Support for operational subjects
Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Synergies through interdisciplinary collaboration
As an interdisciplinary institution, the Institute for Research in Surgical Medicine (IFOM) supports the surgical disciplines, including anaesthesiology, at the Cologne-Merheim campus in their research activities and carries out its own research projects. Its remit ranges from experimental work to health services research. Bringing together various specialist disciplines under one roof creates valuable synergies. The staff come from a variety of disciplines – ranging from biology, medicine, psychology and oecotrophology to statistics and health economics.
The IFOM is based at the Cologne-Merheim site. Directions are available to download.
Experimental research, health services research and registers/statistics
The Institute’s research is organised into three departments:
Department of Experimental Research
A key area of research for the Department of Experimental Research is the clinical and experimental investigation of coagulation disorders, particularly following multiple trauma, traumatic brain injury and burns. Among other things, studies aim to evaluate new therapeutic treatments at the scene of an accident or treatment protocols in the trauma resuscitation room. In addition, coagulation disorders in patients with cancer-related sepsis are also being investigated.
Alongside patient-based studies, the research is complemented by in vitro analyses that largely mimic patients’ reactions in a test tube. Particular focus is placed on the significance of microparticles in the blood and possible modifications of blood proteins in high-risk patient groups.
Other areas of research relevant to surgery include the development and testing of experimental procedures for the treatment of wound healing disorders and wound infections, e.g. cold plasma, high-intensity blue light or enzymatic wound debridement.
The department collaborates with clinics and chairs within the City of Cologne Hospital Group, in particular with the Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Sports Traumatology, the Department of Plastic Surgery, the Institute for Transfusion Medicine and the Department of Anaesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine.
Department of Evidence-Based Healthcare Research
The Department of Evidence-Based Healthcare Research combines evidence-based medicine with healthcare research. The aim is to generate evidence-based knowledge and thereby contribute to effective, high-quality care. The department analyses and evaluates medical procedures, healthcare structures and processes, and seeks ways to apply this knowledge in everyday clinical practice in a manner tailored to specific target groups. Practical relevance and patients’ interests are central to this work. The research areas are healthcare research, evidence synthesis, guidelines and methodological research.
Biometrics and Register Research Department
The department’s work is divided into three areas: statistics and biometrics, register-based research, and quality of life. Whilst the first area is of overarching importance and also touches on other areas of research, register-based research and the collection of patient-centred outcomes form the core of healthcare research. Medical registers are particularly valuable in that they allow for the analysis not only of selected cases, as in clinical trials, but of all individuals with a specific clinical presentation or who have undergone a particular intervention. However, patient groups are often not comparable in this context, which requires the use of statistical methods that can be quite complex. One of the department’s key areas of work is therefore the provision of consultancy and the operation of registries. The TraumaRegister DGU® holds a prominent position in this regard. It has been supported by IFOM and received methodological advice for over 25 years. Currently, over 700 hospitals participate in this registry, and the number is rising. Other registers receiving methodological support from IFOM include the DGAI Resuscitation Register and the Severe Burns Register.
In the field of quality of life, a tool for seriously injured patients has been developed and validated: the Trauma Outcome Profile (TOP). It is currently being used, amongst other things, in a prospective study involving over 1,000 people in Germany, the LeAf Trauma Study.
Projects of the Experimental Research Department
Projects of the Department of Biometrics and Register Research
Publications
All publications by the Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM) at UW/H are gradually being included in the university bibliography.
Course: Learning Statistics and Methodology
The IFOM offers a range of courses. These include statistical analysis using SPSS (a specialised analysis software package), methodology for healthcare research studies, evidence-based medicine, systematic literature reviews for undergraduates and PhD students, and internal research colloquia. In addition, the institute advises and supervises PhD students.
Latest Annual Report
The Institute for Research in Surgical Medicine publishes an annual report at regular intervals, which outlines, amongst other things, its activities in teaching and research.
The latest edition can be downloaded here.
Management
Univ.-Prof. Dr.
Rolf Lefering
Institute management
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Haus 38
51109 KölnRoom number: F.4
Prof. Dr. med.
Marc Maegele
Deputy Director of the Institute
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Haus 38
51109 KölnRoom number: A.1
Team
Petra Bierl
Secretariat
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Haus 38
51109 KölnRoom number: A.2
Isabell Blaßnig
Biological-technical assistance
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200
51109 KölnRoom number: Haus 38
Dr. med. Priv.-Doz.
Michael Caspers
Quality management
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Haus 38
51109 KölnRoom number: F.2
Dr. med. Dr. rer. medic.
Katharina Fetz , M. Sc.-Psych.
Project management
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Haus 38
51109 KölnRoom number: A.12
Dr.
Kaethe Gooßen
Researcher
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200
51109 KölnRoom number: Haus 33, E.6
Dipl.-Betriebsw.
Sylvia Hagenauer
Third-party funding controlling officer
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Haus 38
51109 KölnRoom number: A.8
Yunus Keles
Researcher
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Straße 200
51109 KölnRoom number: Haus 38, A12
Dr. rer. medic.
Nadja Könsgen
Researcher
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str.200, Haus 38
51109 KölnRoom number: E.6
Merel Leithaus
Researcher
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Straße 200
51109 KölnRoom number: Haus 33 / Raum-Nr. E.6
Christoph Maicher , M. Sc.
Researcher
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Straße 200
51109 KölnRoom number: Haus 38
PD Dr. rer. nat.
Christian Opländer
Laboratory management
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Haus 38
51109 Köln
Dr. rer. medic.
Barbara Prediger
Department management
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Haus 38
51109 KölnRoom number: E.1
Franziska Schroer
Researcher
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200
51109 KölnRoom number: Haus 38
Dr. rer. nat.
Rebekka van Zyl
Project management
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Haus 38
51109 KölnRoom number: N.3
Dr. rer. medic.
Alina Weise
Researcher
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM)
Ostmerheimer Str. 200
51109 KölnRoom number: Haus 33, E.3