GRK 2154:  Materials for Brain (M4B): Thin film functional materials for minimally invasive therapy of brain dieseases

• Subject Area: Materials Science ; Neurosciences
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 270394294

The treatment of patients with chronic brain diseases is mainly based on systemic drug treatments. Sufficiently large drug concentrations in the brain are often accompanied by side effects affecting other organs in the body. Neural implants, which allow localized and individualized therapy, are an alternative solution if they can satisfy the following requirements: they must be compact, biocompatible, resilient and highly flexible, particularly when used in kids and teens. Defined, nano-scale, therapeutically active coatings as well as suitability of the implants for diagnostics with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can open up new prospects for novel therapies. In order to reach these goals, micro-structured, functional materials based on thin film technology will be investigated for innovative local treatment of epilepsies, brain tumors and vascular diseases. Material-controlled drug release and implant interactions with cells will initially be studied using cell cultures. Subsequently, the effect of the implants on specific structures and functions of the brain will be investigated in disease-related animal models by histological and in vivo approaches by MRI and functional tests (behavioral tests, electroencephalography). The development of such cutting-edge localized therapies and suitable functional materials requires substantial collaboration between materials science and medicine. With the research training group proposed here, we will establish great possibilities for an interdisciplinary doctorate: interdisciplinary languages and problem-solving strategies will be fostered in line with hands-on practice in a future, joint research area of medical and materials sciences. The education program will include mandatory and comprehensible interdisciplinary communication of goals, methods and results to co-workers from other disciplines. We foresee a future where there will be a strongly increasing need for scientists with interdisciplinary research experience in medical and materials sciences both in Germany and internationally. Such scientists will carry out competitive research as well as developments for advancing technologies in both materials science and medical research. This demand for specifically educated scientists is a main focus within this research training group.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Franz Faupel; Privatdozentin Dr. Kirsten Hattermann, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Janka Held-Feindt; Professor Dr. Jan-Bernd Hövener; Professor Dr. Olav Jansen; Professor Dr.-Ing. Eckhard Quandt; Professor Dr. Ulrich Stephani; Professorin Dr. Regine Willumeit-Römer; Professor Dr. Peer Wulff
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Rainer Adelung, since 4/2020