brood of Narrow, winding corridors full of laboratory robots and cooling units on the ceiling lights made of plastic and metal, in-between window of insight into small spaces with work surfaces, cupboards and appliances. The lack of space in the clean room floor at the Mousson street 13 in Zurich, vaguely reminiscent of a submarine. As a visitor, one believes to hear in the Background is a depth sounder. And you would not be surprised to meet Herbert Grönemeyer in his role as Lieutenant Werner in the movie “The boat”.
The rooms at the heart of the center Wyss in Zurich, which was donated by 2015, the Swiss Medtech entrepreneur and billionaire hansjörg Wyss of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. And they are the Pride of Simon Hoerstrup. He has set up the centre together with roboticists, Roland siegwart, and directs it as a Co-Director. A total of 120 million Swiss francs stuck in the various locations in Zurich. “It is difficult to convince academic institutions that it needs in addition to the traditional research funding such an expensive infrastructure to get ahead,” says Hoerstrup.
Inexperienced scientists raise false hopes
The center closes a gap in the development of new therapies, which will be called from the creators martial “Valley of Death”. This valley must approaches promising treatment to pass through, if they are so advanced that they can leave the laboratory and in clinical studies in humans tested. Too often, if this is not successful, explains Hoerstrup. “In General, researchers reasons of University Spin-offs, the attempt to Finance expensive studies with the aid of investors,” says Hoerstrup. Enthusiastic, economically but often inexperienced scientists to raise the money for false hopes of a rapid return of donors, then run. “Often the Whole thing ends in mutual disappointment.”
The Finance and the infrastructure of the Wyss center will allow researchers now, the first clinical studies. “The usually very complex, and therapies can then develop two to three years longer under academic leadership, and come to Mature in the clinic or on the market.”
“children are incredible Fighters.”
Hoerstrup was born in 1966 in Cologne, in an old medical family. Great-grandfather and Grandfather were Doctors, his father, a neurologist, and also the siblings made the study of medicine. However, although Hoerstrup of the family tradition and remained faithful, he provided for disappointment, because he opted for the surgery – from the perspective of the family, to craft specialization. Also that he is today not a clinically active physician, and as a center Director does not work directly with patients, concern for discussions in the family, smiles Hoerstrup. Whether its be a full year old daughters are continuing the family tradition, or rather of the books read-and-write mother’s check, is still open.
at the Beginning, followed Hoerstrup, however, is actually a classic doctor’s career. According to medical studies and clinical work in Germany, Switzerland and the United States, he moved to the mid-1990s, according to Zurich, the heart hospital, medical pioneer, Marko Turina. A research stay at Boston Children’s Hospital launched then but the end of his medical career. The hospital was the Mecca of children’s heart surgery, and Hoerstrup was able to participate in complex heart operations on newborns. “It is fascinating to see how these little children to withstand such large operations,” says the physician. “There are incredible Fighters.”
Must be used for valves of small children implants such as heart, until today, the Problem is that these artificial parts will not grow. Therefore, it takes after that in most cases multiple re-operations. “The risk for serious complications and even death increases with each engagement exponentially,” says Hoerstrup. In some cases, there are no good solutions, since it is possible to work as a doctor. “A researcher can help with innovations to patients, sometimes more than a brilliant surgeon,” says Hoerstrup.
Daily tribute to the master of Regeneration
at the end of the 1990s, took on the world, research on regenerative medicine. Hoerstrup mixed at the Harvard Medical School in Boston. “I was able to develop in an animal model for the first time, a heart valve from the body’s own tissue,” said Hoerstrup. In 1999, he presented a living artificial heart valve in sheep, which brought international attention. Back in Zurich, he turned, with the support of his boss Turina complete the research.
In consequence he had established in Zurich in the field of regenerative medicine, and also the first the chair in Switzerland. “I’m certainly a increased masses with the new technology,” says Hoerstrup. Today, he is Director of the Institute for Regenerative medicine, University of Zurich, where the long-term projects by Martin Schwab for spinal cord regeneration, and by Roger Nitsch and Christoph Hock are located to Alzheimer’s. At the Wyss center, among other things, the team of Ernst Reichmann from the Zurich children’s hospital of new replacement skin and that of the University hospital-neurologist Roland Martin are also working on a novel MS therapy.
The Axolotl can regrow after an injury to limbs, organs and even parts of the brain and of the heart. Photo: Alamy
As a Symbol for the still young research field of regenerative medicine, there is a large picture of the Axolotls hangs in the stairwell of the Institute. The aquatic amphibian from Mexico is able to leave after an injury to limbs, organs and even parts of the brain and of the heart regrowth. “The animal is the master of Regeneration,” says Hoerstrup. “We should bow our heads every day when you go in front of the image.”
However, it is the regenerative medicine quiet. In the zero years, a real Hype prevailed, and it was expected soon, the body’s own replacement organs from stem cells. It quickly became clear that everything is much more complicated than believed. Many researchers turned to other topics. “As the chaff separated from the wheat,” says Hoerstrup. And now, the success finally. “Many have made, come now in the clinical Phase.” Also, the heart valve project, Hoerstrup yourself. “We are now planning the first clinical trial,” he says. For the time being, with blood vessels that are grown from the body’s own cells. In the foreseeable future to grow with the replacement of the heart is to fold a reality. Simon Hoerstrup is convinced.
(editing Tamedia)
Created: 25.01.2019, 19:22 PM
