Research projects
Our Galileo®, Leonardo® and Stratec pQCT products are already being used in numerous research projects.
Space exploration
Clinical research
Basic research
Space research
It is an old dream of mankind to overcome the laws of gravity and to be weightless. But in practice this leads to serious problems. Without gravity acting on the human body muscle and bone are decomposed. To explore these issues and develop solutions that could be used, for example at the International Space Station or on a trip to Mars, we are involved in several projects using our , Leonardo Mechanography and Stratec pQCT systems in several Project since 2001:
Clinical research
Muscle and bone form a functional unit. Therefore, the measurement of bone density and strength by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) as well as performance diagnostics with the Leonardo force plate are indispensable tools in clinical and preclinical research for the investigation of musculo-skeletal relationships. Important, physically relevant parameters provide new insights for laboratory and practice.
Our research focus in the area of clinical research:
Influence of immobilisation due to paraplegia
University of Glasgow, Inselspital Bern and Swiss Paraplegic Centre
Influence of immobilisation after a stroke
University of Larissa and University of Hong Kong
Prevention of bone resorption during immobilisation
Universität von British Columbia in Vancouver
Influence of chronic diseases in children on the bone
University Children's Hospital Cologne
Basic research
Different diseases or drugs affect different bone surfaces (trabecular, endosteal, periosteal and Haversian surfaces). The exact location of the changes can be determined by determining the cross-sectional geometry using pQCT. In combination with Leonardo mechanography for the analysis of muscle function, the diagnostic concept of the functional muscle and bone unit is rounded off for basic research.
Our focus in the area of basic research:
Testing new drugs against osteoporosis in animal models
Within the last 20 years, the efficacy of many drugs against osteoporosis (PTH, bisphosphonates, SERMS) has been tested in the preclinical phase using pQCT. The higher sensitivity of selective measurement in vivo provides results faster and with fewer test animals.
Characterisation of different knock-out models in mice
Numerous genes influence bone strength. Knock-out mouse models are used to selectively disable one or several genes. This allows to determine the influence of these genes on bone properties such as mass, density and geometry, and to explore new treatments of or genetic disorders more quickly.
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