Univ.-Prof. Dr. Verena M. Dirsch

Photo of Verena M. Dirsch


Research

Aims of our research are (i) to understand the molecular mechanisms of natural products or natural product analogs at the cellular level and (ii) to identify new natural product or analogs with biological activity in collaboration with mainly phytochemical groups that use in silico tools or provide ethnopharmacological knowledge.
The cellular models currently used in our lab focus on the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Main targets of interest are nuclear receptors and transcription factors. Phenotypic assays include e.g. the quantification of endothelial nitric oxide, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation or macrophage cholesterol efflux.