EU

EIT Health is a consortium of more than 50 core partners and 90 associate partners from leading businesses, research centres and universities from across 14 EU countries. EIT Health was designated as an EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) by the EIT Governing Board on 9 December 2014.

The goal of EIT Health is to contribute to increasing the competitiveness of European industry, improve the quality of life of Europe’s citizens and the sustainability of healthcare system.The partnership will promote entrepreneurship and develop innovations in healthy living and active aging, providing Europe with new opportunities and resources. This will be achieved through delivering products, concepts and services, including educational programs that will nurture talents and train the workforce of tomorrow. Adopting an investor approach, EIT Health will drive the integration of business; research and higher education, boost innovation, and be a catalyst for new solutions for Europe. EIT Health will overcome the fragmentation of different healthcare systems in Europe and give companies easier access to markets across the EU. The critical mass of partners from business and industry, education, research, healthcare providers and insurance companies within EIT Health, opens the path to reduced time-to-market for added-value products and services. EIT Health outreach activities are expected to spread all over Europe – establishing new ties to expand innovation and growth.

Kontakt an der Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. J. Schüttler, Dekan der Medizinischen Fakultät

Die Peristaltik ist kritisch für Prozesse wie den Nahrungstransport im Verdauungssystem und die Spermienbewegung. Ist diese Bewegung gestört, kann es zu schweren Krankheiten wie der Crohn-Krankheit, Endometriose und der Parkinson-Krankheit kommen. Durch die aktuellen Bildgebungsverfahren wird die natürliche Bewegung jedoch meist gestört, sodass eine genaue Beobachtung der Prozesse schwierig ist. Daher können Erkrankungen im Zusammenhang mit der Peristaltik nur schwer diagnostiziert und behandelt werden. Finanziert über den Europäischen Forschungsrat wird daher im Projekt EARTHWORM ein neues MRT-Verfahren entwickelt, dass sich an die natürlichen Bewegungen des Körpers anpasst. Mit Echtzeit-KI, Sensoren und fortschrittlicher Bildgebung werden genauere Erkenntnisse zur Peristaltik gewonnen, um die Diagnose und Behandlung zu verbessern.

Kontakt: Prof. Dr. Jana Hutter, Radiologisches Institut

Many individuals suffer partial or complete muscle paralysis with no available cures. Even though neural interfaces have the potential to restore motor function with assistive systems, their use is still very limited. Even in the case of state-of-the-art invasive neural implants, the control of the movements of the paralyzed limbs is highly unsatisfactory. These neural interfaces suffer high surgical risks, poor control of the activity of spinal motor neurons, and inaccurate mapping of the attempted movements. Spinal motor neurons are the last cells of the nervous system that convert motor commands into movement and their activity can be accessed with minimally invasive methods. In most neural lesions, such as spinal cord injury and stroke, there are functionally active spinal motor neurons projecting to paralyzed muscles that are modulated by brain input. In this project, I propose a bidirectional interface that is driven by the real-time identification of efferent spinal motor neuron activity. We will develop novel sensing, decoding, and feedback methods with precise cellular resolution. This neural interface will map, engage, and augment the spared output of the spinal cord through new deep learning methods and hundreds of fine-tuned electromyographic sensors recording action potentials of individual motor units for the muscles controlling the hand. The output of this interface will enable highly accurate temporal associations between efferent motor neuron activity and sensorimotor feedback by delivering multiple visual and somatosensory inputs. This bidirectional neural interface will entrain and monitor the spared neural pathways at the direct cellular level with the goal of transforming and augmenting the activity of the spared motor neurons into highly functional motor dimensions. Using these new technologies, we aim to answer open questions in movement neuroscience and spinal cord injury.

Kontakt: Prof. Dr. Alessandro del Vecchio, N-squared Lab

Multiple Sklerose ist eine entzündliche Autoimmunerkrankung des zentralen Nervensystems, die durch eine fortschreitende Zerstörung von Nervengewebe gekennzeichnet ist. Die Astrozyten, ein Subtyp der Gliazellen, lösen bei akuten Entzündungen regenerative Prozesse aus, können jedoch bei chronischer Erkrankung nicht die Gewebezerstörung hemmen. Das EU-finanzierte Projekt H I C I wird den astrozytischen, heparinbindenden EGF-ähnlichen Wachstumsfaktor (HB-EGF) als neuartigen regenerativen Faktor erforschen. Das Projektforschungsteam hatte zuvor entdeckt, dass HB-EGF als gewebeschützender Faktor in den Astrozyten wirkt, der bei akuten Entzündungen durch den Transkriptionsfaktor Arylkohlenwasserstoffrezeptor induziert wird. Jedoch nimmt der heparinbindende EGF-ähnliche Wachstumsfaktor in den chronischen Stadien zeitgleich mit dem Fortschreiten der Krankheit ab. Im laufenden Projekt wird die Forschungsgruppe die Rolle des HB-EGF bei akuten und chronischen autoimmunen Entzündungen des zentralen Nervensystems definieren und den Mechanismen seiner Regulation durch den Arylkohlenwasserstoffrezeptor nachgehen.

