X-ray fluoroscopy system for large animals

由于心血管系统的生物学复杂性，动物模型是临床前研究中不可缺少的步骤，不仅可以研究潜在疾病的发病机制，还可以开发和测试新的治疗策略。这些模型包括小动物模型，例如小鼠或大鼠，但也包括猪或羊的大动物模型。尽管大型动物模型看起来更复杂，但它们提供了突出的优势，例如在遗传相关性、心脏和血管的结构和功能方面与人类有显著的相似之处。在临床前心血管研究和将结果转化为人类的过程中，与人类相关的大动物模型的生成是强制性的。基于心脏导管的大型动物模型可以对心脏进行微创干预，如支架植入、心肌梗死或瓣膜心脏病的模拟。概念验证研究，即确认啮齿动物模型的结果，也是可能的。波恩大学医院的实验治疗之家(HET)已经为研究小组提供了几个大型动物手术室。这些都配备了插管设备、呼吸机和灌流器。院舍还可用于大型动物的术前和术后护理。HET的兽医工作人员在大型动物模型方面拥有多年的专业知识，可以陪同和支持项目。X光透视设备的增加将无缝地适应已经盛行的条件，并允许具有深远治疗潜力的转化性研究。多个心脏病学、血管学、心脏外科、外科和放射学研究小组可以合作使用X射线透视设备，共同开发和标准化模型。在DFG资助的合作研究中心TRR259“主动脉疾病”的框架内，来自实验室和啮齿动物模型的有希望的结果将被转移到大型动物模型上。杜塞尔多夫、科隆和波恩的大学医院正在进行多个地点的研究，重点是主动脉瓣狭窄和主动脉瘤的动物模型。在小鼠身上开发了信息量大、可重现和标准化的模型，并被TRR259的所有工作组应用。未来，将建立可靠的大型动物模型来测试和进一步开发潜在的治疗方法。通过推进微创心脏病学领域的转化研究，最有希望的治疗模式可能进入临床试验阶段，并最终有助于在人类身上建立新的治疗策略。在这些具有临床应用前景的创新临床前项目中，来自临床前和临床环境的跨学科团队密切合作。

Due to the biological complexity of the cardiovascular system, animal models are indispensable steps in preclinical research to investigate the pathogenesis of the underlying disease, but also to develop and test new therapeutic strategies. These include small animal models e.g. in the mouse or rat, but also large animal models in the pig or sheep. Although large animal models appear more complex to perform, they offer outstanding advantages such as significant similarities to humans in terms of genetic relatedness, structure and function of the heart and vessels. The generation of human-relevant large animal models is mandatory in preclinical cardiovascular research and translation of results to humans. Cardiac catheter-based large animal models enable minimally invasive interventions on the heart, such as implantation of stents, simulation of myocardial infarction or valvular heart disease. Proof-of-concept studies, i.e., confirmation of results from rodent models, are also possible. The House for Experimental Therapy (HET) at the University Hospital of Bonn already provides research groups with several large animal operating rooms. These are equipped with intubation equipment, ventilators and perfusers. Premises are also available for pre- and postoperative care of the large animals. Veterinary staff from the HET with several years of expertise in large animal models can accompany and support projects. The addition of an x-ray fluoroscopy facility would fit seamlessly into the already prevailing conditions and allow translational research with far-reaching therapeutic potential. Multiple cardiology, angiology, cardiac surgery, surgery, and radiology research groups could use the X-ray fluoroscopy facility cooperatively, jointly developing and standardizing models. Within the framework of the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center TRR259 "Aortic Disease", promising results from laboratory and rodent models are to be transferred to large animal models. Research is being conducted across sites at the University Hospitals in Düsseldorf, Cologne and Bonn with a focus on animal models of aortic valve stenosis and aortic aneurysm. Informative, reproducible and standardized models in mice have been developed and are applied by all working groups of the TRR259. In the future, reliable large animal models will be established to test and further develop potential therapies. By advancing translational research in the field of minimally invasive cardiology, the most promising therapeutic models could move into the clinical trial phase and ultimately contribute to the establishment of new therapeutic strategies in humans. In these innovative preclinical projects with perspective for clinical application, interdisciplinary teams from preclinical and clinical settings work closely together.