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New Head of the Neurology Department: an Expert in Multiple Sclerosis and Inflammatory Diseases with international experience
[11.12.2024]
As of 1st October, Prof. Dr. Heinz Wiendl is the Medical Director of the Department of Neurology and Neuroscience at the Medical Centre - University of Freiburg. He thus succeeds Prof. Dr. Cornelius Weiller, who was head of the department for 19 years.
We spoke with Professor Wiendl.
1. You have studied, worked and researched in Germany, Switzerland, the United States and Australia. Which clinical and research areas are particularly close to your heart?
Prof. Dr. Wiendl: “Through my international positions, I was able to build up a broad knowledge but also networks in neurology and neuroimmunology, which I would like to further develop in my work in Freiburg. I am particularly fascinated by the role of inflammatory processes in neurological diseases and their therapeutic modifiability, i.e. the field of neurological immunotherapy. My focus in patient care goes hand in hand with research. In this area, I work a lot in the development of neurological immunotherapies, prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic markers, and overall for a better phenotypic description of neuroimmunological diseases. The development of translational research facilities that connect clinical and basic research is close to my heart, as this promotes progress in neuro-medicine."
2. What developments have there been over the last ten years in the treatment of inflammatory neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis?
Prof. Dr. Wiendl: “Recent years have seen a significant expansion of treatment options. Unlike just a few years ago, we are now able to control the disease in many patients with the help of effective immunotherapies, even if we still can't cure it. In addition to advances in immunotherapy and our understanding of the disease, we have discovered new biomarkers that enable earlier diagnoses and individualized treatments. This means that we can now pursue personalized therapeutic approaches that slow down the progression of the disease and offer patients a better quality of life.”
3. Are we on the verge of being able to test everyone for multiple sclerosis using biomarkers?
Prof. Dr. Wiendl: “Biomarkers, or rather a combinations of markers, like signatures or fingerprints, are a very exciting field with great potential, but also precision medicine. We ourselves have found a new immunological characterization of patients with early MS that suggests there are three subgroups of early multiple sclerosis with different disease progression and different responses to certain immunotherapies. Some groups are working hard to establish better classifications for prognosis or markers for monitoring inflammatory diseases of the nervous system. The answer is: there is no blood test for multiple sclerosis before the disease has broken out. There is an increasingly good set of tools to diagnose MS and to accompany prognosis and monitoring.
4. How far has research progressed towards a cure for inflammatory neurological diseases?
Prof. Dr. Wiendl: “A complete cure is not yet in sight according to the current state of knowledge. However, the therapies we have today are able to significantly slow down the progression of the disease and alleviate the symptoms. They can truly control the disease in about 80% of cases, allowing the patient to lead an almost normal life. This is a considerable advance. In research, there is a major focus on a better understanding of the immunological mechanisms and on the development of specific immunotherapies that could potentially offer a cure in the long term.”
5. How many multiple sclerosis patients have you treated so far, and which case stands out in your mind?
Prof. Dr. Wiendl: “Over the course of my career, I have certainly seen and cared for many hundreds of multiple sclerosis patients. Many cases stand out in my mind, but perhaps the first case was of a young patient with a very aggressive and highly active progression who was therefore no longer able to follow lessons at school. At that time, the first monoclonal antibody was approved for treatment, and I used it on him immediately. The boy was able to graduate from high school without any problems, went on to university, and is now working. Success like this motivates me greatly in my work.”
6. What is your opinion on the role of digitalization and modern technologies, such as telemedicine and AI, in the future treatment and research of inflammatory neurological diseases?
Prof. Dr. Wiendl: “Digitalization and AI are playing an increasingly important role. Telemedicine facilitates access to care, while AI can help with data analysis and identifying biomarkers. In the long term, digital solutions will help us develop and implement personalized treatment options faster and more efficiently. This will take neurological care to a new level. I myself am involved in the development of a medical co-pilot (called Prof. Valmed), which provides support in diagnostics and therapy as a medical device based on validated information. The future of medicine, the neurologist 2.0, if you will, must use such tools to be at the cutting edge of knowledge and quality of care!”