When marine researchers and physicians work closely together

osteolabs GmbH is a spin-off from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel. This is where the idea was born to use trace elements in the human body to achieve a previously impossible early detection of osteoporosis and also to make therapeutic success measurable. Marine researchers at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, together with physicians from the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), have developed an early detection method for osteoporosis based on an analysis method originating from marine research, which allows an early diagnosis that is significantly faster than conventional methods.

"We use an analysis method for calcium isotopes that only requires urine or blood for the examination," Prof. Dr. Anton Eisenhauer, marine researcher and scientific director of osteolabs GmbH. The approach met with great interest right from the start and was supported by several public and private institutions.
"The spin-off of osteolabs GmbH is an excellent example of successful technology transfer, of good cooperation between our top-class research institutions and of innovative thinking across industry boundaries," said Karin Prien, Minister of Education, Science and Culture of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, in her welcoming address at the spin-off ceremony. "In Schleswig-Holstein, we have excellent marine research of the highest international reputation. I am therefore very pleased that the focus is not only on scientific publications, but that results and ideas are also being exploited economically and put into practice in new, innovative companies," said Prien.
The osteolabs team was deliberately put together in an interdisciplinary and heterogeneous way and today consists of researchers, doctors, laboratory managers, entrepreneurs as well as technical and financial experts. Our spectrum of expertise therefore ranges from medicine, physics and chemistry to medical technology, statistics and business administration.