Tissues: Development and regeneration - what we learn from animal experiments

The Max Planck Forum at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine

November 23, 2017

How do tissues develop? How does the body „know“ when and where to build blood vessels, nerves or muscles? How does disease occur? And how does the body regenerate and heal itself? These are some of the questions that scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine wish to answer with their research. In four short presentations, Kerstin Bartscherer, Wiebke Herzog, Ralf Adams and Jan Bruder explained their research themes, model organisms and systems and their findings in front of approximately 100 guests.

Their biomedical research serves to produce knowledge on one hand, but is also a prerequisite for the development of new methods for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Scientists rely on different model organisms that each has advantages, but also limitations. A meaningful complementation for biomedical research constitute mini-organs: small organs can be cultivated in a dish from human cells to investigate certain disease aspects and to test drug compounds.

Following scientists were involved in the Max Planck Forum:


Dr. Kerstin Bartscherer:
Flatworms and spiny mice as model organisms for regeneration

Prof. Dr. Wiebke Herzog:
Zebra fish as a model organism for the study of blood vessels

Prof. Dr. Ralf H. Adams:
Mice as a model organism for the study of human disease

Dr. Jan Bruder:
Mini­-Organs as complementing model system for the study of diseases

Prof. Dr. Hans Schöler:
Participated in the panel discussion

The evening was moderated by Volkart Wildermuth, science journalist from Berlin.

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