Research
Scientific projects at the ISI strive for the translational application of preclinical developments from industry to improve patient care. Ideas for new examination procedures and new medical devices are born in direct and cooperative contact between clinical users and developers as well as medical technicians of the industry. This also results in regularly jointly held patents confirming the innovative power and the comprehensive competence of ISI Erlangen. New medical devices are optimized at ISI after their initial approval and further applications are developed. Cross-connection with regional partners in the medical industry consists of the BMBF-funded cluster "Medical Valley EMN." Research focuses on:
Electronic data management
Team: Prof. Dr. A. Cavallaro, PD Dr. M. Hammon, Dr. P. Dankerl, Dr. H. Seuss
The ever-increasing amounts of data are structured in "big data" projects and are intended to improve patient care with intelligent algorithms in the future. Following the completion of the "Medico" project of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, another major project at the ISI was launched with the "Clinical Data Intelligence Project."
Children's radiology
Team: Dr. O. Rompel, PD Dr. M. Hammon, PD Dr. M. May
Rapid examination techniques of computed tomography (high-pitch) are tested for clinical use and the effect of the results on clinical therapy decisions is investigated. Methods of magnetic resonance imaging established in adults are evaluated for use in children.
Conventional X-ray
Team: PD Dr. W. Wüst, PD Dr. F. Roemer, PD Dr. M. May
New generations of X-ray scanners use industrial robotic arms to standardize examination processes and enable imaging of new target areas. Applications, dose behavior and image quality are evaluated in comparison to conventional techniques.
Computed tomography
Team: PD Dr. M. May, PD Dr. W. Wüst, PD Dr. M. Hammon
New technical developments will be investigated with respect to their application to patients and new clinical applications will be developed (e.g. low kV, tin filters, iterative reconstructions, dual energy). New concepts of mobile device control are evaluated in daily practice for more economical processes and closer patient care.
MRI physics
For quantitative and metabolic MR imaging, new measurement techniques are being established and evaluated at the ISI. The focus is on diffusion MRI, quantitative susceptibility weighted imaging, sodium MRI and chemical exchange sensing transfer (CEST) MRI.
Clinical evaluation of new MRI techniques
Team: Prof. Dr. Armin Nagel, Prof. Dr. Rolf Janka, PD Dr. M. Hammon, PD Dr. W. Wüst, Dr. H. Seuss, Prof. Dr. Evelyn Wenkel, Dr. Sabine Ohlmeyer, Prof. Dr. Alexander Cavallaro, Prof. Dr. Frederik Laun
New MRI techniques are evaluated at the ISI institute. The focus is on the diagnosis of mamma and prostate cancer, liver metastases, as well as cardiovascular MRI methods. Another focus is on the study of electrolyte balance, e.g. in kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension and muscle diseases. One goal is to establish increased image quality, which allows for better and safer diagnostics. Another goal is to speed up image acquisition to minimize examination times.
