Oskar Lapp Research Prize for Graz-based heart scientist

Mahmoud Abdellatif, MD PhD, who is employed in the Department of Cardiology at the Medical University in Graz, Austria, studied the effect of cardiac IGF1 receptor activation in mice. It was found that low IGF1 signaling activity improves myocardial metabolism and function in the aging heart. Conversely, increased IGF1 levels were detected in patients with heart failure. Mahmoud Abdellatif said, "The study provides important insights into the crucial fine regulation of the cardiac IGF1 signaling pathway for the prevention of heart disease." Future studies must now show whether specific treatment strategies could prevent age-related heart disease by inhibiting the IGF1 pathway.

"The awardee’s study gives great hope that there will soon be a treatment option to stop age-related heart disease. I am very proud that the Oskar Lapp Foundation is helping to explore it", said Andreas Lapp, member of the  Lapp entrepreneurial family.

Every two years, an Oskar Lapp Fellowship is also awarded, with up to 20,000 euros for material resources. The funding period is up to two years. This year, the scholarship went to Dr. Richard Schell from Heidelberg University Hospital, who is researching mechanisms of acute heart failure.

About the Oskar Lapp Foundation

The Oskar Lapp Foundation has been committed to cardiovascular research since 1992. It was established in memory of the entrepreneur Oskar Lapp, who died of a heart attack. The foundation is one of the most important supporters of young scientists in the field of cardiovascular research in Germany.

Every year, the Oskar Lapp Foundation, in cooperation with the German Society of Cardiology (DGK), awards young scientists for outstanding work in the field of cardiovascular research. It provides pacemaker services to promote young talent in a targeted manner. The Oskar Lapp Research Prize is endowed with 12,000 euros.

Foundation members

In addition to the Lapp entrepreneurial family, the board of trustees of the Oskar Lapp Foundation includes Prof. Dr. Roderich C. Thümmel (lawyer), Prof. Dr. Thomas Nordt (Medical Director, Klinikum Stuttgart, Katharinenhospital), Konstantinos Papoutsis (Managing Director of the German Society for Cardiology – Cardiovascular Research e.V.) and Thomas Fuhrmann (Mayor of the state capital Stuttgart).

You would like to donate?

The donation account of the Oskar Lapp Foundation is:
IBAN: DE68 6005 0101 0002 0760 87
BIC: SOLADEST600.