Experimental Pathology

Vision and Mission

The research group of Experimental Pathology studies artificially induced, or naturally occurring, pathological processes through macroscopic and microscopic examinations of organs, tissues and cells. The vision is to reveal and visualize disease mechanisms of both human and animal diseases and, thereby, contribute to development of new diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and therapeutic technologies. Our missions are:

• To develop animal models of human diseases and characterize them comprehensively through macroscopic and microscopic investigations.
• To apply animal models of human diseases in diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and therapeutic studies.

• To use molecular pathology to identify and investigate disease mechanisms in well characterized animal models, or in tissue samples from animals or humans with a specific natural occurring disease of interest.

Research focus

• Currently, the research activities within the research group of Experimental Pathology are focused on bacterial infections related to medical devices and based on porcine models. Because of the large number of patients who receive implanted materials in modern medicine, like pacemakers, artificial joints, bone implants, urine catheters and breast implants, just to mention a few, the number of implant related infections will increase drastically in the future. The collective burden to society of these infections, both in terms of economic costs, antibiotic use, and human suffering, is significant. Therefore, more research into the interaction between bacteria, foreign material and host response is fundamental and urgently needed.
• The research group of Experimental Pathology works with development, characterization and application of animal models. Macroscopic characterization entails a proper necropsy followed by description of lesions in eviscerated organs. Microscopic characterization entails a morphological description of tissue architecture and cellular responses. Furthermore, pathological molecular techniques must be applied. Molecular pathology entails techniques to visualize tissue structures, cellular expressions (biomarkers) and pathogens in-situ.
• The research group of Experimental Pathology also incorporates the area of comparative pathology which considers human disease processes in comparison to those of other animals. Therefore, biopsies from human patients and collaborations with medical doctors are highly integrated in most of our research projects.

Ongoing research projects

• Minipig model of prosthetic joint infection (PJI)
  The main task of the project is to develop a new porcine model for prosthetic joint infection in humans. The model will be used to investigate new antibacterial surface coatings for artificial joints that can aid to prevent infection. The model is based on minipigs with custom made hip implants. The project is a collaboration with Rigshospitalet, University of Athens, The Costertorn Biofilm Center at PANUM, and Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs.

• Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of prosthetic joint infection
  The project aims to develop in-situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry protocols that can identify inflammatory mediators and pathogens within tissue slides. The protocols will be evaluated for their diagnostic and prognostic potential. 

• Undersøgelser af peroperativt udtaget materiale i diagnostikken af periprostetiske infektioner - en kohorteundersøgelse
  Bone and joint biopsies from patients with prosthetic joint infection and from patients with osteoarthrosis are sampled from different hospitals in the capital region of Denmark. The biopsies will be evaluated with histology. The main goal is to disclose if histology should be included as a standard diagnostic procedure for prosthetic joint infection in Denmark. The project is a collaboration with Rigshospitalet and Gentofte Hospital and The Costertorn Biofilm Center at PANUM.

• Immune stimulation to combat implant related infections
  We aim to explore the impact of stimulating the immune system initially in the development phase of implant related infections as an alternative to using antibiotics. The studies will be performed in porcine models. The project is a collaboration with The Costertorn Biofilm Center at PANUM and Montana State University .

• Porous expanding biomimetic scaffolds for the treatment of severe diabetic foot ulcers
  We contributes to the development of a new product for local administration of antibiotics. The new product is an injectable gel that can release antibiotics in a controlled manner. The efficacy and pharmacokinetic profile is tested in our porcine model of implant associated osteomyelitis. The project is a collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).

• Assessment of antibiotic concentrations in infected tissue
  We study how systemic administrated antibiotics penetrates into local foci of infected tissue. The antibiotic concentrations are measured with microdialysis on anesthetized pigs. Microdialysis is a technique which enables sampling form the extracellular fluid. The project is a collaboration with Aarhus University Hospital. See more about this project 

• Histology in various projects
  Currently, we perform histological analyses for two projects at Syddansk Universitet (SDU). The projects are about the development of an ovine bone infection model and investigation of the impact of urinary catheters on the blader mucosa in a porcine model.