Translational Medicine
Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC)
Respiratory diseases are among the most important causes of death worldwide and the WHO (World Health Organization) expects them to become even more prevalent within the next 20 years. To cope with the resulting medical and socio-economic challenges, the CPC was collaboratively established by the Helmholtz Zentrum München, the medical department of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU) and the Asklepios Clinics for Pulmonary Diseases, Gauting. The innovative and scientifically excellent concept of the CPC integrates the expertise and competences of the partners in basic, clinical and pre-clinical pulmonary research to provide the basis for optimal, multi-facetted care for patients with pulmonary diseases. The CPC is an integrative part of the Helmholtz Association, since the CPC pursues translational research initiatives converting basic research into improvements of health care, one of the main goals of the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Health in Munich.
The main scientific topics of the CPC are:
- Asthma bronchiale and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Interstitial pneumopathy
- Lung cancer
- Lung transplantation
- Stem cell research
Clinical Cooperation Group (CCG)
The research activities of the CCG focus on inflammatory lung diseases, in particular environment-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is also commonly known as “smoker’s cough”. COPD is caused by the regular inhalation of aerosols, which are found for instance in cigarette smoke. The disease includes chronic obstructive bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema. Emphysema is a destruction of alveolar tissue. This leads to a reduction of the inner surface of the lung, which is required for gas exchange. The chronic inflammation of the airways, i.e. chronic bronchitis causes the walls of the respiratory system to become thicker such that the air passages become very narrow. COPD is difficult to diagnose and the therapies, which are available, only allow for a temporary relief and do not cure the disease. Therefore, the CCG focuses on investigating the mechanisms of the development of the disease and of developing new diagnostic and therapeutical methods. For this purpose methods of controlled inhalation developed by the CCG as well as the latest molecular biology and immunological methods are applied.