Kontakt: Prof. Dr. Veit Rothhammer, Neurologische Klinik

Die multispektrale optoakustische Tomographie (MSOT) ist ein bildgebendes Verfahren, bei dem optische und akustische Methoden kombiniert werden, um Gewebe und Strukturen im Körper sichtbar zu machen. Sie ist nicht invasiv und liefert hochauflösende Bilder mit funktionellen und molekularen Informationen. Das vom Europäischen Forschungsrat finanzierte Projekt IseeG zielt auf die Entwicklung verbesserter Kontrastmittel für die Bildgebung früher Entzündungsprozesse im Magen-Darm-Trakt mittels MSOT. Gegenwärtig erfolgt der Nachweis von Entzündungen mit endoskopischen Methoden, die nur begrenzt anwendbar sind. Die Idee ist, orale Farbstoffe zu verabreichen, die entzündete Bereiche markieren und die dynamische Visualisierung des Darmtrakts auf nicht-invasive Weise ermöglichen.

Kontakt: Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Knieling, Kinder- und Jugendklinik

Inflammation has evolved to protect us from the outside world. However, in doing so, it consumes large amounts of energy and causes collateral damage, thus requiring strict control on multiple levels. While the mechanisms that govern inflammation once ongoing are well defined, we lack basic knowledge of the processes that regulate its actual onset in vivo. Only by understanding the mechanisms that orchestrate tissue stress responses and defend against unwanted inflammation will we pave the way for new therapeutic approaches in future precision medicine: Not only treating inflammation once it is active, but preventing inflammatory disease from developing in the first place.
I hypothesise that prevention of inflammation can be accomplished at the level of tissue homeostasis and cooperative stromal biology. The stroma that underlies any given tissue is not a passive scaffold. Instead it comprises a functional network that regulates key aspects of tissue physiology as an adaptive and self-organising system („“homeostat““). Resident tissue macrophages (RTM) – the tissue’s very own regulators of inflammation – are physically connected to this homeostat and thereby directly integrated into its cooperative signalling grid. Hard-wired communication mechanisms and synergies allow RTM-stroma networks to operate as a functional syncytium, a hitherto unknown operating system that coordinates stress responses and actively prevents the onset of inflammation.
With NEXUS, I propose a pioneering tissue biology approach to decipher the stromal homeostat. By combining unique bioimaging with computational 3D reconstruction and multidimensional profiling, I will quantitatively unravel complex cell interactions to explain the mechanisms and implications of stromal network communication in a living tissue. Thereby, I aim to elucidate homeostat-operating principles and establish top-down control of inflammatory tissue checkpoints in order to apply them to clinically relevant inflammatory diseases.

Kontakt: Prof. Dr. Stefan Uderhardt, Medizinische Klinik 3 – Rheumatologie und Immunologie

Evolutionär höhere Organismen einschließlich des Menschen verfügen über eine begrenzte Fähigkeit zur neuronalen Regeneration. Dies zeigt, dass Neuronen eine inhärente Langlebigkeit aufweisen. Das Verständnis der zugrundeliegenden Mechanismen, dank derer die Neuronen ihre Funktion erhalten können, ist in Bezug auf die Behandlung von Erkrankungen des Nervensystems von zentraler Bedeutung. Das Team des ERC-finanzierten Projekts NEUTIME befasst sich mit der Rolle langlebiger Kern-RNS bei der Regulierung epigenetischer Prozesse. Die Arbeitshypothese lautet, dass lang erhaltene Kern-RNS mit Chromatin interagieren, um die epigenetische Regulierung aufrechtzuerhalten, wobei dieser Prozess mit zunehmendem Alter nachlässt. Die Forschenden werden die betroffenen RNS ermitteln und deren Erhaltungsmechanismen sowie ihre Rolle bei altersbedingten neurologischen Störungen untersuchen..

