RESEARCH COMMITMENT
RESEARCH LABORATORY – STEP BY STEP TO GREAT RESULTS
The ETHIANUM Clinic’s research laboratory is located in the Neuenheimer Feld Technology Park in Heidelberg, in close proximity to our co-operation partners and facilities at Heidelberg University. Together, we conduct intensive research with adult mesenchymal stem cells in the research laboratory.
However, many people find it a mystery what happens in a research laboratory when it comes to stem cell research. How are the stem cells obtained? What happens to these stem cells? And how do scientists and researchers arrive at their results?
We would like to answer these questions briefly and concisely. You can find out more about what stem cells are and how stem cell research could benefit your health here.
RESEARCH LABORATORY
WHAT ARE ADULT MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS OBTAINED FROM?
In short, adult mesenchymal stem cells are obtained from fat. Tissue donors are needed; these are often people who have undergone liposuction, for example. During liposuction, fatty tissue is removed that would actually be disposed of after the operation. The tissue donor has given their written consent in advance. In addition, all procedures associated with tissue donation and research were reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of Heidelberg University.
The technical assistants in the research laboratory then isolate the stem cells from the fatty tissue in a complex process. The result is a purified stem cell solution.
RESEARCH LABORATORY
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE STEM CELLS?
The purified stem cell solution is used in various projects in vitro (in a test tube) and in vivo (in a living organism, so far only in an animal model). Sterile conditions and constant controls guarantee the highest quality and purity of the stem cells in all processes in the laboratory. Care and caution at the highest level are required here.
Finally, the research team investigates, among other things, the influence of different nutrients or gas concentrations on the growth and maturation capacity of the stem cell. For example, an original stem cell can mature into a bone, cartilage or fat cell. By colouring the stem cells with dyes before introducing them into a living organism (animal model), it is then possible to determine exactly where the stem cells have settled in the organism and whether they have transformed into new vascular or bone cells, for example.
RESEARCH LABORATORY
FINDINGS FROM RESEARCH
Research has shown that cells taken from a healthy person and frozen can be available for therapy even years later. This can be used, for example, in the event of a serious illness. For this purpose, the isolated human stem cells are preserved in liquid nitrogen. Even after years of dormancy, these stem cells are able to divide again and mature into different cell types.
However, the research work on stem cells has led to another major result. It has shown that stem cells can multiply almost indefinitely in an incubator. Even a small amount of fat tissue taken from the body is sufficient to isolate millions of stem cells.
And these findings are just the beginning and show why the work in the research laboratory serves your health in the long term and with a great deal of commitment and care.
RESEARCH LABORATORY
RESEARCH AWARD FOR OUR SPECIALIST PRIV.-DOZ. DR. EVA KÖLLENSPERGER
Priv.-Doz. Dr Eva Köllensperger received the Fritz Linder Prize from the German Society of Surgeons in May 2015 for her lecture on the influence of fat stem cells on carcinomas. The results of the in vitro work explicitly show that stem cells and tumour cells interact with each other. Unfortunately, however, not in a positive sense. This is because many properties and parameters that are clinically associated with the malignancy and metastasis of breast cancer are clearly and statistically significantly increased by the close proximity of tumour cells to stem cells. It must therefore be assumed that this could mean stronger and more aggressive tumour growth and earlier metastasis in vivo.
Six papers with the highest scientific rating were selected from over 600 papers submitted by all surgical societies and presented at the Surgical Forum. An interdisciplinary committee of experienced professors decided in favour of the work by Dr Köllensperger and her co-authors.
