Research Retina

Retina research at our department focusses on improvements of optical imaging methods, the quantitative assessment of the retinal vascular system in systemic vascular diseases, the investigation of genetic and molecular mechanisms of the development and maintenance of retinal vessels, in addition, we develop personalized diagnostic and treatment strategies for the intravitreal injection therapy.

Method for the analysis of quantitative fundus autofluorescence (QAF)

Quantitative fundus autofluorescence (QAF) is a further development of conventional, routinely performed fundus autofluorescence recording. After excitation with blue light some substances in cells of the retina show an autofluorescence that can be recorded with special cameras. These recordings allow an assessment of the health of the outer retinal layers. QAF enables us to use autofluorescence signals in their intensity to compare and thus carry out both long-term progressions and comparisons between test persons. Knowledge about the metabolism of the outer retina is gained, which is used to interpret normal aging and pathological changes.

Team:
Dr. med. Andreas Berlin
Nikolai Kleefeldt
Prof. Dr. med. Jost Hillenkamp

Retinal involvement of systemic vascular diseases

In this interdisciplinary clinical project we quantitatively investigate the retinal vascular system using angiography-optical coherence tomography (OCT) in well-defined patient cohorts with various systemic vascular diseases, i.e. giant cell arteritis. We cooperate with cardiovascular research, radiology, neurology and rheumatology and compare our ophthalmological data with the results of other organ involvement.

Team:
Dr. med. Andreas Berlin
Lukas Willmann
Dr. med. Dorothea Schwabe
Prof. Dr. med. Jost Hillenkamp

Abbildung einer Autofluoreszenz von RPE-Zellen — Autofluorescence of RPE cells; from: Ach et al: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 56 (5), 3242-3252.

Neurovascular Mechanisms of the Retina

In this laboratory experimental cooperation project with the Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Würzburg, we investigate genetic and molecular mechanisms of development and maintenance of retinal vessels. One of our main goals is to identify molecular mechanisms and cell populations essential in clinically important diseases of the retinal vascular system such as diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity or age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Team:
Nikolai Kleefeldt
Prof. Dr. med. Jost Hillenkamp
Prof. Dr. med. Barbara Braunger, Institute for Anatomy
Dr. Mario Vallon, Institute for Anatomy

Health Services Research – Treatment strategies and logistics in intravitreal injection therapy

In intravitreal injection therapy drugs are repeatedly injected directly into the vitreous cavity as a treatment of retinal diseases. In this project we investigate and compare different treatment strategies aiming to develop new efficient personalized treatment logarithms.

Team
Lukas Willmann