First MHB spin-off presented at Potsdam Science Park Conference

Brandenburg an der Havel, 25 October 2024

The successful presentation of the Antepuls GmbH at the Potsdam Science Park Conference underlines the potential of the regional research scene and the significance of translational research for patient care. The limited liability company is the first spin-off from the Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (MHB), initiated by Prof. Ivo Buschmann, professor of internal medicine, and Dr. Philipp Hillmeister, head of angiology research. Both experts from the university hospital in Brandenburg/Havel (UKB) – a physician and a researcher – are committed to transferring important findings from research into clinical applications. Apart from teaching and research, this corresponds to one of the MHB’s core assignments: the continuous improvement of medical care and implementation of new approaches for the benefit of patients via translational research.

A medical university has the key task to actively involve patients into research efforts so that they may profit from innovations soonest possible. Antepuls is a good example of the concept. The company relies on a springboard innovation which uses flow-induced vascular remodeling to develop new therapy options for peripheral artery occlusive disease. In other words, the company conceives of a novel method to treat circulatory disorders in the legs, whereby the strength of the blood flow is used to repair or modify the vessels. Innovative therapies might serve to reduce the number of invasive interventions and improve the quality of life for patients with circulatory disorders.

Insights into the development of new therapies and the mandate to provide care

The 2024 meeting was the first time for MHB innovations from the region of north-west Brandenburg (Neuruppin, Brandenburg/Havel) to be presented at the Potsdam Science Park Conference. Antepuls offered important insights into the development of novel therapies and the MHB mandate to provide care. The Potsdam Science Park is a vibrant center and state-of-the-art setting for research institutions, businesses and start-ups. About 13,000 people research, work and study in this environment and combine their efforts to develop new ideas and pioneering solutions. As Brandenburg’s largest science location, the park offers excellent research infrastructures with three Max Planck Institutes, two Fraunhofer Institutes and the Departments of Human, Natural and Health Sciences of the University of Potsdam.

Prof. Buschmann and Dr. Hillmeister are currently expanding a collaboration with the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences THB, to boost the profile of Brandenburg/Havel as a science location and integrate the region into the translational innovation network. The idea is to create new research priorities on personalized and AI-optimized cardiovascular therapies and preliminary schemes of interdisciplinary patient care. Close networking with the Potsdam Science Park is part of that concept.

Dr. Hillmeister says they aim to increase the visibility of translational activities at the MHB and link them up with major actors in the region in order to create a unique ecosystem where  scientific and economic bodies will be seamlessly integrated and enjoy perfect conditions for innovation: “The successful foundation of Antepuls is a promising step towards personalized medicine and underlines the potential of the Brandenburg region as a leading location for innovations in medicine.”