New Collaborative Research Center at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen: Targeted and Effective Treatment of Periodontal Diseases

The Uniklinik RWTH Aachen has a new Collaborative Research Center. The goal of the new Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1739 is to better understand the mechanisms of periodontal remodeling and to develop new approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Proper remodeling of the periodontium is essential for oral health. It stabilizes the teeth, enables dental treatments, and protects against tissue and bone loss. If this process is disrupted, it can lead to tooth loss and progressive damage to the alveolar bone. Such disruptions are triggered not only by local factors such as bacterial load or mechanical stress but are also significantly influenced by systemic diseases.

Although oral hygiene and dental care have improved significantly in recent decades, the prevalence of severe periodontal disease remains high. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this is a global problem that is on the rise. It is particularly striking that severe cases are increasing among older adults, while early signs are also increasingly appearing in younger people. These trends indicate that additional factors play an important role. Central to this is the close link between oral health and systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, or cancer. Chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, or liver disease can alter vascular function and inflammatory processes—both of which are crucial for maintaining a stable balance in the periodontium.

“Current treatment approaches do not yet take these complex interrelationships sufficiently into account,” explains Professor Michael Wolf, spokesperson for SFB 1739 at the Department of Orthodontics at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen. “Our goal is to better understand the underlying mechanisms and develop new treatment strategies.” Co-spokesperson Professor Joachim Jankowski, Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Diseases, adds: “Periodontal diseases are not just a local problem in the mouth. Systemic diseases directly interfere with periodontal tissue regulation. If we understand these connections, we can make therapies more targeted and effective.” More than one billion people worldwide are affected by periodontal diseases. “SFB 1739 aims to help close this gap in care and significantly improve prevention and treatment in the long term,” emphasize the spokespersons.

The Executive Board of Uniklinik RWTH Aachen is delighted about the new Collaborative Research Center, as University Professor Dr. Joachim Windolf, Medical Director and Chairman of the Executive Board, emphasizes: “The fact that such an initiative has emerged from the field of dentistry and brings together researchers from a wide variety of disciplines is a strong indication of the unique research culture at our institution. The close structural, professional, and even physical integration within Aachen’s university medical center enables synergies that are truly unique in this form. It is precisely this lived interdisciplinarity that is a key distinguishing feature of Aachen and the foundation for research with high scientific and clinical relevance.”