Research Group focus description AG Wound & Perfusion
Up to 3 million people in Germany develop or suffer a wound every year. Almost one million of these wounds do not heal adequately within an acceptable period of time (usually ≤ 8 weeks) and are thus chronic. An increasing prevalence of so-called "lifestyle" diseases (diabetes mellitus, obesity, atherosclerosis, etc.) and a demographically older population, favor the increasing development and aggravation of chronic non-healing wounds. These represent an enormous physical and psychological burden for patients. In the worst case, they lead to serious tissue defects in the context of micro- and macroangiopathic affection. This often results in the need for minor or major amputations (partial or total limb loss), prolonged hospitalization, and greatly increased morbidity and mortality.
An essential aspect in chronic wound healing and biomolecular tissue regeneration is adequate macro- as well as microcirculatory perfusion. Thereby, macroscopic revascularization as well as local vascularization (neovascularization) are equally in focus. In particular, the therapeutic improvement of tissue perfusion by local angio- and vasculogenesis by means of structured gait training, the influence (positive/negative) of local therapeutics in the context of wound healing (e.g. hemostyptics, antiseptics) as well as objective prognostic and diagnostic parameters and methods (scores, modern imaging, biomarkers) in the context of modern wound management and "limb salvage" strategies (limb preservation) are in the foreground of our research group.
Due to the high relevance, close integration and interdisciplinarity of the topics "wound healing/tissue regeneration", "perfusion" and "limb salvage" with complex facets on all levels of research (experimental-biomolecular, practice-oriented clinical, health care research, etc.), our research group strives for a translational, synergistic research approach across the levels of the different practice and research areas.
We are always open to collaborations and joint projects from academic, clinical and industrial contexts and are not only able to offer a broad clinical-experimental portfolio, but are also always looking forward to new exciting research questions in the field of wound healing, tissue regeneration and perfusion.
Our research group focuses predominantly on the overarching themes of "Acute & Chronic Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration", "Tissue Perfusion, (Neo-)Angiogenesis and Microcirculation" as well as "Limb Salvage", with several research approaches involving overlap of focal themes.
Acute & Chronic Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration
- Biomolecular disease patterns and biomarkers in acute and chronic wound healing and tissue repair
- ‘Wound-BIOBank’ - Establishment and maintenance of a wound tissue biobank
- Hemostyptics in wound healing and tissue regeneration in vitro and in vivo
- Antiseptic and antimicrobial therapy of wound infection and biofilm formation
Tissue perfusion, (neo-)angiogenesis and microcirculation
- Structured gait training and vascular exercise in neovascularization and vasculogenesis
- Structured gait training and vascular sports as a conservative therapeutic measure for peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
- Establishment of a chronic limb ischemia animal model
- Hyperspectral imaging for evaluation of microcirculation in vascular medicine
Limb Salvage
- Prognosis, decision making and outcome in minor and major amputations
- Therapy optimization of nontraumatic reperfusion compartment syndrome and lower extremity ischemia/reperfusion injury