Axel Haverich

[2] Much of Haverich’s work is focused on tissue engineering and development of implantable organs, specifically for the heart and vascular system.

[4] In 1996 Haverich founded the Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO) to develop bioengineered tissue for the heart.

[5] While the potential role of infection and inflammation had been discussed for decades, Haverich noted that only specific arteries were subject to development of arteriosclerotic plaques.

He postulated that the damage by inflamed vasa vasorum leads to cell death within the wall and subsequent plaques formation.

According to his view this concept conforms to observations that cardiac infarctions are more common when influenza has occurred or fine particles have been inhaled.