Aneurysm wall biology
Goal: We aim to elucidate mechanisms involved in development, growth, rupture, and healing of intracranial aneurysms. The ultimate goal is to find a treatment modality that allows reconstituting affected intracranial vessel walls ad integrum.
Hypothesis: We hypothesis that mural cell loss is a key event leading to intracranial aneurysm growth, rupture, and poor healing after endovascular therapy. We further assume that more profound knowledge of intracranial aneurysm wall biology can offer new therapy solutions and help in the decision-making process of the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.
Endovascular device development
Goal: The rapidly evolving fields of cerebrovascular neurosurgery in combination with recent advances in material sciences and micro-engineering harbor a potential for the development of new surgical instruments and tools, to make neurosurgical procedures safer and better than they used to be.
Hypothesis: In order to provide the best possible service to our patients based on up-to-date knowledge and newest scientific achievements, constant replacement and refinement of our surgical armamentarium is indispensable. Therefore, we are committed to collaborate closely among clinicians, basic scientist from different fields and industrial partners.
Extracranial aneurysm models
Goal: We aim to develop new preclinical animal models of extracranial aneurysms with similar hemodynamic, morphologic, and histologic characteristics as human intracranial ones. Such models are of great significance to allow a better understanding of the pathophysiological processes and help the development and the testing of new therapeutic strategies.
Hypothesis: A rabbit aneurysm model showing two elastase-digested saccular aneurysms with different hemodynamic conditions (e. g. stump and bifurcation) within the same animal would allow to study and compare the natural course and potential treatment strategies on the basis of aneurysm biology under consideration of different flow conditions.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Goal: We aim to discover new therapeutic approaches to diminish detrimental sequelae after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The closed-cranium rabbit shunt SAH model, developed and established by our group, mimics human pathophysiological features of aneurysm rupture and allows to examine research questions associated with both cerebral vasospasms and early brain injury.
Hypothesis: Tocilizumab reduces CVS, microcirculatory dysfunction, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration after SAH.
