Maria Koehne - Research Associate

I am from Germany and a physician by training. After obtaining my MD from the Ludwig-Maximillian University in Munich, I started my residency at the University heart centre at the University Medical Centre Hamburg, Eppendorf, specialising in heart surgery. During that time, I discovered my passion with basic research and cardiac tissue engineering, so I decided to swap my surgeons gown for a lab coat and obtain my PhD at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University Medical Centre Hamburg Eppendorf. In the course of my work there I focused on the generation of a tubular heart conduit as a possible therapy for Fontan patients. After the completion of my Ph.D. I wanted to shift my focus to a different subject of cardiac tissue research to expand my knowledge in the field. Therefore, I packed up my things and left Hamburg behind to start a postdoctoral position in Cambridge. Here I have the privilege to work in the Sinha lab on investigating mechanisms that can enhance the vascularisation of cardiac grafts. Outside of Science I like to spend time with my family and exploring the beautiful landscape of England.