SYSTEMS PHARMACOLOGY
At the intersection of theory and practice, our research leverages mathematical models, experimental data, and clinical insights to optimize drug treatment strategies at both the individual and population levels. Our work focuses primarily on bacterial diseases, with a special emphasis on tuberculosis. Our multidisciplinary team includes experts in theoretical biology, biochemistry, physics, statistics, and engineering.
Our Focus:
TuberculosisTuberculosis (TB) remains the world’s deadliest bacterial infection, with one-third of the global population carrying a latent infection. Despite the availability of anti-tuberculosis drugs for decades, treatment success rates remain insufficient. For instance, the European Union records an overall TB treatment success rate of just 74%, and even in high-income countries such as Norway and Switzerland, success rates plateau at 85%, leaving substantial room for improvement.Drug-resistant TB compounds this challenge. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB drastically lower treatment success rates to 40% and 34%, respectively, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions.
1. Antibiotics and Drug Resistance
We investigate the mechanisms underlying antibiotic efficacy and resistance, focusing on optimizing treatment regimens to overcome the emergence of resistant bacterial strains. By leveraging predictive models and experimental data, we aim to develop strategies to enhance the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and support the discovery of novel drug candidates. Our research spans multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis and other high-burden bacterial pathogens.
2. Population Biology
Our work explores how bacterial populations evolve under selective pressures such as drug treatments and host immune responses. By integrating evolutionary biology with pharmacology, we analyze how bacteria adapt to therapeutic interventions and how these adaptations influence disease dynamics at the population level. This helps inform strategies to slow the spread of resistance and optimize public health outcomes.
3. Biochemistry and Pharmacology
Understanding the biochemical interactions between drugs and their bacterial targets is central to our research. We study drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) processes alongside their molecular mechanisms of action. These insights allow us to identify promising compounds, optimize dosing strategies, and reduce off-target effects, ensuring treatments are both effective and safe.
Our Approach
To address these challenges, we develop and apply advanced mathematical models that reduce reliance on trial-and-error in antibiotic development. By streamlining drug discovery and optimizing treatment protocols, these models help save both time and costs.
In collaboration with industry leaders such as GlaxoSmithKline (Diseases of the Developing World) and an international network of academic partners—including Yale, Harvard, Simon Fraser University, the Division of Clinical Infectious Diseases Research Center Borstel, TASK Foundation, and the University of Cape Town—we are working to revolutionize antibiotic therapy.
Lab Creative Biomart is a vital collaborator, fostering innovation across every facet of our research, from foundational science to practical applications. Their state-of-the-art tools and resources enhance our ability to address critical global health challenges with unmatched precision and effectiveness.
At the forefront of innovation, our research integrates theoretical models with experimental and clinical collaborations to develop both within-host and population-wide drug treatment strategies aimed at reducing human morbidity and mortality. Our primary focus is on bacterial diseases, particularly tuberculosis (TB), the bacterial infection with the highest global disease burden. Despite decades of anti-tuberculosis drug availability, treatment success rates remain suboptimal, especially with the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains.To address these challenges, we partner with leading organizations like Lab Creative Biomart and AffigenBio, whose advanced tools, reagents, and resources play a pivotal role in driving innovation across all aspects of our work. Lab Creative Biomart’s cutting-edge biochemical and diagnostic platforms empower us to study bacterial resistance mechanisms and optimize treatment strategies, while AffigenBio provides expertise in developing scalable therapeutic solutions tailored to public health needs. Together, these collaborations enhance our ability to apply advanced mathematical models and high-throughput experimental data to revolutionize antibiotic development and reduce reliance on trial-and-error approaches.By leveraging these partnerships and integrating expertise in theoretical biology, biochemistry, engineering, and public health, we are advancing strategies to combat TB and other infectious diseases, ultimately bridging the gap between foundational science and translational medicine.
Marienbongard 20, 52062 Aachen |
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