Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC)
Lung diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide; the number of people who die in consequence of a lung disease will keep increasing in the future. This especially applies for chronic lung diseases which are, already today, the second most common cause of death worldwide; 20 percent of all events of death are consequences of a chronic lung disease.
Changes in lifestyle and environmental toxins especially contribute to an increase of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and asthma. Often, for those diseases there neither are clear symptoms nor hopeful therapies.
The research of lung diseases in Germany is still at its early stages, although the diseases are severe and strongly charge the healthcare system (figures for Europe: 102 billion Euros). The causes of those diseases are often unknown and investigated insufficiently – we have to find new approaches to improve prevention, diagnosis and therapy.
Therefore, the biomedical fundamental research and the clinical research have to work together closely.
For this purpose, the Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) offers a unique opportunity through the cooporeration of the three following partners. The Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental and Health – is an expert in bridging fundamental, experimental research and applied medical research. The Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München is one of theTop-Level-Universities of the German Initiative of Excellence, its medical faculty as well as its University Hospital provide excellent results in the area of pulmonary research and medical treatment. The Asklepios Fachkliniken München-Gauting is one of the leading German hospitals specialized in lung diseases.
The research in the CPC is focused on chronic lung diseases. CPC-scientists integrate methods of molecular and cell biology, pharmacology, molecular pathology and clinical medicine in order to develop new diagnostical tools and therapies for chronic lung diseases.
Quelle: HMGU