Morszeck Service Unit for Preclinical Trials

• Morszeck Service Unit für Preclinical Studies (PCTU)
• Contact for Project Consulting and Experimental Design
• Our Team

Measuring different tumor parameters such as the micromilieu, metabolism, or biomarkers using non-invasional imaging techniques like positron emission tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (PET or MRI) can improve the concept of personalization and precision in medicine. These methods allow for the facilitation of patient stratification, risk assessment and adjustment during therapy. Biological tumor imaging before and during therapy is of utmost clinical importance, especially with regard to the biologically relevant information of tumor tissue. Thus, predictive imaging parameters can be established to predict and adapt the course of therapy. This results in a new innovative dimension of biological image-guided precision of radiotherapy.

The aim of the Morszeck PCTU is to test and establish novel radiotherapeutic treatment strategies in pre-clinical animal experiments and to complement clinical studies synergistically in order to better understand biological mechanisms determining clinical treatment parameters. Findings from clinical studies can be re-examined preclinically in detail in basic biological terms. In tandem with the extension of clinical applications in our Radiological and Radiooncological Research Center (REZ) for clinical trials and the core facility for small animal imaging, the PCTU provides the unique possibility of cooperation and translation of preclinical and clinical research in the field of radiation therapy. Thus, innovative studies combining radiotherapy with promising new drugs, immunotherapeutics and radiopharmaceuticals, which have an as yet unknown risk profile regarding their interaction with radiation, but are to be used together clinically in the future, can be tested preclinically.

Our Team: Wahyu W. Hadiwikarta - Data Management, Mareike Roscher - Project Leader, Ina Kurth - Head of Division, Rosemarie Euler-Lange - Project Assistance