Overview of research projects

Project Details:
Overall statistics covering the last 20 breeding years to investigate influences and correlations between maternal, paternal, gender health, genetic and environmental factors and their impact on reproductive performance.

Cooperation Partners:

Deutscher Galopp e.V., Köln

Funding: Stiftung zur Förderung der Erforschung von Ersatz- und Ergänzungsmethoden zur Einschränkung von Tierversuchen, 125.000 EUR

Project Details:
Chronic pain represents a significant health problem affecting approximately 20 to 50% of the world's population. Therapeutic methods are largely developed in behavioral tests with induced pain in rodents. This approach does not allow for pain treatment, leading to severe distress for the animals. Nevertheless, therapeutics developed in animals are not always effective in humans. Therefore, two in vitro models using human cells will be developed to quantify neuron-mediated chronic pain with the highest possible predictive power. For this purpose, stem cell-derived sensory neurons will be used (1.) to develop a luciferase-based exocytosis assay to easily quantify the increased release of neuropeptides (Substance P and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) involved in the chronic pain response. Additionally, (2.) an innervated skin model will be developed to quantify neurite outgrowth and the expression of regulated genes associated with chronic pain receptors and ion channels involved in signal transduction in vitro. The proof-of-concept for the use of these models in pharmacology and toxicology will be provided by inhibiting induced neuropeptide release, induced neurite outgrowth, and induced gene expression with therapeutically effective substances or by triggering them through the addition of exogenous substances. This approach allows for the modeling of molecular pathways of chronic pain development in vitro, directly in human cells, to avoid unnecessary animal experiments and to develop effective and safe therapeutics for humans. Following the project, the skin model will be adapted to model atopic dermatitis using induced pluripotent stem cells and primary cells from patients, aiming to bring specific in vitro disease models into application for the development of new therapies in cooperation with industrial partners. Furthermore, the project should serve as a foundation for further cross-disciplinary in vitro modeling, such as the simulation of chronic joint pain.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Annemarie Lang, Ph.D., University of Michigan

Funding: IDT Biologika und von der Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), 484.000 EUR

Project Details:
We will study the immunogenicity and efficacy of our vaccine candidate, MVA-MERS-S, when used in different single vaccination and vaccination-booster setting in the lethal k18-hDPP4-mouse model after MERS-CoV-challenge infection. Different vaccination schedules also include different time points of challenge infection. We will characterize the activation of MERS-CoV-specific antibodies and T cells. The protective efficacy will be analyzed by morbidity, mortality and viral load in the lung and the brain a target organs. Moreover, a histopathological examination of the upper and lower respiratory tract of the animals upon challenged with MERS-CoV will show any evidence of ADE and ERD, respectively. Another study will evaluate the impact of passively transfered sera from MVA-MERS-S vaccinated mice for the outcome of protection after challenge infection.

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, 104.438 EUR

Project Details:
From 12.04. to 15.04.2023 the "Black Grouse Symposium 2023, Will the black grouse survive in the Lüneburg Heath?" took place at Camp Reinsehlen in Schneverdingen. The event was organized by the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation (NNA), the ITAW, the Lower Saxony Hunting Association (LJN), the Lower Saxony Ministries of Agriculture (ML) and Environment (MU) and the Nature Conservation Park Association (VNP). At the symposium, the alarming state of the black grouse population in Lower Saxony, known and suspected causes of this state and possible solutions were discussed. The participants, in particular the local stakeholders from the areas of occurrence, clearly advocated a species aid program for the black grouse in the Lüneburg Heath, which should provide a framework for eliminating the problems discussed in the best possible way and achieving a healthy, stable population in the medium to long term.

At a follow-up event initiated by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection in June 2023, the project to develop a black grouse action plan was launched. The project is being implemented by the ITAW and the NNA. The contents of the action plan will be coordinated with the involved stakeholders from landowners, authorities and other interest groups as part of a "round table".

