Medicine Campus Davos
A campus for therapy, research, and education in the fields of allergology, asthma and cardiology
The Medicine Campus Davos delivers an innovative structure that offers patients tailored care for their rehabilitation, as well as provides a center of excellence for acute diagnostics, prevention, and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, especially in allergology and cardiology. To achieve this goal, the campus was built on the three classic and strongly interwoven pillars of university medicine: personalized healthcare, research and education. This traditional structure is complimented by a unique database and biobank for modern clinical epidemiological research, healthcare and cause studies.
Clinical care (in-patient/out-patient) in the fields of allergy, asthma, and cardiology. Patients with asthma or dermatological, general allergological, and cardiovascular needs are treated at the Hochgebirgsklinik Davos. They immediately benefit from the allergy and cardiology research on the campus where the treatment is always based on the latest scientific findings. SIAF, CK-CARE and Cardio-CARE utilize results that directly benefit both therapeutic practice and the clinic. Great importance is also attached to offering targeted education so physicians and patients have access to best practices and evidence-based care.
Top-level research in the fields of allergy, asthma and cardiology. SIAF and Cardio-CARE carry out real translational research thanks both to their proximity to in-patients and out-patients and the analysis of genetic biosamples. As an integrating element of the campus concept, the CK-CARE research network combines the expertise of several European centres.
Campus Partners
Christine Kühne – Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE)
Deficits in the areas of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of people with allergic disorders are being redressed through research and education, making an important contribution to patients’ long-term well-being. Forming a unique alliance of international experts and locations, CK-CARE is at present focusing particularly on research into and treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Cardio-CARE AG
Cardio-CARE AG is a cooperation between the Kühne Foundation, University Hospital Zurich (USZ) and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). The aim is to gain a better understanding of the causes of cardiovascular disease in order to develop new diagnostic and targeted therapeutic options.
Davos BioSciences AG (DBS)
DBS, a non-profit biotech SME of the Kühne Foundation, offers high-quality expertise in biobanking and laboratory services, with a focus on atopic dermatitis and other allergic diseases. It supports pharmaceutical companies in their efforts to accelerate and optimise the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents.
Hochgebirgsklinik Davos (HGK)
The Hochgebirgsklinik Davos is leading Swiss hospital and clinical rehabilitation center specialising in allergology, dermatology, paediatrics, pneumology, psychosomatics and cardiology for children, young people and adults. The internationally renowned and prestigious range of medical services on offer make the perfect combination for successful diagnosis, treatment.The clinic has around 170 beds (single and family rooms).
Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF)
SIAF is a department of the foundation Swiss Research Institutes for High Altitude Climate and Medicine Davos (SFI) and an affiliated institute of the University of Zurich. The research activities are focused on basic research in the field of allergies and asthma.
Endowed professorship
The Medicine Campus Davos provides an endowed professorship sponsored by the Kühne Foundation. This allows for the ideal conditions for a translational centre for allergology, thanks to the proximity and synergy created by the clinic (Hochgebirgsklinik) and CK-CARE research and education, as well as the close cooperation with the University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich. Relevant topics from everyday clinical routine are addressed and processed in the laboratory.
About 35% of the Swiss population is sensitised to allergens. Often, patients first experience symptoms as small children. For example, 20% of children suffer from neurodermatitis. It is to be expected that allergies will increase even more drastically in the future. Treatment is usually carried out using long-term desensitisation, often with uncertain success, or with medications, most of which have relatively strong side effects. Frequently, the only advice that can be given to the patient is to simply avoid the allergen. There is therefore a great unmet medical need for a sustainable and effective preventative therapy or treatment.
One of the main areas of interest is neurodermatitis. We are investigating why neurodermatitis is associated with an inflammatory reaction not just restricted to the skin, but with systemic manifestations, such that certain patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. We are also looking at how these disease elements are linked. Our most important approach in the research of these relationships is Imaging Mass Cytometry. We are currently developing this imaging method at the Medicine Campus Davos. With this technology, 40 to 50 surface markers can be analysed on cells in the tissue, instead of just 4 to 5 with the conventional method. This comprehensive visualisation of immune cells and their mediators in the tissue will enable a better understanding of inflammatory processes. This in turn will pave the way for more targeted treatment approaches.