Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the vessel wall characterized by lipid accumulation and macrophage infiltration, which is attributed to hypercholesterolemia, smoking and obesity. Ultimately, atherosclerosis may cause thrombotic events making it the leading cause of ischemic heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. In this research project, novel reagents to influence the polarization of macrophages are tested as a potential tools to change macrophage migration and thereby attenuate atherosclerotic plaque formation in mouse models.

Principal investigators: Friedemann Kiefer (EIMI)
Project term: 01/2020 - 12/2022
Project number: Kief1/019/20 | Medical Faculty, University of Münster

Vascular graft infection is a rare but very severe complication with a high death rate, and there are currently no reliable diagnostic tools. Newly developed tracers are intended to enable detecting bacterial distribution in the body at early time points after the infection using PET imaging.

Principal investigators: Andreas Faust (EIMI), Silke Niemann
Project term: 01/2017 - 06/2020
Project number: Fau2/014/17 | Medical Faculty, University of Münster

The Core Unit "Preclinical Imaging eXperts" (PIX) of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF) provides access to multimodal imaging technologies for cooperative research in a highly integrated structure. In the frame of PIX, our lab offers nuclear imaging SPECT and PET in combination with CT or MRI (1T), optical imaging, and photoacoustic imaging.

Coordinators: Sven Hermann (EIMI), Michael Schäfers (EIMI)
Project term: since 01/2012
Project funding: IZKF Core Unit PIX | Medical Faculty, University of Münster

Immune-regulatory mechanisms limiting immunological responses are promising new therapeutic targets for chronic autoinflammatory diseases. We investigate to what extent the alarmin S100A8/A9 reprograms myeloid cells in a negative feedback loop to a regulatory phenotype, in particular immunosuppressive MDSCs, to dampen down the immune response in arthritis.


Principal investigators: Sven Hermann (EIMI), Thomas Vogl
Project term: 01/2021 - 12/2024
Project number: CRC1450 – C03 | DFG Collaborative Research Centre 1450 “inSight – Multiscale imaging of organ-specific inflammation”

The aim of this project is to develop strategies for tracking and quantifying (immune) cell populations or even single cells in long-term (days) whole-body PET studies in mice and humans. This will be achieved through novel acquisition protocols, measured and simulated phantom data, use of prior information from MRI and microscopy, mathematical modelling, and mathematical analysis of image reconstruction with novel regularization paradigms based on optimal transport. Particular applications include imaging and tracking of macrophages and neutrophils following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion or in arthritis and sepsis with a future potential to translate into clinical algorithms.

Principal investigators: Klaus Schäfers (EIMI), Benedikt Wirth
Project term: 01/2021 - 12/2024
Project number: CRC1450 – A05 | DFG Collaborative Research Centre 1450 “inSight – Multiscale imaging of organ-specific inflammation”

In this collaborative research project, we focus on the question of how the body regulates inflammation in different organs and, to this end, develop a specific imaging methodology that brings together information from single cells to entire organisms.

Spokesperson: Michael Schäfers (EIMI), Deputy Spokesperson:   Friedemann Kiefer (EIMI)
Project term: 01/2021 - 12/2024
Project number: CRC/1450 | DFG

Through molecular and microscopic imaging we investigate molecular, immunological and cellular signalling pathways that are relevant for systemic inflammatory reactions such as sepsis and subsequent kidney injury. The focus of this project is on understanding the effect of glutamine treatment for prevention of acute kidney injury.

Principal investigators: Alexander Zarbock, Michael Schäfers (EIMI)
Project time: 02/2020 - 01/2023
Project number: CRU 342 | DFG

Lymphatic vessels are indispensable for tissue homeostasis and implicated in the development of several pathologies including edema, hypertension, chronic inflammation and tumour metastasis. Presently there is no pharmacological treatment for malfunctions of the lymphatic vessel system. Many regenerative processes would greatly benefit, if it were possible to stimulate and ensure proper lymph vessel formation. This requires a detailed understanding of the molecular regulation of their underlying morphogenetic mechanisms which we study here during mouse development.

