PD Dr. Narine Mesropyan

Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Narine Mesropyan is a board-certified radiologist and clinical scientist at the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at University Hospital Bonn.

As part of the Neuroscience Clinician Scientist Program (Neuro-aCSis), she is conducting research in close collaboration with the Departments of Vascular Neurology and Neuroradiology on the diagnostic and prognostic utility of comprehensive multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of "brain-heart axis" in patients after acute ischemic stroke—an emerging concept in neurocardiology.

A complex interaction between the nervous and cardiovascular systems (so-called “brain-heartaxis”) has been known for several decades. From a clinical perspective, the brain-heart-axis can be approached as the effects of cardiovascular diseases on the nervous system (e.g., cardioembolic stroke) – well known and investigated or the effects of neurological disorders on the cardiovascular system (e.g., Takotsubo syndrome or sudden unexpected death in epilepsy - SUDEP) – remain poorly understood. Cardiovascular alterations after acute ischemic are among the most commonly observed complications after acute ischemic stroke and the second leading cause of short- and long-term post stroke mortality. However, these pathological interactions within the brain (stroke)-heart-axis remain poorly understood, insufficiently investigated, and probably underestimated.

Within this project, Dr. Mesropyan aims to improve the understanding of this complex interplay and to contribute to the development of innovative imaging-based biomarkers in the emerging field of neurocardiology. Her interdisciplinary approach fosters close collaboration between neurologists, cardiologists, and radiologists in both clinical practice and translational research.