Disciplines
Biology (20%); Chemistry (10%); Clinical Medicine (50%); Medical-Theoretical Sciences, Pharmacy (20%)
Keywords
Blood-Brain Barrier,
3Rs principle,
PET/MRI,
Tracer Development,
In Ovo Imaging,
HET-CAM assay
Abstract
The development of new medicines and diagnostic tools for brain diseases is a major challenge.
One of the biggest obstacles is that many potential drugs cannot reach the brain because of a
protective barrier called the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Currently, researchers mostly rely on
animal studies to test whether new molecules can enter the brain. An alternative to this approach
might be the use of fertilized chicken eggs to test BBB penetration. Our project aims to
investigate the suitability of fertilized chicken eggs for BBB penetration testing by using
advanced imaging technologies to track how radiolabeled molecules distribute within the
organism and whether this model can predict the behavior of drugs in humans. If successful,
this model could help to reduce the need for small animals in drug testing, providing a more
ethical and efficient approach to the development of new treatments.