Dr. Bettina Heidecker, one of our first Fellowship Grant recipients in 2007, has just been awarded a full professorship at the Charite University in Berlin.
Dr. Heidecker’s newly established professorship in the Department of Cardiology is a Professorship for Cardiomyopathies as she works to strengthen Heart Failure Research.
With this appointment, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin honors the outstanding scientific achievements of this internationally renowned cardiologist, who has been working at the Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC) for many years.
Focus on Inflammatory Cardiomyopathies
Professor Heidecker’s appointment strengthens the DHZC’s research profile in an area of high clinical and societal relevance. Her scientific work focuses on inflammatory and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies, in particular myocarditis – a frequently underestimated disease that can lead to heart failure or sudden cardiac death, especially in young people.
Heidecker is conducting research into innovative diagnostic techniques such as magnetocardiography (MCG), which could enable a gentle, rapid, and stress-free diagnostic approach. In addition, she studies cellular signaling molecules such as cytokines in order to develop new therapeutic strategies.
International Career and Recognition
Bettina Heidecker grew up in Upper Austria. She studied in Innsbruck, conducted research at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She finished her cardiology training at the University of California, San Francisco.
Before joining Charité in 2018, she led a specialized myocarditis clinic and research group at University Hospital Zurich. In this field, she also serves on the Board of Directors of the Myocarditis Foundation, an international organization dedicated to advancing research and knowledge transfer in myocarditis.
Since coming to the DHZC, she has played a pivotal role in advancing care and research in heart failure and cardiomyopathies. Her work has been published in leading international journals such as the European Heart Journal and has received numerous awards.
Her academic career has been significantly supported by the BIH Advanced Clinician Scientist Program – a funding scheme of the Berlin Institute of Health that enables selected physician-scientists to advance their own research projects alongside patient care.
Personal Commitment to Research and Mentorship
“I see this new role as a great opportunity to further expand cardiomyopathy research together with my colleagues at DHZC – with the goal of translating findings into patient care as quickly as possible,” says Prof. Heidecker.
“My special thanks go to all those who have accompanied and supported me along the way. I particularly want to encourage young female scientists and physicians to discover their passion for a specific field, develop expertise in it, and pursue research that has tangible societal impact – while also strengthening the next generation so that knowledge can be passed on and continuously grow.”
Recognition from Clinic Director Prof. Landmesser
“The appointment of Professor Heidecker not only honors her excellent scientific achievements,” says Prof. Ulf Landmesser, Director of the Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine (CBF) and Deputy Medical Director of DHZC. “It also underlines the central importance of heart failure research for DHZC – and the high regard for Professor Heidecker’s commitment to clinical care, research, and mentoring. On behalf of the entire team, I am delighted about this well-deserved recognition.”
Support from the DHZB Foundation
The Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin Foundation (DHZB) is contributing to the endowment of the professorship. “Professor Heidecker makes an essential contribution to advancing clinical care at DHZC through her personal dedication,” says Prof. Dr. Hans Maier, Chairman of the Board of the DHZB Foundation. “She is also among the leading experts in magnetocardiography, an innovative technique with great potential for the diagnosis and monitoring of heart muscle diseases.”
Additional information
In addition to her new role as a full professor, Dr. Heidecker now has the following roles at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC):
- Executive Member of the ESC Clinical Guidelines Committee (since 2024)
- Executive Member of the ESC sDOC Committee (since 2024)
- Member of the ESC Congress Program Committee (since 2024)
- Task force member of the first ESC Myocarditis and Pericarditis Guidelines 2025
- Lead author on an ESC Clinical Consensus Document on Vaccines for Prevention of Cardiovascular Events (published Jul 2025)
Also, Dr. Heidecker is currently enrolled in an executive MBA program at the ESMT school in Berlin and expected to graduate in April 2026.
Her main area of interest both in clinic as well as research remains myocarditis and she remains fully committed to supporting the Myocarditis Foundation and is the Director of Research for the Myocarditis Foundation.
