Research

 

 

The research profile of the Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery can be classified into the fields clinical research, experimental research and technology transfer.

 

 

  Experimental research

 

The experimental research of the HTTG surgery is divided into four working areas under respectively own scientific direction. The working fields include the topics organ transplantation and experimental surgery, tissue engineering, molecular cell- and bio-engineering, as well as the development of a biohybrid lung. The vast majority of all research projects deals with the thoracic organs and the blood vessel system. What they have in common is furthermore the connection to the potential clinical applications.  

Thereby primarily basic research with relevance to regenerative medicine is being treated in the Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO). This long-time focus of the LEBAO was the contributing basis for a successful application for the formation of the Cluster of Excellence „REBIRTH- from Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy“.

 

In close cooperation with the LEBAO, in the field of expertimental surgery of the HTTG surgery department we do not only perfom small- and large-animal experiments for the purpose of proving new approaches of regenerative therapies, but also experiments take place concerning central issues of cardiac and vascular surgery, for organ protection and for organ transplantation (focus: lung transplantation).

 

 

 Clinical reasearch

 

The clinic is one of the three worldwide leading lung transplantation centers. This results in a very active clinical research; also in collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry.

 

The clinic’s field of aortic surgery enjoys an excellent international reputation as well. In the clinic a remakably high number of cases have been reached in the last years in the field of aortic surgery. Consequently, significant improvements of the results, especially in the field of aortic arch surgery and the dreaded neurologic complications, could be achieved.

 

Further focal points of the clinical research correspond to the clinical areas of responsibility, adopted in 2007, whose leading senior physicians handle clinic, research and care extensively independently. Following fields are concerned: general cardiac surgery (valve and coronary surgery), aortic surgery, vascular and endovascular surgery, cardiac electrophysiology, thoracic surgery, heart support systems, thoracic organ transplantation and transplantation postinterventional care as well as paediatric cardiac surgery.

 

 

 Technology transfer and interdisciplinary research

 

The centers of the special research field Transregio-37 as well as the formation of CrossBIT in 2007, a research association for biocompatibility and implant immunology in medical engineering, are of particular importance for the technology transfer. The competence center „Cardiovascular implants“ and the founding of  Medimplant also make a contribution to the transfer of knowledge and technology from university to industry and the development of marketable products.