Innovative research center in Großhadern: pigs help against heart diseases!

Innovative research center in Großhadern: pigs help against heart diseases!

in the heart of Munich, more precisely in the new icon, research is in full swing. The interdisciplinary research center, which was recently opened, has set itself the goal of bringing new therapy approaches for cardiovascular diseases to clinical application. A crucial player in this project is veterinarian Eckhard Wolf from the LMU Munich, who emphasizes that the living conditions for the pigs employed with research should be significantly improved. These “lofts with mountain views for pigs”, housed on the fifth floor of the icon, are an example of the endeavor to maintain ethical standards in animal research, while researching life -saving therapies, such as the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported.

With an immense budget of 63 million euros, which is made available in equal parts of the federal government and the country, a bridge between basic research and clinical application is to be beaten in the icon. Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär and the Bavarian Minister of Science may have attended the opening of the center. Cardiovascular diseases are not only in Germany, but the most common cause of death worldwide. In Germany alone, around 350,000 people die from these diseases every year, which underlines the urgency of research.

research with responsibility

In the icon, so -called "clinician scientists" work, which work in both research and provide patients. The cooperation between experts from various 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 in order 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, so the dpz .

However, animal experiments are criticized, in particular from the initiative Doctors against animal experiments . Critics are wondering whether the large investment in animal test -based research is really the best solution, since around 6.6 percent of potential cardiovascular medication reaches approval. Animal experiments often do not show the same results as in humans. These differences between animal models and human diseases can hinder the development of effective therapies.

alternatives to animal experimental research

In order 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 ethically justifiable. These technologies could revolutionize research into cardiovascular diseases because they provide better predictions about the effects of medication and thus help to optimize the healing phase.

Where the journey of cardiovascular research in the icon will ultimately lead to wait. But one thing is clear: with a strong team of different disciplines and the focus on innovative approaches, great could be done here. The next few years promise to be exciting - not only for research, but especially for the patients who hope for new therapies.