Contact
Medical Faculty
Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelms University of Bonn
Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 33
53127 Bonn
Status Quo
The main research areas of the University Medical Center Bonn are: "Immunosciences and Infection", "Neurosciences", "Cardiovascular Sciences", "Oncology" and "Genetics and Epidemiology".
Animal experiments are also used to research diseases in these focus areas. In Bonn, in addition to breeding and animal experimental studies, all aspects of animal welfare (species-appropriate husbandry, veterinary care, consultation and planning of animal experimentation projects) are ensured in a central facility.
In the sense of " Refine" and "Reduce ", various cost-intensive devices for in vivo imaging and for the analysis of laboratory animals have therefore been acquired by the medical faculty in recent years (Phaenomaster, ultrasound, NMR, 3D intravital luminescence imaging, CODEX).
The area of "Reduce" also includes the application of nanobodies derived from alpacas and llamas, respectively, which can be produced recombinantly in bacteria and yeasts on a large scale, thus reducing the use of rabbits (conventional antibody production). Three newly appointed professorships, located between the Cluster of Excellence in Mathematics and Immunology, further contribute to the reduction of animal studies through their research on modeling biological and immunological processes. The research focus in the area of "Replace" at the Bonn site is on research on and with organoids (3D cell culture models) from tumor tissue and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). The interfaculty network of the Bonn Organoid Club promotes the exchange on this topic among researchers in Bonn.
Objective / Focus
At the Bonn site, the strategic focus in Refine and Reduce will be on the aspect of imaging. The intravital imaging methodology enables novel cellular insights. Through the additional integration of data from less burdensome imaging methods (e.g. MRI, immuno-PET, etc.), which will be further expanded at the site in the coming years, effective ways for refinement and reduction of animal experiments will be identified.
The use of mathematical modeling and artificial intelligence provides the basis for further improved image analysis of data sets. The expertise from the Clusters of Excellence in Mathematics and in Immunology will further assist in this.
The strategic focus in the area of "Replacement" is on organoid research in combination with imaging methods, so that synergies from the entire 3R research area can be used together. One desired outcome of this synergy gain and the linking of all 3R aspects is the future establishment of a 3R professorship.