Finished medical studies at the University of Mainz, Germany in 1987. M.D. degree from the University of Cologne in 1994. Venia Legendi for Anatomy and Cell Biology from the University of Cologne in 2000.

1991–2003
Scientific researcher and assistant at the Institute of Anatomy, University of Cologne.

Since 2004
Full professor at the German Sport University and Head of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine at the Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine. Main research interests in the field of exercise biology/physiology are mechanical and metabolic signalling and adaptation of endothelial cell and cardiac and skeletal muscle as well as stem cell-dependent tissue regeneration. Member of the scientific board of the German Society of Prevention and Sports Medicine since 2008, and since 2011 Vice President for Research and Teaching at the German Sports Medicine Society.