Professor Ulrich Förstermann is a distinguished pharmacologist whose leadership has profoundly shaped medical research at the University Medical Center Mainz. Currently serving as Senior Professor at the Institute of Pharmacology following his retirement from executive roles in April 2024, he previously held the position of Chief Scientific Officer and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine for eleven years. A graduate of Albert-Ludwigs University Medical School in Freiburg, he earned his medical degree with summa cum laude distinction in 1980 and completed his habilitation in pharmacology at the Medical School Hannover. His career includes significant appointments as Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at Hannover Medical School, Project Director at Abbott Laboratories, and Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University before accepting a professorship at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in 1993. He further served as Vice President for Research at the university from 2009 to 2013, demonstrating consistent leadership across academic and research domains.
Professor Förstermann's groundbreaking research has centered on the biochemistry of nitric oxide synthases and their cardiovascular functions, establishing him as a world authority in vascular pharmacology. His investigations into enzyme systems controlling oxidative stress in the vasculature have yielded critical insights with significant therapeutic implications for cardiovascular diseases. With over 275 scientific publications cited more than 41,000 times and an h-index of 101, his scholarly impact is both extensive and profound. He chaired the German Research Foundation's Collaborative Research Center 553 from 1998 to 2007, directing substantial interdisciplinary research efforts in vascular biology. His work on the pharmacological control of vascular oxidative stress has informed new approaches to treating cardiovascular conditions, demonstrating the translational value of his basic research discoveries.
Beyond his laboratory achievements, Professor Förstermann has been instrumental in elevating the University Medical Center Mainz to national prominence through strategic research initiatives and institutional development. His leadership contributed to the participation in 12 Collaborative Research Centers, five with immunological focus, significantly expanding the institution's research footprint. Having delivered over 150 invited lectures at international congresses and more than 70 at German-speaking universities, he has effectively disseminated knowledge across the global scientific community. As a dedicated mentor and academic leader, he has shaped medical education, increasing student enrollment from approximately 2,600 to 3,100 during his deanship. Though stepping down from his executive role in 2024, Professor Förstermann continues to contribute to pharmacological research as Senior Professor, ensuring his expertise remains available to guide the next generation of medical scientists and advance the understanding of vascular pharmacology.
