Focus on lung research to be further expanded, anatomy to become more present in teaching.
Professor Dr. Christian Mühlfeld is the new institute director. Copyright: Karin Kaiser / MHH
The old boss is the new boss: For almost six years, Professor Dr. Christian Mühlfeld has been provisionally heading the Institute for Functional and Applied Anatomy at the Hannover Medical School (MHH). On 1 December 2024, he was finally able to take over the position of director. Although at first glance nothing seems to have changed, this step brings the institute something very decisive: planning security. And this applies not only to personnel decisions, but also to those regarding research, teaching and institute structure. ‘I can now give my team a long-term perspective and get a lot of things off the ground that are geared towards the future,’ says Professor Mühlfeld, pleased. He would like to broaden the focus of lung research and, in addition to the causes and development of disease, also include the biographic approach to lung health from the development of the respiratory organ to the influence of eating habits and exercise – also in relation to the next generation. ‘This is a transgenerational approach in which we look at the lungs over the entire lifespan of a person and beyond,’ explains the scientist.
Switching to medicine for the love of anatomy
Anatomy fascinated him even as a young biology student in Kiel, where he voluntarily attended lectures in the subject and was impressed enough to switch to medicine. Professor Mühlfeld recalls that he was attracted by the structural aspect, the direct access to the body and the holistic approach, as well as the practical work with preparations and at the microscope. He has always been particularly interested in the lungs. Here, too, the reason for his preference lies in the structure. ‘In the lungs, structure and function are very closely linked,’ he explains. The architecture provides direct insights into the functional state of the organ. After all, the more alveoli that do their job, the better the breathing. ‘In addition, when working with a microscope, you can also enjoy the beauty and aesthetics with which the body is constructed.’
Gap in lung research closed
Lung research initially led Professor Mühlfeld from Göttingen via Bern to the Justus Liebig University in Gießen. In 2011, the Siegen-born scientist then moved to the MHH. Just one year later, he became involved as a scientist at the German Center for Lung Research. In 2019, he took over the provisional management of the institute at the MHH, as well as the scientific management of the Central Research Facility for Electron Microscopy. In 2021, he and his team were also able to detect human lipofibroblasts for the first time using an electron microscope. This particular type of connective tissue cell had previously only been described in the lungs of rodents, but its existence in human lungs remained controversial. However, in order to transfer results from the animal model to humans, cell types and signalling pathways must match. Professor Mühlfeld's research team was thus able to close a gap in lung research.
Modernising structures
In his new position, Professor Mühlfeld not only wants to advance lung research and establish new networks, but also to modernise the structures of his institute. ‘We want to renovate the microscopy room, and the dissecting room, where our students learn how to prepare donated bodies, also needs to be updated.’ Another concern is the reorganisation of the anatomy collection. This should be done according to modern ethical and didactic principles and should enable interested visitors to consciously access the specimens with explanations and comments.
Bringing more anatomy into teaching
The new institute director also has teaching in his sights. The students appreciate the fact that the training of future doctors is important to him. In 2023, the General Students' Committee awarded the first three places in the teaching prizes for the first year of study to Professor Mühlfeld and his team. He also received an award for the module “Anatomical Foundations of Medicine”. For the later years of study, however, anatomy came away empty-handed – which was inevitable, since the subject is only on the curriculum for the first year of study. ‘This is not very sustainable,’ regrets Professor Mühlfeld. ‘Knowledge of anatomy is the basis of medicine and is needed in every clinical examination,’ he emphasises. He would like to see anatomical content integrated into later years of study, for example with ultrasound scans of living subjects in the skills lab or through refresher lectures in the lecture theatre. One thing is certain: as the new dean of studies at the MHH, Professor Mühlfeld will be dealing with teaching-related issues in even greater depth from 1 April.
Text: Kirsten Pötzke