facilitating access to studies.

An opportunity to help shape research

Participation in the Patient Advisory Board offers patients and their relatives the opportunity to actively participate in the design of cardiovascular research. Their experiences and perspectives can be incorporated directly into the work of the DZHK to make research and care more patient-centered.