Principal investigators:  Friedemann Kiefer (EIMI)
Project term: 01/2018 - 12/2021
Project number: CRC/1348 B07 | DFG Collaborative Research Centre / 1348 “Dynamic Cellular Interfaces”

We investigate the function of MMP-2 and MMP-9 at the blood-brain barrier. Our goal is to exploit MMP activity as an imaging biomarker for leukocytes penetrating this barrier in correlation to imaging of T cell dynamics in vivo and thus, to better understand lesion formation and resolution in multiple sclerosis.

Principal investigators: Lydia Sorokin, Michael Schäfers (EIMI)
Project term: 07/2012 - 06/2020
Project number: CRC/TRR 128 B03 | DFG Collaborative Research Centre / Transregio 128 "Multiple Sclerosis"

CAR T-cell immunotherapy of tumors is a promising new approach to treat cancers, which already showed great success in hematological tumors. Aim of this project is the establishment of nuclear imaging strategies for the visualization of CAR T-cells in a preclinical setting. This enables the imaging-assisted optimization of novel and improved CAR T-cell therapies - potentially also in patients.

Coordinator: Wa’el al Rawashdeh, Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach
EIMI members involved as partners: Michael Schäfers, Sonja Schelhaas
Project term: 12/2019 - 11/2022
Project number: Leitmarktagentur.NRW, LS-2-2-050

In this project, we develop methods for monitoring immune cells before, during and after immune treatment. Initially, we will look at these processes in animal models for different diseases – with the aim of translating the results and methods to patients mid-term enabling us to establish image-guided immunotherapies with improved efficacy in diseases such as cancer or inflammation.

Coordinator: Albert D. Windhorst (Amsterdam University Medical Centre, the Netherlands)
EIMI members involved as partners: Michael Schäfers, Andreas Jacobs, Andreas Faust, Sven Hermann, Friedemann Kiefer, Sabine Stötzer
Project term: 10/2019 - 09/2024
Project number: Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking, grant agreement No 831514

This project supports the training of early stage researchers to be the next generation of specialised translational PET imaging scientists. The focus is on cutting-edge research projects in the main areas of oncology, cardiovascular and central nervous system.

EIMI members involved as partners: Andreas Jacobs (EIMI)
Work package 5: CNS PET Imaging
- Multimodal and multi-tracer imaging of inflammation in stroke
- Multimodal two-photon microscopy and PET/MR imaging of glioma growth & angiogenesis
Project term: 06/2016 - 05/2020
Project number: H2020 – MSCA-ITN-2015 / 675417 | European Commission, Horizon 2020

This proposal is devoted to the development, clinical implementation and evaluation of a novel, real-time,
motion correction methodology for concurrent MR/PET acquisitions. Available methods for data acquisition and
reconstruction in MR/PET scanners do not fully capitalize on the simultaneous imaging capabilities of the
commercially available MR/PET instrumentation. These capabilities could be used to obtain real-time
information for the removal of motion artifacts from the PET images without significantly affecting the workflow
of the corresponding MRI examination. The proposed
methodology will lead to improved sensitivity and quantitative accuracy for PET scans when they are simultaneously acquired during the course of an MR/PET examination. Such improvements will lead to better detection, staging and surveillance of small (<1cm) abdominal lesions, which assessment is currently limited due to excessive signal loss from motion blur.

Principal Investigators: Fernando Boada (NYU) et al., Klaus Schäfers (EIMI)
Project term: 05/2020 - 01/2024
Project number: NIH 1-R01-EB029306-01

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) could translate molecular imaging of potential life threatening atherosclerotic lesions into clinical scenarios given its non-invasiveness, good penetration depth and low costs. This project aims at systematically establishing molecular targeted PA imaging of the carotid artery in mice with a clear vision towards translation into patients.

Principal investigators: Michael Schäfers (EIMI), Sven Hermann (EIMI)
Project term: 01/2017 - 12/2019
Project number: IZKF Z04 | Medical Faculty, University of Münster

This joint project being undertaken nationwide in Germany aims to develop and analyse mathematic models for four-dimensional imaging. In this process, three-dimensional images are generated and, in addition – as a fourth dimension – changes that occur over time can be reconstructed and made visible. We develop mathematical models and methods, that enable the separation and thus the individual analysis of motion – e. g. movements resulting from the heartbeat or from breathing – and kinetic change.

