Dr Marcel Michla is a Research Officer in the Atherothrombosis and Vascular Biology laboratory. He is working under Dr Jonathan Noonan focussing on establishing how the immune system contributes to inflammation of the heart and blood vessels in cardiovascular disease. Thereby, he aims to unravel new anti-inflammatory therapies preventing heart attacks and strokes. The progression of atherosclerosis and heart attacks remain the deadliest diseases and a better understanding of the adaptive immune response in line with improved drugs for prevention and treatment are urgently needed.

Dr Michla completed his joint PhD in Germany in 2024 in the laboratory of Prof Christoph Wilhelm at the Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology (ICCCP, University of Bonn) and in Australia in the laboratory of Prof Laura Mackay at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. Within his studies he focussed on the impact of physical exercise on the pulmonary immune system in the context of respiratory infections. Since moving to the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute he has been working on unravelling the adaptive immune response to TS-induced atherosclerotic plaque formation and Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Over the last few years, Dr Michla built up an extensive expertise in spectral flow cytometry, immunometabolic analysis and a variety of advanced preclinical in vivo mouse models.

Dr Michla recently joined the Atherothrombosis and Vascular Biology laboratory at the Baker Institute and is excited to work on how the adaptive immune system contributes to inflammation in atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. He is co-chair of the Baker Institute Early Career Scientists Committee and member of the Baker Institute Gender, Equity and Diversity Committee.