As a major clinical and scientific focus of the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (University Hospital Aachen), our research questions are derived from the daily clinical work with patients and are subsequently dealt with in cooperation with numerous local, national, and international institutes across a variety of disciplines.The group’s overarching premise is the translational use of advanced image acquisition and post-processing techniques to benefit our patients. Often termed “from bench to bedside”, we take this approach seriously to make sure our techniques work on tissue samples, cadaveric joints and extremities before we implement them for clinical use and validation on volunteers and patients.
What exactly are we working on?
1) Detection of early osteoarthritis, a widespread clinical condition with huge individual and socioeconomic disease burden, at a potentially reversible stage. Just talk to virtually anyone above the age of 70 to learn more about the need of improved diagnostics and therapies….
2) Functional imaging of tissues and joints to get an insight into their status and function. Just look at your car’s broken shock absorber with its limited use. Same applies to cartilage, meniscus, ligaments and so on…
3) Artificial Intelligence-assisted image acquisition and processing to improve, standardize, and streamline diagnostic processes. Just imagine a fatigued radiologist who hasn’t slept for a while looking at your study – besides sleeping well, he/she could use some smart assistance when assessing your images…
4) Further clinical research questions as they come along concern knee, hip and shoulder joint injuries, traumatological questions of the spine, and medical education.
What exact tools are we using?In addition to state-of-the-art MRI techniques, we apply sophisticated biomechanical devices, differentiated techniques of automated image processing (machine learning) and computer-based simulations (computational engineering) that are developed and applied in close cooperation with the technical institutes of RWTH Aachen University.
Who exactly pays for our research?Funding is provided both internally (by RWTH Aachen University and the Heinrich-Heine-University) and externally by national funding agencies (e.g. DFG - German Research Association).