Coordinator: Martin Burger
EIMI members involved as partners: Klaus Schäfers
Project term: 12/2016 - 11/2019
Project number: BMBF 05M16PMB

We investigate the connection between cerebral PET-tracer accumulation and MRI-contrast medium dynamics. The project is implemented within a research rotation programme which releases physicians from clinical duties so that they can work on a research project. In this way, basic research and clinical work come closer together.

Clinician scientist: Philipp Backhaus (EIMI/TRIC)
Supervisors: Cornelius Faber (TRIC), Michael Schäfers (EIMI)
Project term: 09/2017 - 04/2019
Project funding: Research rotation | DFG Collaborative Research Centre 1009 "Breaking Barriers"

We are testing to see how well PET detectors can function on the basis of a liquid known as trimethyl bismuth (TMBi) operated as ionisation and Cherenkov detectors. The challenge is to produce TMBi of such extreme purity that measuring is actually possible. As soon as it works, we want to develop a liquid-filled detector prototype to be used in PET.

Principal investigators: Klaus Schäfers (EIMI), Christian Weinheimer
Project term: 11/2017 - 12/2018
Project number: EXC 1003 FF-2017-19 | DFG Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence

In this project, our aim is to visualize, for the first time, inflammatory processes in a living organism over a longer period of time. To this end, we are using genetically modified monocytes which we can track at any time using gene reporter substrates.

Principal investigators: Johannes Roth, Michael Schäfers (EIMI)
Project term: 11/2017 - 12/2018
Project number: EXC 1003 FF-2017-17 | DFG Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence

In this cross-faculty network, more than 90 research groups at the University of Münster and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine investigate how cells move and behave in the body. They use a broad range of imaging technologies and work on developing innovative strategies to make processes in the body visible that are normally hidden from the human eye.

Coordinating team: Lydia Sorokin, Volker Gerke, Michael Schäfers (EIMI)
Project term: 11/2012 - 12/2018
Project number: EXC 1003 | DFG

Penetration of specific barriers is a prerequisite for target binding of radioactive tracers. PSMA-targeting PET tracers are used for cancer staging in the clinical routine. We want to characterize the interactions of this tracer with the blood-brain barrier in the mouse to facilitate interpretation of intracerebral tracer accumulations.

Principal investigator: Philipp Backhaus (EIMI/TRIC)
Project term: 09/2017 - 08/2018
Project funding: Innovative Medical Research (IMF) | Medical Faculty, University of Münster

INMiND aims to identify novel biological targets of neuroinflammation for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and to translate this knowledge into clinical application. This will be achieved by conducting collaborative research on molecular mechanisms that link neuroinflammation with neurodegeneration.

Coordinator: Andreas Jacobs (EIMI)
Project term: 03/2012 - 02/2018
Project number: GA278850 | European Commission, FP7 Framework Programme

Objective of this consortium is to qualify imaging biomarkers of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and necrosis for tumor therapy follow-up. In this context, we perform positron emission tomography with the proliferation tracer [¹⁸F]fluorothymidine and diffusion weighted-magnetic resonance imaging in preclinical tumor models treated with paclitaxel, gemcitabine, or FOLFOX.

Coordinator: John Waterton, Astra Zeneka
EIMI members involved as partners: Andreas Jacobs (EIMI)
- Work package 2: Pre-clinical Imaging (Leader: Eric Aboagye, London)
- Work package 3: Clinical Imaging (Leader: Sigrid Stroobants, Antwerpen)
Project term: 09/2011 - 12/2017
Project funding: European Commission

We use the protein S100A9 to visualize inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis, which is the most common chronic joint disease. By means of photoacoustic imaging (PAI), we want to enable an investigation of the relapsing inflammatory activity in lower tissue layers.

Principal investigators: Sven Hermann (EIMI), Thomas Vogl
Project term: 07/2015 - 10/2017
Project number: EXC 1003 FF-2015-12 | DFG Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence

We develop genetically encoded, protein-based systems that indicate hypoxia – which describes insufficient supply of tissues with oxygen – through fluorescence. For the first time this allows the analysis of hypoxia under physiological and pathological conditions by using light microscopy, even more to visualize hypoxia in living cells.

Principal investigators: Friedemann Kiefer (EIMI), Michael Schäfers (EIMI)
Project term: 07/2015 - 10/2017
Project number: EXC 1003 FF-2015-04 | DFG Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence