Francesco Paneni Awarded ERC Consolidator Grant
Prof. Dr. med. Francesco Paneni, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Zurich, has been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant for his project BETonSTRESS. The project explores how early-life stress triggers epigenetic changes that lead to cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Early-life stress, caused by experiences such as violence, neglect, or trauma, is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. However, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. Prof. Francesco Paneni’s project, BETonSTRESS, focuses on how epigenetic reader proteins, particularly BET proteins, are affected by stress and whether they can serve as therapeutic targets for stress-related cardiovascular diseases. The project aims to identify new approaches for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
The project is funded through the highly competitive ERC Consolidator Grant program, which received a record 3,121 applications this year, with only about 11% successful. The University of Zurich stood out with nine funded projects.
The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Zurich warmly congratulates Prof. Paneni on this outstanding achievement and acknowledges his contribution to cutting-edge research in cardiovascular medicine.
Sources: Universität Zürich, ERC