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Welcome to the Team – Felix Mahfoud Lab!
Prof. Felix Mahfoud has been appointed Professor of Cardiology at the University of Basel and Chief of Cardiology at the University Hospital Basel. He is also Chairman of the University Heart Center Basel. His research at the DBM focuses on the autonomic nervous system and inter-organ communication in cardiovascular disease.
Felix Mahfoud is dedicated to translating his research into clinical practice, aiming to pioneer new interventional treatments for cardiovascular conditions and related risk factors, such as obesity. His work acknowledges the intertwined nature of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic risk factors such as obesity and diabetes, all of which share a common pathophysiological basis and are often exacerbated by a dysfunctional autonomic nervous system.
Together with his team, Prof. Mahfoud is investigating how modulating autonomic function can prevent cardiovascular complications, including hypertension, arrhythmias, and heart failure. Their research has shown that renal denervation, by suppressing sympathetic nerve activity, can prevent atrial fibrillation, fibrotic remodeling, and myocardial hypertrophy, independent of blood pressure reduction.
Recent studies by his team have shown that neuromodulation can also mitigate ischemic cardiomyopathy and reduce chronic myocardial fibrosis by altering cardiac macrophage composition. They have also mapped human sympathetic nerve distribution and function in the renal, carotid, and celiac arteries to identify novel therapeutic targets.
Building on these important findings, Felix Mahfoud is now investigating the feasibility of novel denervation and autonomic nervous system modulation procedures for treating cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. His work promises to advance the field of (interventional) cardiology and offer new hope to patients with complex cardiovascular conditions.