25 February 2020 – Berlin-Germany and Utrecht, Netherlands,
The Julius Wolff Institute for Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Regeneration at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin has installed a MILabs extra ultra-high resolution microCT (U-CT XUHR) system as an essential research tool to study the interplay between biology and mechanical strain. The unit will be used to study the effects of stresses and strains on the musculoskeletal system and translate findings to patients and athletes. Among the objectives is to implement osteoarthritis (OA) prevention based on a better understanding of mechanically induced OA.
Prof. Dr. Ing. Georg Duda, Director of the Julius Wolff Institute for Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Regeneration explains “OA can be triggered by mechanical overload and then lead to pathological changes in the subchondral joint structures. With the help of in vivo animal CT imaging, we can validate structural changes and match them with molecular markers of the early onset of OA. Finally, we can test whether alterations in joint load can modulate early onset of degenerative diseases and eventually lead to stop the progression of OA”.
Prof. Frederik Beekman, CEO/CSO of MILabs adds “We believe that our microCT system is well suited to study the interaction between bone, muscles and vascular structures. It can deliver at the same time, high resolution in vivo images of both bone formation and blood vessels. Also, the CT system can be upgraded to molecular CT by adding Optical Bioluminescent & Fluorescent and/or Nuclear PET & SPECT imaging modules”
About the Julius Wolff Institute:
The Julius Wolff Institute was established in 2008 and originated from merging the research laboratory of the Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery and the clinical biomechanics laboratory of orthopedics. Since then the JWI brings together national and international scientists from different areas of musculoskeletal research. It runs applications and basic research in the fields of orthopedics and trauma surgery. The Julius Wolff Institute´s main research field is the regeneration and biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system as well as the improvement of joint replacement.
About MILabs B.V:
This fast-growing Dutch company has a history of providing a continuum of innovations to expand the applications preclinical imaging. With its latest adaptive platform, MILabs has succeeded at commercializing a scalable imaging platform, able to accommodate ultra-high resolution X-ray CT as well as Optical and nuclear PET and SPECT techniques. MILabs has built a strong brand in the preclinical market based on its mission of “Making Imaging Clear” for all its modalities, whether sold as stand-alone units or in multi-modality combinations For more information, visit: www.milabs.com or contact MILabs at [email protected].
