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Who is Treating Your Heart? → OptAHF Special

Therapy Progress Only through Registry Research

Multicenter research into congenital heart defects is becoming increasingly important. This is also shown by recent study results. Registers and biobanks are particularly important in this context.

To the press release
Deadly Danger: Immune Deficiency in Congenital Heart Defects

Immune deficiency appears to be more common in congenital heart defects than previously thought. And it can be life-threatening. That's the finding of a new study based on data from the Barmer Health Insurance Fund.

To the research result
Strong Duo for Children with Congenital Heart Defect

The Special Olympics World Summer Games impressively demonstrated what sport means for all people. New studies show how important this is also for children and young people with congenital heart defects.

To the research result
Join Our Research

Focus on your research. We provide the basics. From the research inquiry through to the final publication, you can benefit from our experience in setting-up registers and performing multicenter studies.

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We Count on You.

From donating to shopping online to becoming a sponsoring member. There are many different options to support research in the field of congenital heart disease.

Join the research and sponsoring efforts
Because We Can Only Accomplish it Together.

Investigating congenital and pediatric-acquired heart disease is a special task and responsibility. Since 2003, our network, including our research infrastructure, has been enabling finding the answers to many pressing questions.

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Auf die Schnelle

Voices from the Research Network

Marc coming from his annual routine follow-up examination, Wolfram Scheible für Nationales Register — Marc coming from his annual routine follow-up examination

Marc, assistant tax consultant, 27 years

“When I was a child, I didn’t like the fact that I wasn’t allowed to do many things. I find life as an adult with congenital heart disease much easier.”

Read Marc’s story

ACHD researcher Prof. Dr. Dr. med. Gerhard-Paul Diller, Nationales Register | UKM — ACHD researcher Prof. Dr. Dr. med. Gerhard-Paul Diller

Prof. Dr. Dr. med. Gerhard-Paul Diller, ACHD Researcher

“Over 50,000 register members donate their data and samples. This is a big act of faith, which places a great responsibility on us.”

Go to "Meet the Researcher"

PD Constanze Pfitzer, M.D., Pediatrician

"Heart children usually do well in school. However, microcephaly can affect that. Early diagnosis is important."

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Current Issues

About our Research Activities

Persistent pain in the legs, fatigue, headaches, and dizziness may indicate aortic coarctation.

Research Projects | Medicine and Healthcare

Between Two and 18: Surgery or Catheterization?

Aortic coarctation is one of the most common congenital heart defects. Timely correction of this malformation is essential for survival. Which procedure should be used in children over the age of two and adolescents?

About the Research Project

There is a link between congenital heart defects and reduced body defense against pathogens.

Research Results | Medicine and Healthcare

Deadly Danger: Immune Deficiency in Congenital Heart Defects

Immune deficiency appears to be more common in congenital heart defects than previously thought. And it can be life-threatening. That's the finding of a new study based on data from the Barmer Health Insurance Fund.

To the research result

In CHD, sports and exercise are rarely risky. The opposite is true. Physical activity with heart-healthy people of the same age strengthens and protects against dangerous secondary diseases.

Research Results | Exercise Capacity and Sports

Strong Duo for Children with Congenital Heart Defect

The Special Olympics World Summer Games have impressively shown us what sport means for all people. Sport and a positive self-image are a powerful duo, even among children with congenital heart defects. New studies show that this urgently needs to be promoted.

To the research result

A Strong Voice for Hearts

Jan Delay supports our research with a notable message.

“I support independent research that actually benefits those who rely on it to survive. Solidary and collaborative research that overcomes boundaries, also in one’s own mind.” Hats off to you for making this possible by being a Register member and research promoter. I’m happy to see you keeping at it.”

View video message

News From the Competence Network and the Register

Visualization of a genome analysis. Where are the spelling mistakes in the genome?

Pressemitteilungen | Medicine and Research, Genetics

Smarter Through Whole Genome Sequencing?

Could whole genome sequencing help improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention of severe congenital heart defects? That's what a new study is investigating.

To the press release

A congenital heart defect is different at every stage of life. This makes specialized well-connected medical care necessary. The new OptAHF special shows what matters.

Press Release | Medicine and Healthcare | Healthcare Research

Who is Treating Your Heart?

With OptAHF, researchers at the Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects have for the first time conducted comprehensive research on medical care for congenital heart defects into old age. The new OptAHF-Special provides information about the results.

