Traumatic spinal cord injury

• Applicant: Tobias Prasse
• Subject Area: Clinical Neurology; Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology ; Orthopaedics, Traumatology, Reconstructive Surgery
• Term: from 2022 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 496450087

Two different aspects define the goals of this project.The first one is the experimental project itself. Starting in a small animal model, it is the aim to establish the already existing imaging technique Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) as a diagnostic tool for the blood flow monitoring in mechanically damaged nervous tissue. Among other aims, one is to define different degrees of severity of tissue damage. After that, the focus is on the penumbra - nervous tissue reduced blood supply, but is still alive and salvageable. Furthermore, it is purposed to define a biomarker for this specific salvageable tissue. Further steps are to transfer the small animal model to larger animals. Depending on the results and achievements the application as part of clinical studies in humans is desired. Developing an international cooperation and establishing a basis for bilateral and international relations is the second aspect. Such connections are not only beneficial for both institutions, but also for both science systems.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Christoph P. Hofstetter, Ph.D.