Kontakt: Prof. Dr. Tomohisa Toda, Stammzellbiologische Abteilung

Mammals with large brains and higher cognitive functions have a richly folded cerebral cortex. Folding abnormalities are linked to various cognitive disabilities. Despite its relevance in clinical diagnostics, the causes and consequences of cortex folding remain poorly understood. While cortex folding was long assumed to result from a limited skull volume, it is a developmental process intrinsic to the cortex. We hypothesize that cortex folding emerges from a dynamic interplay between mechanical and molecular processes, and that far from being an epiphenomenon, it has major consequences for brain architecture and function. UNFOLD will test this hypothesis by integrating genomics, cell biology, mechanics of brain development and computational modeling. Our interdisciplinary team will apply in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches to brain tissue of strategically selected animal models. First, we will map molecular, cellular, and mechanical events accompanying cortex folding. Next, we will investigate the effects of genetic perturbations of cell biological processes on tissue mechanics, and vice versa, to identify key mechanisms leading to cortex folding and elucidate their dynamic interactions. Then, we will test the universality of these mechanisms by inducing folds in species with a smooth brain. Finally, we will decipher the consequences of cortex folding on neural circuit function and animal behavior. Our project integrates current, opposing concepts of cortex folding by adopting an interdisciplinary and multiscale perspective. Unraveling the dynamic interactions between molecular, cellular, and mechanical events during development will provide unprecedented insights into the determinants of cortical anatomy and brain organization. Our work, bridging physical and life sciences, will lead to new insights into normal and pathological brain development, paving the way to a new research area of integrated neurobiology with potential applications in modern medicine.

Kontakt: Prof. Dr. Kristian Franze, Institut für Medizinische Physik

The European collaborative project EpimiRNA aims to understand molecular mechanisms, diagnostics and develop novel therapeutics for epilepsy. The project emerged from recent scientific breakthroughs that identified a new family of molecules that affect brain cell structure and function called microRNA. The EpimiRNA project will focus on identifying microRNA changes in the brain during epilepsy development and how this affects the disease. The project will explore the potential of targeting microRNA using designer drug-like molecules. We will also determine whether variation in the genetic code for these molecules is present in patients with epilepsy. Finally, we will look for changes in blood levels of microRNA as potential biomarkers of epilepsy.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. H. Hamer, Neurologische Klinik

The GAPP project intends to improve the therapeutic perspectives of children who suffer from chronic pain, providing them with a drug, gabapentin, which seems to be effective and safe, as already demonstrated in adults, and which was included in the European priority list of off-patent pediatric medicines worthy of research grants.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät:Prof. Dr. R. Trollmann, Prof. Dr. A. Neubert, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. W. Rascher, Kinder- und Jugendklinik

As part of Horizon 2020 (the EU framework program for research and innovation), the European Commission is seeking to set up coordination structures to which some of the management of research programming (budget administration, collection of information for calls for projects, introduction of European recommendations, etc.) will be delegated. One of the aims of these „umbrella“ structures will be to simplify the procedures and optimize the costs of coordinating European research.

The main purpose of the OPERRA project (Open Project for the European Radiation Research Area) is to meet this requirement in all radiation protection research fields (risks associated with low doses of ionizing radiation, radioecology, management of radiological and nuclear emergencies, dosimetry, medical uses of ionizing radiation, etc.), particularly by implementing EU calls for research projects.

OPERRA aims to set up a tool that will be used to develop a research strategy common to all players in radiation protection which will have greater visibility worldwide. Most notably, it should provide greater coherence between national research programs in radiation protection and EU programs, and it should also identify all the finance mechanisms available. It brings together the bodies involved in radiation protection research.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. U. Gaipl, Dr. B. Frey, Strahlenklinik

Tertiary sector buildings sector consume a sizable proportion of EU total energy consumption and the majority of consumption is directly attributed to the operational phase of the building life-cycle. Occupant behavior is a major cause of this consumption. OrbEEt proposes an ICT-based framework to induce behavior change toward energy efficiency by transforming energy measurements into personalized feedback delivered through engaging user interfaces. To achieve this challenge, OrbEEt foresees dynamic, spatially fine-grained extensions of building-level Operational Rating methodologies and Display Energy Certificates to provide a detailed view of energy use in office spaces, business processes and organizational entities rather than entire buildings. The fusion of information from Building Information Models, Business Process Models and real-time energy use measurement via a comprehensive ICT cloud service – the Systemic Enterprise Operational Rating framework – will enable energy use tracking and will establish direct accountability of people, processes and spaces toward overall consumption.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. P. Kolominsky-Rabas, Neurologische Klinik

