Cellular Approaches for Rare Pulmonary Diseases 2 (CARPuD 2)

The project, which started in 2009 and is now in the second funding period, is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The nation-wide consortium is coordinated by Professor Dr. Ulrich Martin, Hannover Medical School (MHH), and brings together the expertise of numerous scientists from the MHH, the Saarland University Hospital, and the University Hospital Heidelberg.

Goal of the partners of the CARPuD network is the development of innovative therapies for the treatment of rare lung diseases like alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, cystic fibrosis or surfactant deficiencies, for which, in many cases, lung transplantation remains the only therapeutic option. The basic idea is to reprogram patient-derived somatic cells into so-called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, genetically correct these iPS cells and subsequently differentiate them into the desired respiratory cell type. These gene-corrected autologous (i.e. patient-specific) cells may then be used for functional replacement of damaged airway cells and deliver normal lung function. Within the CARPuD consortium scientists establish human iPS cells from patients with above mentioned rare lung diseases and develop protocols for improved and scalable differentiation of these iPS cells. Additionally, a patients’ fibroblast bank is established to enable the generation and evaluation of a variety of patient-specific stem cells. These joint activities finally may provide the basis for clinical application of novel cell-based therapies targeting rare pulmonary diseases.

Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE)

NIFE is a consortium of the Hannover Medical School (MHH), the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation (TiHo), and the Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) in cooperation with the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH). This transdisciplinary network, consisting of natural scientists, engineers and physicians, takes the region and the German State of Lower Saxony into an international focus as one of the leading facilities of biomedical research and development.

NIFE’s major aim is to explore new and innovative approaches and face the ever increasing challenges on suitable implants, due to the demographic development. Within the implant research and development, essential problem areas like biocompatibility, infection and bio functionalization can be efficient and target-oriented proceeded to develop more functional and durable implants. In parallel, existing preclinical and clinical expertise can be used to convert the latest findings from the laboratory quickly into products that are suitable for the market.