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• von Dr. Alexandra Nießen
• 21.07.2026

Narrowed arteries, poor blood flow: what lies behind conditions such as peripheral arterial disease and how they can best be treated is one of the research topics being investigated by Prof. Dr Christos Rammos. The 45-year-old has taken up the Chair of ‘Vascular Medicine’ at the Faculty of Medicine at UDE / Essen University Hospital.

[Dr Alexandra Nießen:] What research are you conducting at Essen University Hospital (UK Essen)?

[Prof. Dr. Christos Rammos:] My research focuses on the causes and treatment of vascular diseases. A central area of interest is peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a common condition affecting the arteries of the lower limbs, as well as the optimization of acute care for patients with pulmonary embolism. In addition, I investigate how the gut and its microbial community—the so-called gut microbiome—influence vascular health. We now know that an imbalance in the gut microbiota may actively contribute to the development of vascular diseases. My goal is to better understand these interactions and to translate this knowledge into innovative therapeutic strategies, including non-pharmacological approaches, that can directly benefit patients.

What other research topics are particularly important to you?

One of my main priorities is health services research in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We have demonstrated that patients with PAD remain significantly undertreated in Germany, and we are working to improve the quality of care through registry-based research and digital interventions. Another topic that is particularly important to me is optimizing the acute management of pulmonary embolism. To this end, we are developing an AI-supported regional care network for the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area that connects specialized centers with regional hospitals. Our aim is to enable faster diagnosis, more efficient treatment pathways, and improved patient outcomes.

Why did you choose University Hospital Essen?

University Hospital Essen offers a unique combination of outstanding clinical infrastructure and a strong research environment. I have been working here since 2015 and have helped establish several key initiatives, including our triple-certified Vascular Center and the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT), a multidisciplinary program that enables us to provide optimal care for patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

For me as a physician-scientist, University Hospital Essen and the West German Heart and Vascular Center provide an ideal environment. The Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, with its network of university hospitals, tertiary care centers, and companies specializing in medical technology and digital health, offers exceptional opportunities for large-scale health services research—such as our planned regional pulmonary embolism care network. This well-established infrastructure, together with the integration into the West German Heart and Vascular Center and the University of Duisburg-Essen’s strong research community, makes this an ideal location for achieving my scientific and clinical goals.

What should your students know about you?

It is important to me that students not only acquire a solid foundation in medical knowledge but also learn how to think clinically and engage in scientific research. I hope to inspire an early interest in vascular medicine and therefore offer students not only traditional teaching but also opportunities to gain first-hand insight into ongoing clinical studies and laboratory research. Open communication, mentorship, and encouraging students to pursue their own research ideas are just as important to me as fostering an understanding that excellence in patient care and innovative research go hand in hand.
 

Publication:
Rammos, Ch. et al.: „Peripheral artery disease in Germany (2009–2018): Prevalence, frequency of specialized ambulatory care and use of guideline-recommended therapy – A population-based study“, in: The Lancet Regional Health – Europe Vol. 5 (June 2021): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776221000909

More information:
Prof. Dr. Christos Rammos, MHBA, FESC, Westdeutsches Herz- und Gefäßzentrum Essen (WHGZ), Tel. +49 201 72384808, christos.rammos@uk-essen.de

Editor: Dr. Alexandra Nießen, Tel. +49 203 3791487, alexandra.niessen@uni-due.de