Cooperation Partners:

Projektpartner: Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz (NNA)

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, 255.930 EUR

Project Details:
The mouflon or mouflon Ovis gmelini musimon only occurs in a few remaining populations in Lower Saxony. The mouflon should have a good chance of survival at least in some low mountain regions due to its predator avoidance strategy with short steep escapes up rocky slopes, but has become extinct in the lowland regions due to the presence of the wolf.
There is much discussion about the few animals in Lower Saxony and Germany in general: The mouflon is not originally native here (not autochthonous) and causes high levels of damage to forestry locally. On the other hand, it is classified as endangered by the IUCN in its native Corsica and Sardinia and is a symbolic species for hunters. Therefore, in this study we want to take a neutral view and use photo traps and direct observations to determine facts about abundance, behavior and enemy avoidance strategies as well as damage effects. In addition, surveys and interviews will be used to obtain the opinions of the various stakeholders (hunters, foresters, farmers, other nature lovers, etc.).
All of this data will be used to objectify the discussion about mouflon, large predators and human interests and to model the survival probabilities of Lower Saxony's mouflon populations in the presence of wolves and lynx.

Funding: BUND Landesverband Nidersachesen e.V., 37.018 EUR

Project Details:
Underwater noise from ship traffic, the construction of facilities in the water and on the coast or the explosion of ammunition in the sea is identified as a threat by various national and international expert assessments and has negative effects on marine animals in the Wadden Sea - especially on marine mammals, including porpoises. Many projects on the effects of noise pollution on marine mammals underwater are already being carried out at the ITAW. The ITAW is particularly concerned with the effects of underwater noise on harbor porpoises, with a particular focus on ship traffic, offshore constructions, and unexploded ordnance contaminated sites (e.g. BfN-UWE2, BMBF-COASTALFUTURE, EU project SATURN). In this joint project with BUND, ITAW will provide support with recommendations for measures to reduce the effects of underwater noise on porpoises, development of voluntary rules of conduct, participation in panel discussions and materials for exhibitions. Different target groups should be made aware of the need to reduce underwater noise through different offers (exhibitions, lectures in schools, raising awareness among recreational boat owners). At the same time, recommendations for concrete measures to reduce underwater noise pollution are being developed.

Results:

(BUND) Leaflet containing information on the sources of underwater noise pollution caused by recreational boats and on the measures that recreational boaters and sailors can take to help protect porpoises.

https://www.bund-niedersachsen.de/service/publikationen/detail/publication/ruhe-fuer-die-schweinswale/

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur, 178.000 EUR

Project Details:
Measure 1 consists of work package A, which is part of e-learning service. The use of the blended learning format in veterinary teaching is to be promoted. A further focus will be placed on strengthening the (e-)didactic skills of lecturers and the digital skills of students, for which training courses will be created for these target groups.

Measure 1 also includes work package B, which is located in the Clinical Skills Lab. The establishment of a surgical logbook is intended to strengthen students' surgical skills. To support the implementation of the surgical logbook, a training concept for teaching surgical skills is being developed.

Funding: Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst, 44.500 EUR

Project Details:
Epilepsies are frequent neurological diseases in humans and dogs, characterized by recurrent, spontaneous seizures. About one third of human and two thirds of canine epilepsy patients do not become seizure free with the currently available antiseizure medications and are considered as pharmacoresistant. In addition, all antiseizure drugs cause adverse effects. Non-pharmacological treatment strategies are therefore urgently needed, and include therapeutic exercise training as adjunctive therapy.
So far, the effects of moderate exercise training on epileptic seizure thresholds are not sufficiently investigated, although several studies suggest that its positive effects might be therapeutically useful. Our pre-clinical studies focus on the effects of moderate exercise training on epileptic seizure thresholds and behavior.

Cooperation Partners:

Gerald Schneider (Klinik für Rehabilitations- und Sportmedizin, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)

Funding: MWK, 540.878 EUR

Project Details:
Comprehensive characterization of the hormone profiles of the HPG axis in male and female Long COVID patients, hormone panels, hormone measurements and statistical evaluations.
Creation of expression profiles of sex hormones and
sex hormone receptors in the plasma, lungs, reproductive organs and brains of male and female hamsters.

Results:

https://www.umg.eu/forschung/corona/cofoni/

Funding: AfT Schaumann-Stiftung, 10.000 EUR

Project Details:
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