Complications related to infectious diseases have significantly reduced, particularly in the developed countries, due to the availability and use of broad-range antibiotics and wide variety of antimicrobial agents. Excessive use of antibiotics and antimicrobial agents increased significantly the number of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. This has resulted in a serious threat to public health. The inexorable rise in the incidence of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens, coupled with the low rate of emergence of new clinically useful antibiotics, has refocused attention on finding alternatives to overcome antimicrobial resistance. Novel strategies aiming to reduce the amount of antibiotics, but able to prevent and treat animal and human infections should be investigated, evidenced and approved. Among the various approaches, the use of graphene and its derivatives is currently considered a highly promising strategy to overcome microbial drug resistance. In line with this interest in graphene by the European Commission through the graphene ‘flagship’ initiatives, we respond in this consortium by exploring the utility of novel graphene based nanocomposites for the management and better understanding of microbial infections. The anti-microbical potential of the novel graphene based nanomaterials, the possibility of using such structures for the development of non-invase therapies together with the understanding of the mechanism of action will be the main focal points of the proposed project entitled “PANG”, relating to Pathogen and Graphene. The  multidisciplinary project uniquely suits high-level interdisciplinary and cross-border training.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Dr. Luis Munoz, Prof. Dr. G. Schett, Medizinische Klinik 3 – Rheumatologie und Immunologie

PROMISS (PRevention Of Malnutrition In Senior Subjects in the EU) is a multi-country project aiming to turn the challenge of tackling malnutrition in community-dwelling older persons into an opportunity for healthy ageing for the future. The PROMISS consortium contains worldwide expertise in epidemiology, clinical trials, geriatrics, nutrition, physical activity, microbiomics, as well as in behaviour, consumer, sensory  and computer sciences. It builds on strong collaborations with food industry and SMEs to strengthen innovation of the European agri-food sector and their market position. Existing data from scientifically well-established prospective aging cohorts and national nutritional surveys from Europe and ‘third countries’ will be combined with new data from short- and long-term intervention studies in older persons at risk. Its holistic approach will provide insight in the causality of the links between diet, physical activity, appetite and malnutrition and underlying pathways, thereby providing the necessary evidence to develop optimal, sustainable and evidence-based dietary and physical activity strategies to prevent malnutrition and enhance active and healthy aging. PROMISS will also deliver food concepts and products as well as persuasive technology to support adherence to these strategies. The dietary and physical activity strategies and food products will be specifically developed with older user involvement to meet the needs and fit the preferences of older consumers. In close collaboration with stakeholders, PROMISS will translate these strategies into practical recommendations to guide policy and health professionals at EU- and Member States level. Dissemination and implementation takes place through strong dissemination partners operating on an European level and linked to national networks across Member States. PROMISS promises prevention of malnutrition, additional healthy life years and a strengthening of EU’s food industry.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. C. Sieber, PD Dr. E. Freiberger, Institut für Biomedizin des Alterns

We are proposing a four-year program of knowledge transfer and networking between Aston University (ASTON, UK), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen (UKER, Germany) and Redoxis AB (Redoxis, Sweden). Our proposal targets an emerging area of biology, i.e. reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated regulation of immune responses; it brings together the application of small molecule candidate drugs to generate ROS, with use of innovative approaches to biomarker identification in models of chronic inflammatory disease. This research has significant potential for application in human health and is of particular relevance to the aging population. Research training, innovation and knowledge exchange for early career researchers, achieved by combining our cutting edge expertise, is important to extend the EU’s reach in this emergent area. Interchange in this way will facilitate and promote our early career researchers to develop into tomorrow’s research leaders of redox biology in chronic inflammation. It will encourage new, cross-European collaboration between academia and industry ensuring that we maintain our leading position world-wide.
This four partner consortium brings together groups with highly complementary expertise to exchange knowledge and develop staff: ASTON – in the biochemical analyses of ROS, the effects of immune cell thiol oxidation in vitro and ex vivo and biomarker identification; UKER – in animal models of chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis; and Redoxis – in development of novel drugs that stimulate production of ROS from the NOX2 enzyme as means to modulate chronic inflammation. The project objectives and challenges present a balanced mix between industrial application and basic science, which is focused on knowledge transfer and drug development. Through future collaborative funding, we anticipate far-reaching applications of redox modulators to manage chronic disease and increases in knowledge of both autoimmunity and aging of the immune system.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. G. Schett, Medizinische Klinik 3 – Rheumatologie und Immunologie

