Prof. Jeanette Erdmann passed away unexpectedly on 8 July 2023 at the age of 57 after a tragic fall. As the first DZHK professor, she had a major influence on the DZHK in Lübeck in particular. She was a great personality and will be missed - both professionally and personally.
Obituary Courtesy DZHK News & Media 11.Jul.2023
Franziska Haarich, PhD candidate at the University of Lübeck reflects on the loss of her mentor with colleagues and Cure CMD. "The last months have been marked by a lot of joie de vivre. Her wheelchair gave her so much freedom and she had so many plans. She was back in the institute for up to three days a week and we all enjoyed her company and having her around. Her joy was very contagious and everyone left her office with a smile. She left us way too soon..."
Dear colleagues and friends,
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of our esteemed colleague, Jeanette (Erdmann), on Saturday, July 8, 2023. Her death has left a profound void in our hearts and within the Institute for Cardiogenetics (ICG).
Jeanette was an exceptional leader, mentor, and friend to many of us. Her remarkable vision, dedication, and guidance played a crucial role in the success and growth of our institute. Under her guidance, the small group in the Department of Cardiology (University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Director Prof. Heribert Schunkert) evolved into the Institute for Cardiogenetics at the University of Lübeck, with Jeanette as the head.
Jeanette’s contributions to the field of genetics of coronary artery disease (CAD) are truly remarkable (h-index 96 and over 53,000 citations). Her work has been instrumental in identifying over 300 chromosomal regions associated with CAD through genome-wide association studies conducted over the past 15 years. Her leadership fostered an environment of collaboration, open science, growth, and excellence.
After a long journey of almost 45 years, Jeanette diagnosed herself with COL6 muscular dystrophy adding this field of research to her portfolio. She brought a new perspective to the field and her dedication to this cause made her an important figure in the COL6 community and a respected researcher in the field.
As a human being, Jeanette was kind, attentive and supportive towards her students and colleagues. Jeanette’s presence, wisdom, and unwavering support will be deeply missed. We didn’t only loose a good leader and mentor, but also a good friend. Her memory will forever remain in our hearts, and her impact on our institute will continue to be felt for decades to come.
On behalf of the entire ICG Institute family, we extend our deepest condolences to Jeanette’s family and loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this incredibly difficult time.
Sincerely,
The Institute for Cardiogenetics
Original post by the Institute of Cardiogenetics: https://iieglabletters.blogspot.com/2023/07/profound-void-in-our-hearts.html