Special Interview with Prof. Maik Gollasch from University Medicine Greifswald

From April 11 to 13, 2025, the 2nd Conference on Vascular Homeostasis and Diseases & the 10th Scientific Meeting of the Asian Society for Vascular Biology took place in Shenzhen, China. The event focused on recent advances and key issues in vascular biology.

At the meeting, Prof. Maik Gollasch from University Medicine Greifswald delivered the Tony J.F. Lee Memorial Lecture, titled “Hands full with Hypertension”, where he explored new insights into the molecular mechanisms of vascular dysfunction in hypertension, emphasizing the role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and potential novel therapeutic targets for resistant hypertension.

As the official supporting journal of the conference, Vessel Plus invited Prof. Gollasch for an exclusive interview to share his thoughts on recent research developments, emerging challenges in vascular science, and opportunities for innovation in clinical and translational medicine.

Interview questions:

1. Could you share the most significant recent findings from your research on vascular regulation? How might these impact clinical therapies?
2. Having contributed to international guidelines, which underappreciated risk factors in vascular health do you believe deserve more attention from both clinicians and the public?
3. With hypertension rates rising globally, how can your findings on adipocyte-vascular crosstalk inform population-level interventions, particularly in low-resource settings?
4. What do you see as the biggest challenge in vascular disease research today? Can emerging technologies like AI help address it?
5. How does University Medicine Greifswald foster interdisciplinary collaboration in vascular research? What advice would you give early-career scientists in this field?

Brief Introduction

Prof. Maik Gollasch, MD, PhD

• Full Professor of Medicine/Geriatrics, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
• Director and Chair, Department of Internal Medicine D- Geriatrics, Greifswald
• Chief Physician, Geriatric Medicine Center, District Hospital Wolgast, Germany

Prof. Maik Gollasch is a distinguished physician-scientist specializing in cardiovascular physiology and translational medicine. He is currently affiliated with University Medicine Greifswald in Germany, where he leads innovative research in vascular biology, ion channel regulation, and hypertension.

He earned both his medical degree and PhD in physiology, and has developed an international reputation for his groundbreaking work on vascular smooth muscle function, mitochondrial signaling, and the role of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) in blood pressure regulation and endothelial function. His research bridges basic mechanistic insights with clinical application, contributing to the development of novel therapies for cardiovascular diseases.

Prof. Gollasch has published extensively in high-impact journals such as Circulation Research, Hypertension, and The Journal of Physiology. His work has been supported by major funding bodies, including the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the European Union. In addition to his research, he is actively involved in academic mentorship and serves on the Editorial Boards of several peer-reviewed journals.

Through his ongoing efforts, Prof. Gollasch continues to play a key role in shaping the field of cardiovascular translational research, both in Germany and internationally.

Editor: Ada Chen
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully submitted by the Editorial Office of Vessel Plus