About developmental biology, regenerative, reproductive and reparative medicine

Transplantation of cells, organs and bone marrow

Transplantation research and the improvement of transplantation techniques are continually being carried out at KI. Today it is possible to transplant an organ even if the tissue types are not identical.

A possible treatment for patients with liver failure and children with congenital diseases could be to transplant a liver in combination with stem cells, or to transplant liver cells. Research into the transplantation of insulin-producing islet cells from the pancreas is another area of intensive research.

Stem cell transplantation, previously called bone marrow transplantation, is another research speciality at KI. This involves the exchange of the patients diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow from a donor, for example, in the treatment of leukaemia. Part of this research is concerned with improving the life expectancy after transplantation by the prevention of infections and by preventing the new bone marrow from attacking its host.

Reproduction 

From egg and sperm to an adult Human

Research into reproduction comprises basic clinical and epidemiological investigations into normal and pathological processes from egg and sperm cells to the adult individual. This includes research into pregnancy, birth, the newborn infant, the interplay between parents and children and the short- and long-term health of women and men.

This area of research brings together many medical specialities such as gynaecology, paediatrics, psychology, psychiatry, neurology and clinical genetics.

Gynaecology

General gynaecology is concerned with research into the female genital region, including hormones, disease and deformities.

Areas of research include for example menstrual dysfunction and its causes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), stress-related incontinence, menopause and vulvar vestibulitis. It also encompasses basal hormonal and genetic connections between metabolism and reproduction, as well as inadequate ovarian function and disorders of sex development.

The effect of hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) is also a research focus, as is research into hereditary aspects of the dysfunction of the lower urinary tract and pelvic floor and risk factors for cancer in the urinary tract and the kidneys.

Germ cells, fertility and infertility

Reproductive research at KI comprises basic biomedical research on germ cells and fertilisation as well as research on infertility and in-vitro fertilisation, also called IVF or test-tube fertilisation (awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2010).

Research is in progress into the function of the endometrium, the effect of hormones on the reproductive organs, and the development and differentiation of male and female germ cells. Researchers also examine the interplay between egg and sperm during fertilisation and the interplay between the embryo and the endometrium. Other research areas are contraception, and spontaneous and induced abortion.

There is a tradition of research into the causes and treatment of infertility, and methods of in vitro fertilisation are being developed to decrease the need for women to undergo hormonal treatment while still providing eggs of adequate quality. Attempts are being made to improve the cryopreservation of germ cells and ovarian tissue in advance of cancer treatment.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth encompass the effects of various factors on the ability to become pregnant, pregnancy itself and labour, as well as how mother and child are affected, from both short and long-term perspectives.

This area of research is concerned with the physiology of labour and the interaction between foetal growth, the possible risk of pre-eclampsia and the later risk of cardiovascular complications for the mother. Research also studies the ripening of the cervix in preparation for labour, labour pains, premature birth, induced labour, extended labour and caesarean section. Breast feeding and its associated difficulties are also on the research agenda.

A further subject of investigation is the issue of smoking during pregnancy, which increases the risk of complications for both the mother and her child.

Paediatric research

Paediatric research is concerned with the development, physiology, diagnosis and therapy of the embryo and the newborn infant. Research concerning diseases of older children can be found under the respective speciality, for example oncology or endocrinology.

Foetal medicine studies, amongst other things, developmental retardation, deformities and diseases of the embryo and their prevention and treatment, for example, the prevention of kidney damage caused by malnutrition during intrauterine development. Studies are also carried out into the effects of smoking on the foetus, for example, growth retardation, foetal mortality, premature labour and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

The development of transplantation techniques for the treatment of embryos that would otherwise not survive is an experimental area of research. Examples of this are the transplantation of stem cells to embryos with serious skeletal disease, or unusual immunological deficiency diseases and, in the future, hopefully also for embryos with heart conditions.

At KI, neonatological research, relating to the newborn infant, studies the stress reactions of birth, the newborn brain, pain in the newborn infant and the medical complications that arise as a result of premature birth.

Other research includes developmental disorders and deformities of the central nervous system of children, dermatitis, inherited defects of the immune system and leukaemia. There is also research into why premature babies are unable to empty all the amniotic fluid out of their lungs, the function of the fluid pathways in the kidneys and lungs, and congenital deformities of the kidneys, adrenal glands, urinary tract and intestines.

Odontology

KI carries out research in odontology, which is the study of diseases of and damage to teeth, but also the oral cavity and adjacent tissues such as the masticatory muscles and the jaw joints.

At KI the possible relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular conditions has been the subject of research for many years. Researchers are also investigating complications and diseases of the oral cavity in children with various chronic conditions or cancer, and their treatments. Other studies are focussed on the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint diseases and the mapping of inflammatory patterns in these diseases.

Reparative medicine – surgery and orthopaedics

Research in reparative medicine is centred on a number of surgical specialities with the goal of repairing, removing and/or replacing damaged organs and tissues that result from accidents or illness. KI researchers investigate disease processes, for examplein the musculoskeletal system, all the way from the cellular level to patient-oriented clinical research. Extensive research is carried out into osteoporosis, arthritis and other conditions of the joints, as well as the prevention and treatment of fractures. Damage to cartilage, tendons, ligaments and joint capsules are other fields of research. Orthopaedic implants and methods to preserve functionality after total hip replacement surgery are also studied.

Other areas of research include inguinal hernia, various cancers, abdominal wall surgery and acute abdominal pain. Laparascopy (keyhole surgery) and telemedicine, which reduce trauma for the patient when compared with open surgery, are also studied. Other areas of research include post-operative nausea and vomiting, advanced post-operative analgesia and targeted circulatory support during operations on older patients.

In recent years, certain aspects of regenerative medicine are also included in the concept of reparative medicine.