FORM (Frankfurt Orofacial Regenerative Medicine)
FORM-Lab is situated at the Medical Center of the Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany). As the research arm of the Department for Oral, Cranio-Maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, FORM-Lab was founded in 2007 by Dr. Shahram Ghanaati with the support of Prof. Robert Sader and Prof. James Kirkpatrick, in collaboration between Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt and Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz.
Our state-of-the-art research facility spans over 300 square meters and adheres to strict S1 and S2 guidelines.
Within FORM-Lab, we offer a range of equipment and expertise for both in vitro and in vivo research, particularly in the fields of biomaterials and tissue engineering.
The in vitro unit includes tissue culture workplaces with CO2 incubators, sterilizers and sterile hoods. There are also additional workplaces for protein quantification and analyses using ELISA, Western Blot technique, PCR, real time PCR and enzyme activity assays.
The histology (in vivo) unit, a cornerstone of our research, is fully equipped for standard and specialized histological techniques, following a standardized workflow. This includes automated tissue processing, embedding stations, and rotary microtome for section preparation. Furthermore, we offer various staining stations for several histochemical stains and automated immunohistochemical staining via Autostainer.
Image analysis is central to our research, and our imaging unit comprises workstations with specialized software for image analysis and histomorphometry. We have a range of light microscopes, fluorescence microscope and a molecular imager. Additionally, we employ a high-resolution scanning microscope with “total scan technology”connected to a PC with analysis software for digitizing histological slides and generating total scans for histomorphometry and image analysis. Our lab is also authorized to access advanced microscopes at Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences including Leica TCS SP5, Leica AF 6000 with JPK Nano-wizard 2, Keyence BIOREVO X, Zeiss Cell Observer, and more.
At FORM-Lab, we are committed to cutting-edge research and offer a comprehensive range of resources to support our scientific endeavors.
Development of FORM-Lab
The foundation of the lab is based on the transfer of the know-how from the Repair-Lab in vivo group which was established by Dr. Ghanaati as an in vivo division of the Repair-Lab, established by Prof. Kirkpatrick at the Institute of Pathology, Johannes Gutenberg university of Mainz.
In a first step, in vivo surgical models and histological evaluation techniques were re-established in Frankfurt. In a later step, in vitro techniques were established with special focus on biomaterial research and tissue engineering.
The main research field in FORM-lab is understanding the cellular reaction towards biomaterials and its influence on in vivo vascularization using soft tissue (subcutaneous model) and hard tissue (femur and calvarian) models. Moreover, in vitro evaluation focuses on the 2-D and 3-D cell culture systems in combination with biomaterials as extracellular matrix (ECM).
Furthermore, biomaterials and cancer cell lines are used to form tissue-like constructs (TLC) for the evaluation of chemotherapeutic substances in the oncological research field.As a part of the university hospital, FORM is characterized by intensified interdisciplinary cooperation between clinicians and scientists.
Everyday clinical experiences in the oro-maxillofacial surgical field, including tumor resections, trauma and tissue atrophy, underline the need for alternative approaches to enhance tissue regeneration while reducing patient morbidity. FORM aims to develop not only scientific models but also clinically applicable concepts. Thus, some biomaterials were translated to new perspectives in clinical applications. A further main research field is the development of “smart” blood concentrates as a personalized and autologous system based on platelet-rich-fibrin (PRF). In this field, FORM is the core of a national network of clinicians focusing on the histological and clinical evaluation of this system in bone and tissue regeneration.Furthermore, an international atmosphere is the spirit of the department, providing international internships as an opportunity to exchange experiences and support young scientists.Our state-of-the-art research facility spans over 300 square meters and adheres to strict S1 and S2 guidelines. Within FORM-Lab, we offer a range of equipment and expertise for both in vitro and in vivo research, particularly in the fields of biomaterials and tissue engineering.Furthermore, an international atmosphere is the spirit of the department, providing international internships as an opportunity to exchange experiences and support young scientists.