Biomaterials Stuttgart- Tübingen

Network Profile

The German Center for Biomaterials and Organ Replacement pools the expertise and potential of the scientific and clinical institutes run by the universities of Stuttgart, Tuebingen and Ulm, in order to develop new and improved materials for implants and structures for organ replacement in soft tissue as well as in bone contact. To this end, a permanent infrastructure has been established which offers small and medium-sized companies the opportunity to carry out pre-competition developments in coop-eration with the working groups involved. The center exclusively and directly pursues non-profit objectives. Its aim is to strengthen the transfer of research and technology in biomaterials and organ replacement, whereby the aim is to promote close interdis-ciplinary research at the universities, non-university research institutes and hospitals, also in cooperation with industrial companies.

These efforts are directed primarily at the following:

• a joint approach to material and implant research and
  
• targeted pre-competition development of medical products
  
• ranging from polymer synthesis, prototype production in a clean-room envi-ronment,
  
• in-vitro testing, biomechanical studies and simulation
  
• to animal and clinical testing of implants,
  
• in accordance with medical product law and the EN and ISO standards.

Further goals are to

• support scientific and clinical establishments in obtaining and organizing third-party funding,
  
• advance the skills and qualifications of research center personnel,
  
• conduct and supervise network projects,
  
• develop and manufacture special products on a non-commercial basis,
  
• assist members on issues connected with MPG/AMG regulations,
  
• organize scientific conferences.

The network partners are also available for performing tasks in the following areas:

• Extensive analysis and testing laboratories for tasks connected with develop-ment work, batch testing, and approval testing in accordance with medical product regulations.
  
• Design and development planning
  
• Polymer synthesis and processing
  
• Surface modification (plasma, wet analysis, biochemistry)
  
• Implants and instruments: development / manufacture
  
• Simulators and functional tests
  
• Cleaning and sterilization processes
  
• Pharmacological studies
  
• Tissue engineering
  
• Testing (biomechanical, physico-chemical, biological, histological)
  
• In-vivo animal studies
  
• Clinical studies