The aim of CARDIOVASC is to provide training for early stage researchers in the specialized and highly competitive area of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) under the tutorial of highly experienced scientists in the field at the Centre for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), a multidisciplinary research and training facility at the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

Its research focus is to better understand the molecular mechanisms and the pathophysiology of CVD, the major cause of mortality in Europe, and to provide new strategies for the treatment of widespread diseases such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, and heart and renal failure.

Ultimate consequences of CVD are the damage of endorgans, e.g. the heart, kidney and the vascular wall itself. Research projects therefore apply systematic and hypothesis-driven approaches in molecular, cellular and physiological biology focusing on these organ systems.

A structured training programme with special emphasis on the integration of basic and clinical research i s provided to bundle and integrate these questions. This interdisciplinary programme brings together molecular biologists, biochemists, pharmacologists and physicians under one roof, the CCR.

Our objective is to train a new generation of scientists and clinicians with the capacity of working at the interface of genetics, developmental biology, physiology and human disease. Therefore scientists and physicians in the early stages of their careers will be educated by specialists of the different disciplines an d have the possibility of interacting across the traditional boundaries.

The training programme will be based upon three columns:
- Personalized training guaranteed by a direct supervisor and a mentor, as well as the steering committee.
- Instruments for structured training, e.g. seminars, lectures, workshops, meetings and e-cooperation.
- Regular and interactive quality control of the fellows and the supervisors.