[FG] Mahfoud Felix

The research group led by Prof. Felix Mahfoud at the University Heart Center Basel focuses on the development, validation, and clinical implementation of innovative device-based therapies for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valve disease, and pulmonary embolism. A central emphasis lies on the modulation of the autonomic nervous system, particularly through renal and hepatic denervation, as therapeutic strategies for hypertension, heart failure, and arrhythmias.

The group has played a leading role in several landmark international trials, including SPYRAL HTN, RADIANCE-HTN, and REDUCE-HTN, which have shaped current guidelines and clinical practice in the field of interventional hypertension treatment. In parallel, the group is actively involved in advancing structural heart interventions, including transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), mitral valve repair, left atrial appendage occlusion, and device-based approaches to heart failure. In addition to its core research activities, the group integrates expertise from a multidisciplinary team of physician-scientists and translational researchers working on the development of novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for acute cardiovascular syndromes, with a particular focus on troponins, natriuretic peptides, and RNA-based signatures. Deep learning and artificial intelligence approaches are being applied to 12-lead ECGs for infarct detection and subtype classification.

Other group members are investigating the pathophysiology and treatment of cardio-renal syndromes, metabolic comorbidities, and inflammation, alongside mechanistic studies on endothelial function, vascular remodeling, and atherosclerosis using advanced imaging such as cardiac PET/CT. Ongoing translational collaborations involve the development of preclinical large-animal models, tissue-engineered platforms, and biocompatibility studies for cardiovascular devices in close coordination with the Department of Biomedicine and the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

The group is also active in health services research, evaluating patient-reported outcomes, treatment preferences, and cost-effectiveness of interventional therapies. All research efforts are supported by a dedicated clinical trial infrastructure that enables the conduct of complex investigator-initiated multicenter studies. The overarching goal of the group is to bridge the gap between bench and bedside by translating mechanistic insights and technological innovation into therapies that improve cardiovascular outcomes.