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health problem worldwide, especially in older people. Indeed, population aging in industrialized countries is accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of CKD and its complications. Although its prevalence and the importance of an early diagnosis to prevent complications such as end-renal stage disease (ESRD), screening program in Europe are highly heterogeneous, fragmented, being in most cases based on opportunistic rather than structured assessments of patients. The main objective of the SCOPE project is to evaluate a large scale screening program for CKD in the older population (age 75+) in Europe. Specific objectives are (i) to assess existing methodologies to screen for CKD among older adults, including the use of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments (CGA); (ii) to investigate innovative biomarkers potentially useful for CKD screening; (iii) to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of CKD screening in a population at high risk of kidney function decline and ESRD; (iv) to provide evidence for further development of European recommendations, as well as an education program in this field. This will be achieved also thanks to the creation of a large observational database including a cohort of older people aged 75 years or more, enrolled within the framework of an observational, multinational, multicenter, prospective study with a 2-year follow up. The SCOPE database will include a CGA-based screening and a collection of biological samples at baseline and at regular intervals during the study.
The SCOPE project will provide evidence for the increased use, or discontinuation of, existing screening and prevention programs in the field of CKD, allowing informed decisions by policymakers. It will contribute to capacity building in the assessment of such screening and prevention programs in an equitable and cost-effective manner, thus improving health outcomes in the older European population.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. C. Sieber, PD Dr. E. Freiberger, Institut für Biomedizin des Alterns

Bauchspeicheldrüsenkrebs ist die weltweit elfthäufigste Krebserkrankung und siebthäufigste Ursache krebsbedingter Todesfälle. Trotz relativer Fortschritte bei der Diagnose und Behandlung liegt die 5-Jahres-Überlebensrate jedoch noch immer bei nur 10 %. Das Ausbildungsnetzwerk PRECODE soll mit einer neu entwickelten Technik zur Selbstorganisation funktioneller organähnlicher Gewebe, die im Labor gezüchtet werden, die Arzneimittelentwicklung für diese tödliche Krankheit beschleunigen. Schwerpunkt für die Nachwuchsforschenden wird die biotechnologische Züchtung und Manipulation von Organoiden der Bauchspeicheldrüse sein, um die Progression von Bauchspeicheldrüsenkrebs besser zu verstehen. Diese Organoiden werden aus patienteneigenen Zellen generiert und ermöglichen eine gezielte, spezifische und hochwirksame Optimierung der personalisierten Medizin bei Bauchspeicheldrüsenkrebs.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. Christian Pilarsky, Abteilung für Chirurgische Forschung

Current medical needs, the growth of targeted therapies and personalized medicines and escalating R&D costs result in formidable cost pressures on healthcare systems and the pharmaceutical industry.Clinical research is also growing in complexity, labor intensity and cost. There is a growing realization that the development and integration of Electronic Health Record systems (EHR) for medical research can:

• enable substantial efficiency gains
• make Europe more attractive for R&D investment
• provide patients better access to innovative medicines and improved health outcomes.

EHR can now be designed to seamlessly integrate with existing research platforms and healthcare networks to create opportunities for many stakeholders, including the pharmaceutical and bio-pharma industries. However, key challenges are compliance with various ethical, legal and privacy requirements (and acceptance by the general public, patients, and medical professionals), providing a platform that works across many EHR systems and is sustainable within a scalable business model. A 4-year project, EHR4CR will involve a team of recognized European academic and industrial partners.

The project will build a platform to enable the use of EHR for more efficient medical research and run pilots (on interoperability, security, data quality, data storage solutions, organizational issues,accreditation and certification, etc) to demonstrate the viability and scalability of an EHR4CR business model.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. H.-U. Prokosch, Institut für Medizininformatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie

The EMIF project aims to develop a common information framework of patient-level data that will link up and facilitate access to diverse medical and research data sources, opening up new avenues of research for scientists. To provide a focus and guidance for the development of the framework, the project will focus initially on questions relating to obesity and Alzheimer’s disease.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. P. Lewczuk, Psychiatrische und Psychotherapeutische Klinik

Be The Cure’ (BTCURE) is an IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), Europe’s largest public-private initiative aiming to speed up the development of better and safer medicines for patients) funded research project which aims to develop new therapies against rheumatoid arthritis. With a total budget of EUR 35 million and 37 partners from all over Europe, it is hoped that by combining academic and industrial resources within BTCURE, basic understanding of disease processes and therapeutic development will be enhanced.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. G. Schett, Medizinische Klinik 3 – Rheumatologie und Immunologie

Frailty has a dramatic impact on the quality of life of many elderly people; the frail are at greater risk of falls and disability, and are more likely to be hospitalized. But what is frailty, and can it be prevented? The ultimate aim of the IMI project SPRINTT is to improve elderly people’s quality of life by paving the way towards a treatment for frailty. The project will do this by identifying the specific characteristics of frailty and testing whether frailty can be prevented by a treatment program that combines exercise, dietary advice, and the use of modern technologies.

Kontakt an Medizinischen Fakultät: Prof. Dr. C. Sieber, PD Dr. E. Freiberger, Institut für Biomedizin des Alterns