C. Heesen received his training in neurology at the NHS, Queen Square in London (1992), Bremen and Hamburg (since 1994). Since 2001 he works as a full neurologist and since 2006 as a deputy director of the Institute of Neuroimmunuology and Clinical MS-Research founded by the University medical center (UMC) Hamburg and The German Gemeinnützige Hertiestiftung. Since 1995 he built up the MS outpatient unit at the UMC with the first German MS day hospital. Since 2010 he is working in close cooperation with the in- and outpatient neurological RehaCenter Hamburg. Since 2005 he developed the local "MS Network Hamburg" bringing together all kinds of health professionals and patients including the local self-help organisation to improve management for MS in Hamburg.

His major research interest are psychoneuroimmunology and behavioural interventions focussing on shared-decision making and evidence-based patient information. In cooperation with S. Köpke, J. Kasper and I. Mühlhauser he conducted the first RCTs on evidence-based patient information interventions in MS. Furthermore investigations on mechanisms and management of neuropsychiatric symptoms of MS are a focus in the MS Rehab research area (in close cooperation with S.M. Gold). In 2009 he initiated together with A. Solari from Milano the Special Interest Group "Patient education" within RIMS. He furthermore has a strong interest in patient-reported outcome parameters.

  
Contact details:
 
Institute for Neuroimmunology and Clinical MS Research (inims)
University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf
Martinistrasse 52
20246 Hamburg, Germany
Phone: +49 40 7410 54076
Fax: +49 7410 56973
 
Mail: heesen@uke.de
Website: www.inims.de