ICON hosts a fully integrated suite of research platforms supporting translational work in cardiovascular and endocrine disease modeling. Each facility is overseen by domain experts and directly embedded within ICON’s infrastructure.
© Photo: Nathalie Zimmermann
ICON provides state-of-the-art MRI and CT imaging technologies, specifically tailored for large animal research. These platforms enable high-resolution anatomical and functional imaging crucial for cardiovascular and metabolic disease modeling. The integrated setup facilitates both diagnostic and interventional studies. The imaging suite is further supported by industrial partners (e.g., Siemens, Philips) providing tailored technical expertise.The nuclear imaging unit includes a dedicated PET-CT system for non-invasive molecular imaging. It supports the development and in vivo validation of novel radiotracers and allows for the quantification of metabolic, inflammatory, and atherothrombotic processes in translational models.ICON includes advanced echocardiographic capabilities, including transthoracic, transesophageal, and intracardiac modalities, adapted for large animal use. These imaging techniques are essential for real-time cardiac function monitoring and for guiding interventional procedures.
MRI / CT
Leads: Prof. Dr. Moritz Wildgruber (Radiology, LMU University Hospital)
Prof. Dr. Jörg Hausleiter (Cardiology, LMU University Hospital)
PET-CT
Lead: Prof. Dr. Matthias Brendel (Nuclear Medicine, LMU University Hospital)
Echocardiography & Ultrasound
Lead: PD Dr. Sebastian Clauss (Cardiology, LMU University Hospital)
Operating and procedure rooms support high-complexity interventions such as artificial heart implantation, xenotransplantation, and electrophysiological studies. One suite features a cardiac catheterization unit for coronary angiography and advanced intravascular imaging (e.g., FFR, OCT, IVUS, NIRF).
Lead: PD Dr. Sebastian Clauss (Cardiology, LMU University Hospital)
The microscopy platform provides advanced modalities including epifluorescence and confocal microscopy. These tools enable high-resolution tissue imaging for structural and cellular-level analysis, essential in histopathology and tracer validation.
Lead: Dr. Hellen Ishikawa-Ankerhold (Cardiology, LMU University Hospital)
This facility supports detailed immunophenotyping and cell sorting applications, which are critical for cellular immunology and mechanistic investigations into cardiovascular inflammation and immune response.
Provides high-resolution immune cell and biomarker profiling.
Lead: PD Dr. Leo Nicolai (Cardiology, LMU University Hospital)
The sequencing facility enables transcriptomic and genetic profiling of tissue and blood samples from large animal models. It plays a central role in molecular target validation and disease mechanism elucidation, offering single-cell and bulk transcriptomics, including data integration with ICON’s systems biology efforts.
Lead: Dr. Daniel Reichart (Cardiology / Gene Center, LMU)
This BSL-2 certified facility supports the production and testing of viral vectors for experimental gene therapy. It enables targeted modulation of gene expression in vivo and is integral to therapeutic development efforts at ICON.
Lead: PD Dr. Olympia Bikou (Cardiology, LMU University Hospital)
The histology unit supports detailed tissue processing, staining, and pathology assessments, serving both standard diagnostics and advanced research endpoints. It bridges preclinical studies with clinical relevance through high-fidelity tissue characterization.
Centralized facility for tissue processing, histopathological assessment, and digital pathology.
Lead: Prof. Dr. Andreas Parzefall (Veterinary Pathology, LMU)