PHENIX - Pioneering High Energy Nuclear Interactions eXperiment
Collaborative Research Centre Molecular Cardiovascular Imaging
The Collaborative Research Centre 656 is focusing on new medical imaging technology to revolutionise clinical diagnostics of human cardiovascular diseases. The investigators develop non-invasive methods being used without mechanical interventions with organisms. These molecular imaging methods can identify changes in the composition of tissues in cardiovascular diseases on the level of molecules. Thereby the team expects to improve early diagnosis and enhance individualised prevention of severe cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.
Scientists and clinicians from medicine, physics, chemistry and pharmacy, mathematics and computer sciences work together. They develop and validate radioactively, fluorescently or otherwise labeled molecules, so called tracers, which target and visualise disease-specific molecules (targets) occurring in cardiovascular diseases. In parallel, they design innovative imaging devices and algorithms and optimise the evaluation of medical findings by new visualisation concepts. Here, the work with smallest and moving structures – such as coronary arteries or the beating heart muscle – is a huge challenge. For the access of the overall scientific concept it is especially important to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications in the area of disease models.