Between research and clinic - DZL junior reserach group leader Prof. Frederik Trinkmann
Since 2020, Prof. Dr. Frederik Trinkmann has been leading the DZL-junior research group “Obstructive lung diseases” at the Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC). The 38-year old works as senior physician for pneumology and respiratory medicine at the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg at Heidelberg University Hospital and researches methods for the improved early detection and diagnosis of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and asthma.
“Mainly, spirometry and information on the patient’s medical history are used for the diagnosis of lung diseases. It is important for me to expand the range of methods for the early detection of diseases like COPD and asthma already at an early stage and to be able to distinguish subtypes from each other. Only by learning more about the facets and causes of these diseases, will we be able to offer patients tailored therapies in the future,” explains Prof. Trinkmann. Research into COPD is particularly close to his heart, partly because few people are familiar with the name. “Although COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, in the general public there is a huge discrepancy between awareness for the disease and its importance,” says Prof. Trinkmann.
Dividing his time between research and clinic is challenging for the Mannheim native. Nevertheless, he sees research as a natural aspect of the medical profession. He is motivated by the fact that the work in the clinic advances his research and vice versa. He finds the working conditions on-site and his collaborations in the DZL supportive. Employees of the University Hospital and the DZL help him with the implementation and administration of clinical trials and he works closely with colleagues of the DZL, especially on the development of precise imaging techniques.
Prof. Trinkmann is also working part-time in bioinformatics and statistics at the medical faculty Mannheim of the University Heidelberg. Before starting as senior physician in Heidelberg in 2019, he worked for ten years as senior physician and research associate in Mannheim.
Already since his youth he has been manager of his own start-up company in the IT-sector and specialised recently in the development of Apps and digitalisation solutions. Knowledge, that he can also bringing into his current work environment. Further, he is using his knowledge in public relations work and creates explanatory videos fort some of his publications.
The daily routine at the clinic rarely allows for time off. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, in Nature and doing sports.
TLRC Junior research group - Obstructive lung disease
/TLRC - Doreen Penso Dolfin