The approach of the LEC to research is multidisciplinary and translational. Researchers in the LEC include biochemists, chemists, physicians, and doctors in veterinary medicine in addition to cardiologists working part time in laboratory research. Stress is placed on research training immediately after the medical residency in cardiology (MD/PhD program)
The models used in the LEC include isolated intact or skinned cells (freshly isolated rat and mice cardiomyocytes and microvascular endothelial cells, cell lines), mitochondrial preparations, myocardial preparations (mainly isolated perfused mice and rat heart), and in situ mice rat and pig heart with transient coronary occlusion. The techniques include ratiofluorescence imaging, on-line confocal imaging, standard biochemical methods and molecular biology, analysis platelet function, advanced physiological monitoring, echocardiography, and pathology (immuno-histochemistry, in situ hybridization, histomorphometric analysis), as well as NMR microimaging and spectroscopy.
The LEC develops cooperative programs with different laboratories in Europe and United States, and is member of an international school of doctorate in myocardial protection with the University of Giessen (PROMISE).