The Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg (KDK) is a cooperation initiative between the Karlsburg Clinic and the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic options in the field of diabetes and wound healing.
On Wednesday, 21 November 2018, Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Director and Chairman of the Board of INP Greifswald, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Motz, Director of the Karlsburg Clinic, and Dr. Stefan Rudolph, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economics of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, provided information in Karlsburg on the implementation of a unique idea that originated in Germany in 2013, which combines expert knowledge and experience from different research divisions into one project and thus brings practical research and clinical treatment under one roof.
The centre's strong scientific foundation is based on the interdisciplinary expertise of the Leibniz Institute and its partners, particularly in the development of plasma medicine and hygiene procedures, as well as world-leading applications. The Karlsburg site offers strong medical expertise. The pioneering concept is based on three pillars: research, development and transfer into industrial and medical practice. It provides the framework for developing groundbreaking solutions for the treatment and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, a widespread disease, and other indications. In the immediate vicinity, clinical treatment of diabetes patients and interdisciplinary, practical research will take place in the future. This will enable research results to be transferred to clinical application much more quickly in collaboration with companies from the medical industry, which will benefit patients.
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kerner, Director of the Clinic for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases in Karlsburg and Chairman of the KDK Presidium, emphasised at the centre's presentation that eight million people in Germany currently suffer from diabetes mellitus. The aim is to develop innovative medical products and procedures to help diabetes patients with chronic wounds. These include diabetic foot ulcers, one of the most serious complications. The characteristic chronic wounds, which are usually accompanied by infections, lead to 45,000 amputations per year in Germany alone, dramatically reducing the quality of life of those affected and resulting in high costs for the healthcare system. The treatment options are now to be expanded with the medical plasma devices developed at INP Greifswald. "Physical cold plasma has a disinfecting and antibacterial effect – even on multi-resistant germs – and promotes wound healing. This has been proven by numerous studies and practical experience in the field of plasma medicine. This is to be scientifically substantiated in more detail in a further large-scale clinical study," explained Prof. Weltmann. Clinic director Prof. Motz added: "I am delighted that we have succeeded in overcoming the bureaucratic hurdles to our joint work. Diabetes patients in Karlsburg will in future benefit from innovations that are world-leading."
Over the past few months, the Kompetenzzentrum Diabetes Karlsburg has been equipped with laboratory facilities and scientific instruments. The equipment was funded by the Ministry of Economics of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the EU with around 2.5 million euros. State Secretary Dr. Stefan Rudolph said at the start of the research: "We have not yet come close to exploiting the growth potential of the healthcare industry in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Our commitment here in Karlsburg will enhance cooperation between research, industry, medicine and engineering. I expect new innovative solutions, products and services in the healthcare industry that are both marketable and generate greater prosperity in our state. That is the only thing we can aspire to."
Further major research programmes were presented on Wednesday. The Greifswald-based company OT aktiv GmbH is looking for telemedicine solutions to prevent diabetic foot ulcers. The orthopaedic technology specialist from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which has been supplying diabetes patients with specialist footwear for many years, has set itself the goal of developing an intelligent insole that detects increases in the temperature of the human foot and thus indicates signs of inflammatory processes. This is because diabetes patients, who often also suffer from neuropathy, have a low pain threshold and often notice pressure lesions far too late, allowing wounds to develop. The "Smart Shoe Insole" project includes data transfer for telemedical therapy monitoring, visualisation of the temperature of the sole of the foot, movement monitoring and an alarm function. Everything can be displayed on a smartphone app.
Another ambitious project is being developed at the KDK in collaboration with the Schwerin-based company human med GmbH. Fat stem cells are to be used to improve wound healing. Initial small-scale studies on the use of the body's own fat are promising.
scientific contact person: Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann
Direktor und Vorstandsvorsitzender des INP
Tel: +49 3834 554310
E-Mail: weltmann@inp-greifswald.de
Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Motz
Ärztlicher Direktor des Klinikums Karlsburg
Tel.: +49 038355 701283
E-Mail: prof.motz@drguth.de
