Main research focus
Medication safety
Project managers: PD Dr. A. Neubert, Prof. Dr. W. Rascher
Perinatal programming and early determination of renal and cardiovascular disorders
Project managers: Prof. Dr. A. Hartner, PD Dr. K. Benz
Genetic skin diseases of the neonate
Project manager: Prof. Dr. H. Schneider
Genomic aberrations in childhood malignancies
Project managers: Prof. Dr. M. Metzler, Prof. Dr. T. Langer (until 06/2013)
Differentiation pathways during skeletal development
Project managers: Prof. Dr. M. Rauh, Prof. Dr. H. Schneider
Perinatal hypoxic brain injury and neuroprotection
Project manager: Prof. Dr. R. Trollmann
Structure of the Department
The Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine comprises five specialized divisions (Neonatology, Neuropediatrics and Social Pediatrics, Pediatric Oncology/Cell Therapy, Nephrology, and Molecular Pediatrics), an endowed professorship for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, and a number of specialized outpatient clinics. Academic staff of the Department includes 102 physicians and scientists. Of these, 20 positions are financed by external funds.
Research is focused on the field of perinatal medicine with particular emphasis on molecular and developmental biology. Project coordination and scientific guidance are provided by a professorship for experimental perinatal medicine. Other main research activities are related to pediatric oncology, neuropediatrics, and nephrology. In addition, clinical trials are conducted by all five divisions of the Department and by the section of endocrinology/diabetology (e.g. interventional trials, studies on genetic conditions, infection epidemiology or medication safety, studies investigating long-term effects of surgical interventions, anti-cancer therapy or growth hormone application during childhood). The clinical studies are supported by the hospital’s site management organization. Many medical experts work together to bring novel research to the bedsite. Patient care is based on close collaboration with the Divisions of Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Surgery, and Cardiac Surgery as well as with various subspecialities, often planned and carried out by interdisciplinary teams (Center for Perinatal Medicine, Center for Epilepsy, Heart Center, Cleft Lip and Palate Center, Transplantation Center).
Teaching
Besides traditional forms of teaching (compulsory lecture series with case presentations, revision course, and hands-on training in pediatrics), special lectures, research seminars, and interdisciplinary courses are offered to medical students. Individual members of the research staff give lectures and practical courses for students enrolled in the Graduate Programs in Molecular Medicine and Medical Process Management. An "emergency care simulator" adapted to the needs of neonatology and pediatric intensive care enables the training of emergency medical procedures and team-work analysis of the management strategies applied. This includes regular reviews of real emergency situations experienced in our clinic.
Selected Publications
- Krieg P, Rosenberger S, de Juanes S, Latzko S, Hou J, Dick A, Kloz U, van der Hoeven F, Hausser I, Esposito I, Rauh M, Schneider H (2013) Aloxe3 knockout mice reveal a function of epidermal lipoxygenase-3 as hepoxilin synthase and its pivotal role in barrier formation. J Invest Dermatol, 133:172-80
- Menendez-Castro C, Cordasic N, Neureiter D, Amann K, Marek I, Volkert G, Stintzing S, Jahn A, Rascher W, Hilgers KF, Hartner A (2014) Underexpression of alpha8 integrin aggravates experimental atherosclerosis. J Pathol, doi: 10.1002/path.4501
- Hermes K, Schneider P, Krieg P, Dang A, Huttner K, Schneider H. Prenatal therapy in developmental disorders: drug targeting via intra-amniotic injection to treat X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (2014) J Invest Dermatol 134:2985-7
- Berger M, Dirksen U, Braeuninger A, Koehler G, Juergens H, Krumbholz M, Metzler M (2013) Genomic EWS-FLI1 fusion sequences in Ewing sarcoma resemble breakpoint characteristics of immature lymphoid malignancies. PLoS One, 8:e56408
- Radtke S, Zolk O, Renner B, Paulides M, Zimmermann M, Möricke A, Stanulla M, Schrappe M, Langer T. (2013) Germline genetic variations in methotrexate candidate genes are associated with pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood 121:5145-53
- Trollmann R, Richter M, Jung S, Walkinshaw G, Brackmann F (2014) Pharmacologic stabilization of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors protects developing mouse brain from hypoxia-induced apoptotic cell death. Neuroscience, 278:327-42
International Collaborations
- Prof. Dr. D. Tibboel, Intensive Care and Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam: The Netherlands
- Dr. J. Standing, Institute of Child Health, University College London School of Pharmacy, London: UK
- Prof. Dr. P.A. Lönnqvist, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm: Sweden
- Prof. Dr. M. Gassmann, Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich: Switzerland
- Dr. C. Tuleu, Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research, University College London School of Pharmacy, London: UK
- Prof. Dr. I. Wong, Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacy, University of Hongkong, Hongkong: China
- Prof. Dr. A. Shlien, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto: Canada
- Dr. G. Te Kronnie, Department of Pediatrics, University of Padua, Padua: Italy
- Prof. Dr. A. Clarke, Institute of Cancer & Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff: UK
- Dr. P. Schneider, Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges: Switzerland
- Prof. Dr. M. Gibson, Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh: USA
- Dr. K. Huttner, Edimer Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge: USA