PD Dr. hum. biol. Zouhair Aherrahrou

• Molecular genetics of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction with focus on cardiovascular calcification
• Genetics of cardiovascular disease in mouse models
• In-silico and traditional QTL analysis
• In-vivo/ex-vivo/in-vitro functional analysis to understand the underlying pathomechanisms leading to atherosclerosis and calcification.

2013-ongoing

Deputy Director at the Institute of Integrative and Experimental Genomics, IIEG, University of Luebeck

2008-2013

Preparation for the cumulative Habilitation in cardiovascular calcification, Medizinische Klinik II, UKSH Luebeck

2005-2008

Postdoctoral research fellow and group leader position, Medizinische Klinik II, UKSH Luebeck

2002

Certificate in Mouse Genetics , Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

2001-2004

Doctoral degree, Medizinische Klinik II, UKSH Luebeck Title: „Histological and molecular genetic analysis of mice with genetic predisposition to dystrophic cardiac calcification in response to injury“

1978-1998

Advance postgraduate studies in Bio-Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China

1994-1997

Master Degree of Science in Bio-Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China

1993-1994

Chinese language certificate, Nanjing Normal University Nanjing, China

1986-1991

Bachelor Degree in Biology, University Sidi Med Ben Abdellah, Fes, Morocco

• Nationales Genomforschungsnetz (NGFN)
• Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung E.V (DZHK)
• Transatlantic Networks of Excellence (Leduq Fondation)

• The role of Dysclac1 in vascular calcification J14-2003 (2003-2004)
• Coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. Sub-project: Genetic of coronary morphology 01GS0418 (2005-2008)
• Cardiovascular genome research – From Gene to Function (2008-2009)
• The role of Nexilin in dilated cardiomyopathy NCCR 2.1 (2011-2015)

1. Aherrahrou R, Kulle AE, Alenina N, Werner R, Vens-Cappell S, Bader M, Schunkert H, Erdmann J, Aherrahrou Z. CYP17A1 deficient XY mice display susceptibility to atherosclerosis, altered lipidomic profile and atypical sex development. Sci Rep. 2020 May 29;10(1):8792. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65601-0.
   
   
2. Bauer C, le Saux O, Pomozi V, Aherrahrou R, Kriesen R, Stölting S, Liebers A, Kessler T, Schunkert H, Erdmann J, Aherrahrou Z. Etidronate prevents dystrophic cardiac calcification by inhibiting macrophage aggregation. Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 11;8(1):5812. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-24228-y.
   
   
3. Pomozi V, Brampton C, van de Wetering K, Zoll J, Calio B, Pham K, Owens JB, Marh J, Moisyadi S, Váradi A, Martin L, Bauer C, Erdmann J, Aherrahrou Z, Le Saux O. Pyrophosphate Supplementation Prevents Chronic and Acute Calcification in ABCC6-Deficient Mice. Am J Pathol. 2017 Jun;187(6):1258-1272. doi:10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.02.009.
   
   
4. Segura-Puimedon M, Mergia E, Al-Hasani J, Aherrahrou R, Stoelting S, Kremer F, Freyer J, Koesling D, Erdmann J, Schunkert H, de Wit C, Aherrahrou Z. Proatherosclerotic Effect of the α1-Subunit of Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase by Promoting Smooth Muscle Phenotypic Switching. Am J Pathol. 2016 Aug;186(8):2220-2231. doi:10.1016/j.ajpath.2016.04.010.
   
   
5. Aherrahrou Z, Schlossarek S, Stoelting S, Klinger M, Geertz B, Weinberger F, Kessler T, Aherrahrou R, Moreth K, Bekeredjian R, Hrabě de Angelis M, Just S, Rottbauer W, Eschenhagen T, Schunkert H, Carrier L, Erdmann J. Knock-out of nexilin in mice leads to dilated cardiomyopathy and endomyocardial fibroelastosis. Basic Res Cardiol. 2016 Jan;111(1):6. doi:10.1007/s00395-015-0522-5.