Research

Project Details:
Diagnostic imaging of the equine cervical and thoracic spine has become increasingly important in recent years. The focus is on radiographic examinations, but also nuclear medicine and computed tomography are commonly used to address various clinical questions.
This project deals with the clinical relevance of radiographic and nuclear scintigraphy findings of the thoracic spine in relation to back pain and rideability problems as well as the diagnostic value of computed tomography and computed tomographic myelography in horses with spinal ataxia.

Project Details:
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Funding: Nordic Research Council (NRC), 49.000 EUR

Project Details:
The retreat of sea ice and the melting and retreat of tidewater glaciers are particularly visible signs of the changes taking place in the Arctic due to global warming. The deterioration of these two physical features of Arctic marine systems is occurring faster in the northern Barents Sea than elsewhere in the circumpolar Arctic, making the Norwegian High Arctic an indicator of climate change in the Arctic region as a whole. The changes will undoubtedly have profound effects on marine ecosystems in the High Arctic and consequences for endemic Arctic marine mammal species.
The ARK research programme will use a variety of data time series (occurrence, ecology, diet, contaminant levels, health parameters, infectious diseases, trophic interactions, etc.) to quantitatively assess different hypotheses on climate change impacts on Arctic marine mammals: 1) Habitat decline will lead to declines in ice-dependent species, changes in distribution patterns and, in the long term, species extinction. 2) Endemic species will increasingly compete with temperate species, which are expanding their habitats. 3) Exposure to new pathogens and increased levels of pollutants will have a negative impact on endemic species. 4) Atlantification of food webs will negatively impact Arctic species and affect the entire Arctic ecosystem.
Within the ARK project, the Kongsfjord, on the west coast of Spitsbergen, will be used in a case-study approach to investigate changes in the ecosystem, apply physical-biochemical food web models and complex risk analyses to make predictions and provide management information.

Cooperation Partners:

Kooperationsprojekt mit dem Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø

Funding: Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) of the University Hospital Erlangen

Project Details:
To investigate the impact of chronic colitis on the behavioral phenotype of mice expressing human α-synuclein under the Thy1-promoter(Thy1-αSyn mice), a well-established mouse model for synucleinopathies.

Cooperation Partners:

Dr.med. Patrick Süß, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Winkler (Dept of Molecular Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen)

Project Details:
Cognitive dysfunction is characteristic to the prodromal stages of Parkinson´s disease, and more generally to synucleinopathies. We test novel therapeutic options for cognitive dysfunction associated with alpha-synuclein pathology. We base our interest on microRNAs (miRNAs) which are small endogenous RNAs, and will test the hypotheses that specific miRNAs that are downregulated in PD brains are associated with cognitive dysfunction and, when delivered into the diseased brain, can form the basis for miRNA replacement therapy.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Eran Hornstein (Weizmann Institute, Israel); Prof. Achim Aigner (Klinische Pharmakologie, Universität Leipzig)

Funding: MWK über Uni Göttingen, 732.193 EUR

Project Details:
Das SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-Type 2) ist der Erreger von COVID-19. Der bisherige Verlauf der COVID-19 Pandemie hat nachdrücklich gezeigt, dass eine koordinierte Bündelung von interdisziplinären und komplementären Expertisen notwendig ist, um die vielfältigen Aspekte der Biologie, der Pathologie und der Epidemiologie von SARS-CoV-2 zu entschlüsseln und die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse sowohl klinisch für die Behandlung von Patienteninnen und Patienten als auch für die Modellierung von Infektionsverläufen in der Bevölkerung einzusetzen. Um einen solch holistischen Ansatz leisten und umsetzen zu können, bietet das Bundesland Niedersachsen mit seinen international renommierten Wissenschaftsstandorten ideale Voraussetzungen. Das Forschungsnetzwerk COFONI arbeitet am Aufbau eines COVID-19 Forschungsnetzwerkes des Landes Niedersachsen (COFONI)um gebündelt Forschungsvorhaben zur Entwicklung neuer Strategien zur Bekämpfung von COVID-19 zu entwickeln. Hauptfokus der Technologieplattform Tiermodelle ist der Aufbau von Tiermodellen für COVID-19.

Funding: Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, 224.100 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the project is to transfer an innovative concept for cold-storage of liquid preserved boar semen into practise. This enables the reduction of antibiotics in the preservation medium and additionally, the optimization of the transport logistics of the semen portions from semen collection centers to the sow farms. The environmental impact resulting from antibiotic use is reduced and possibilities for efficient use of boar semen are tested in practice. Thus, the CoolSperm project particularly promotes sustainability and efficiency in future-oriented pig breeding.

Results:

doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.01.025

doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305280

doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107486

doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12050857

10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107486

Cooperation Partners:

Institut für Fortpflanzung landwirtschaftlicher Nutztiere

Förderverein Bioökonomieforschung (FBF e.V.)

Genossenschaft zur Förderung der Schweinehaltung eG (GFS)

Minitüb GmbH

Funding: MWK über Uni Göttingen, 8.400.000 EUR

Project Details:
SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2) is the causative agent of COVID-19. The course of the COVID-19 pandemic so far has emphatically shown that a coordinated bundling of interdisciplinary and complementary expertise is necessary in order to decode the diverse aspects of the biology, pathology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and to use the knowledge gained clinically for the treatment of patients as well as for modeling the course of infection in the population. In order to be able to provide and implement such a holistic approach, the federal state of Lower Saxony offers ideal conditions with its internationally renowned science locations. We are therefore applying for financial support for collaborative research to set up a COVID-19 research network in the state of Lower Saxony (COFONI).

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG, 331.800 EUR

Project Details:
Investigation of the role of T cells in the immune pathogenesis of the infectious bursitis virus. The project is embedded in the DFG-research group "ImmunoChick"". "

Cooperation Partners:

PD Dr. Angela Berndt, FLI

PD Dr. U. Methner, FLI

PD Dr. S. Härtle, LMU München

Prof. Dr. T. Göbel, LMU München

Prof. Dr. B. Kaspers, LMU München

Prof. Dr. B. Kaufer, FU Berlin

Prof. Dr. M. Meissner, LMU München

Prof. Dr. B. Schusser, TU München

Prof. Dr. J. Kaufman, University of Cambridge

Funding: EU, 955.230 EUR

Project Details:
It is widely recognised that noise entering the underwater environment from shipping and other human activities can disturb and harm aquatic animals. Studies have already shown these disturbance effects, while other research has suggested ways to reduce some of the noise generated by shipping. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge and understanding of how underwater noise can affect individual animals and entire populations.

This is now set to change with the SATURN consortium, which for the first time brings together leading European experts in bioacoustics, veterinary medicine, population biology, plus naval architecture and engineering in an EU-funded project. Key issues include:
- Identifying sounds that are most harmful to aquatic species and how they are generated and propagated;
- What are the short-term and cumulative long-term negative effects of noise from ships and boats on aquatic species in rivers and the sea;
- What are the most promising options for measuring and reducing the negative impacts of ship noise that can be applied to current and future ships.

Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert, Director of the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research at the TiHo, is the leader of the biological working group in this consortium, which investigates the influence of underwater noise on the behaviour, health and energy balance of aquatic organisms. Another important aspect supported by ITAW is public relations and communication.

Results:

Paper

"Unsealing behaviour: Variation in harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) responses to anthropogenic sound in relation to individual health"""

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25002528?via%3Dihub