ISLA Research Group 

ISLA Research Group is recognized as a public charity and constitutes a subsidiary of the ISLA.

Research organization with ambitious goals

The non-profit research organization was founded by two graduates of the Master's Programme 'International Development Studies' – Robert Weber, Lauenförde, and Martin Junggebauer, Braunschweig in October 2013. The organization aims to develop new treatment options for global infectious diseases such as malaria or tuberculosis.

The ISLA Research Group strives to contribute to one of the most important challenges of our time – to create a fair global health system and thereby open new development perspectives that are based on improved health care systems for less developed countries.

Fighting infectious diseases with anti-microbial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT)

The innovative idea of this ambitious project arose during a study trip through India in 2012. It was influenced by the professional background of Robert Weber who has been engaged in the family business of weber medical and the research organization ISLA for many years.

After several successful laboratory experiments, it was finally discussed to utilize photodynamic laser therapy not only in tumor therapy but also for the 'in vivo' treatment of bacterial and viral diseases. The purpose of the ISLA Research Group was born: To evaluate the so-called anti-microbial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as treatment option for infectious diseases.

First successful studies on malaria treatment

5 years after the formation of the ISLA Research Group (as of October 2018) promising interim conclusions can be outlined. Soon after a first pilot trial on the 'Effectiveness of anti-microbial photodynamic therapy for treating malaria' was conducted in Rudrapur, India a first study was realized in Ondo, Nigeria.

The protocol proved to be extremely effective and superior to the state-of-the-art malaria treatment that was used so far: After 5 treatments within 9 days 90% or the study participants that were treated with laser and infusion did not show any plasmodia anymore. As a comparison, 50% of the patients of the reference group that received traditional treatment were still tested malaria positive. 

  

Successful treatment options for Lyme disease and hepatitis

In close collaboration with the ISLA research network data has been collected regarding the efficiency of aPDT treatment for Lyme disease and hepatitis. Results have exceeded initial expectations by far.

Please click here for results.

Facing a promising future

For the upcoming years the ISLA Research Group is planning to expand their research activities extensively. The current focus is on the establishment of further research cooperation.