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We take care of your research infrastructure

Join Our Research

Our Infrastructure for Your Research

The Competence Network provides its infrastructure also for your multicenter research projects. We support you with the setup of registers conforming to patient data protection laws.

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Heart Explorer Magazine

Dr. Fabian Kari is a pediatric cardiac surgeon at the University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen.

Herzerforscher - Extra | Interview

The Challenge of Complex TGA

What is a complex TGA? How is it corrected? And what do the different surgical procedures mean for patients in the long term? That's what we talked about with the pediatric heart surgeon Fabian Kari.

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Keeping distance, wearing a mask, observing sanitary regulations: The coronavirus pandemic has changed our everyday life for an indefinite period of time.

Heart Explorer Magazine | Conversation

Heart-Explorer - Extra | Talk

Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, we have been living in a state of emergency. What does that mean for adults with congenital heart disease? We talked about this with heart patient Eva Niggemeyer and ACHD specialist Gerhard-Paul Diller.

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Karla Völlm, Ehrenkonsulin der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität, unterstützt mit ihrer „EMAH Stiftung Karla Völlm“ die medizinische Forschung und Versorgung für Erwachsene mit angeborenen Herzfehlern.

Heart-Explorer - Extra | Interview

Die Mäzenin der Herzmedizin

Ohne den Einsatz der „EMAH Stiftung Karla Völlm“ wäre in der Versorgung und Erforschung angeborener Herzfehler vieles nicht möglich. Doch es ist ein Lebenswerk, das immer wieder unter Druck gerät.

Zum Herzerforscher-Extra

OptAHF Special

Surgery or Catheterization?

Become a Member

Microcephaly - a Risk?

Become a Member

Join Our Research

Research Duration: Many Lifetimes!

Donate for Medical Progress

Covid-19 Vaccination

Why We Do Research

Therapy Progress Only through Registry Research

Deadly Danger: Immune Deficiency in Congenital Heart Defects

Strong Duo for Children with Congenital Heart Defect

Join Our Research

We Count on You.

Because We Can Only Accomplish it Together.

Auf die Schnelle

Research Makes Survival Worth Living.

Voices from the Research Network

Current Issues

Therapy Progress Only through Registry Research

Smarter Through Whole Genome Sequencing?

Who is Treating Your Heart?

Updated Corona Special 2022

Julia Remmele awarded research prize

Generation Change at the Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects

Nach Corona-Pause: 7. Watt-Moor-Ultra-60

Ausgezeichnet

Kiel Researchers Discover Further CHD Genes

DZHK Paper of the Month

InGene-ious Cardiology

Evaluation of Pulse Oximetry Screening Started

Anticoagulants in Patients with Congenital Heart Defects

Austausch, Beratung, Interessenvertretung bei AHF

New Corona Special

Abschied von einem Visionär

Children with Congenital Heart Defects Sit too Much

Widespread Participation in the Corona Survey

Wir trauern um Ingram Schulze-Neick

Schwere Herzfehlbildungen früh erkennen

DGPK Posterpreis für S-BAHn-Studie

Angeborene Herzfehler - ein unterschätztes Forschungsgebiet?

Paper of the Month

Wir sind soweit!

Startschuss für den 6. Watt-Moor-Ultra

Herzkinder sind gut in der Schule

Gender-Gap in der AHF-Forschung

Danke Micha!

Adee Moni!

KNAHF startet KI-Forschung

Über das Kompetenznetz Angeborene Herzfehler

Rettung schwerstkranker Kinder bedroht

Herzschrittmacher: Zu teuer für ein Kind?

Neue Studie: Optimal versorgt bei AHF?

Neue Technologie erspart Kindern Herz-OP

DGPK-Forschungsförderpreis 2018

Press Release | Medicine and Healthcare

Die Transition ist die große Hürde

Wissen Sie genug über Ihr Endokarditis-Risiko?

Endlich Pflicht: Pulsoxymetrie-Screening

About our Research Activities

Between Two and 18: Surgery or Catheterization?

Deadly Danger: Immune Deficiency in Congenital Heart Defects

Strong Duo for Children with Congenital Heart Defect

A Strong Voice for Hearts

News From the Competence Network and the Register

Smarter Through Whole Genome Sequencing?

Who is Treating Your Heart?

Our Infrastructure for Your Research

Heart Explorer Magazine

The Challenge of Complex TGA

Heart-Explorer - Extra | Talk

Die Mäzenin der Herzmedizin

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