Innovative research center in Großhadern: Pigs help against heart disease!

Innovative research center in Großhadern: Pigs help against heart disease!

In the heart of Munich, more precisely in the new ICON, research is in full swing. The interdisciplinary research center, which was recently opened, aims to bring new therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular diseases into clinical use. A key player in this project is veterinary surgeon Eckhard Wolf from the LMU Munich, who emphasizes that the living conditions for the pigs involved in research should be significantly improved. These “mountain-view lofts for pigs,” located on the fifth floor of ICON, are an example of the effort to maintain ethical standards in animal research while simultaneously researching life-saving therapies such as South German newspaper reported.

With an immense budget of 63 million euros, made available equally by the federal and state governments, the ICON aims to build a bridge between basic research and clinical application. Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär and the Bavarian Science Ministers were able to attend the opening of the center. Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death not only in Germany but worldwide. In Germany alone, around 350,000 people die from these diseases every year, which underlines the urgency of research.

Research with responsibility

So-called “clinician scientists” work at ICON, who work both in research and in caring for patients. The collaboration between experts from different disciplines such as medicine, biology and pharmacy is of central importance. This interdisciplinary approach makes it possible to better understand complex disease mechanisms and develop innovative treatment methods. Research uses modern gene modification techniques to positively influence pathological signaling pathways in diseases. For example, adeno-associated viral vectors are used, which enable tissue-specific applications, while other methods use non-coding RNA sequences as inhibitors, according to the DPZ.

However, animal testing is criticized, especially by the initiative Doctors against animal testing. Critics question whether investing heavily in animal-based research is really the best solution, since about 6.6 percent of potential cardiovascular drugs achieve approval. Animal experiments often do not show the same results as those on humans. These differences between animal models and human diseases can hinder the development of effective therapies.

Alternatives to animal testing research

To counteract this, human-based and animal-free research concepts are increasingly coming to the fore. With methods such as iPSCs, organoids and multi-organ chips, scientists have promising tools that are not only cost-effective but also more ethical. These technologies could revolutionize research into cardiovascular diseases by providing better predictions about the effects of drugs and thus helping to optimize the healing phase.

Where the journey of cardiovascular research at ICON will ultimately lead remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: with a strong team from different disciplines and a focus on innovative approaches, great things could be achieved here. The next few years promise to be exciting – not just for research, but especially for patients who are hoping for new therapies.