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Radiotherapy is an emerging treatment option for people with epileptic seizures not responding to drugs and ineligible for surgery. A potential limitation, however, is the development of radiation necrosis or damage to the surrounding healthy brain tissue, especially in patients with large treated volumes. The scientists propose a novel radiotherapy concept of ten treatment sessions over two weeks, minimizing this risk while maintaining efficacy. They are planning the FOCUS trial to test the effectiveness of this approach at several German centers.

This project aims to develop a deep learning (DL)-based automated segmentation of epicardial and paracardial adipose tissue (EAT/PAT) in cardiac MRI data from the population-based “Hamburg City Health Study”. Based on these segmentations, we will evaluate the predictive power of EAT / PAT volume and fat characteristics (based upon T1 relaxation times) for cardiac scars and adverse cardiac events, such as myocardial infarction.

Elevated blood pressure is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Physical exercise is an effective strategy for lowering blood pressure, with isometric (static) resistance training showing particularly strong effects. To date, the impact of different exercise modalities has been investigated primarily using blood pressure measurements taken at the upper arm, while central blood pressure (measured at the aorta) has received little attention, despite being considered a more accurate marker of cardiovascular risk.

Dystonia is a frequent movement disorder that can severely affect quality of life and in many cases has a genetic background. This project aims to improve diagnosis and support more personalized treatments by uncovering hidden genetic causes of disease. It will focus on DNA changes often missed by standard testing, including non-coding variants that alter gene regulation and RNA processing. The study will also screen for abnormal gene expression and splicing patterns to identify novel disease causes.

Diseases of western countries are fueled by environmental factors including the diet. Despite ubiquitous advice on how to eat healthier, a robust scientific definition of ‘healthy diet’ is missing. Without gaining fundamental insights into the complex interactions between body, brain and nutrients across physiological states, rational development of nutritional strategies for the maintenance and/or restoration of health cannot be achieved. This project seeks to understand how a subset of nutrients shape the physiology of juvenile development.

Abnormal DNA methylation is a typical feature of cancer, but it remains unclear how these changes are coordinated throughout the genome and what significance they have for tumor development. The Institute for Stem Cell Biology of RWTH Aachen Medical School investigates how cancer-associated epigenetic changes arise in a connected manner across different types of cancer and whether they play a crucial role in the transformation of cells. This research could provide fundamental insights into tumor development and open new avenues for treatments.