Experimental Anesthesiology
Prof. Dr. Michael BAUER
Prof. Michael Bauer
Image: Michael Szabo, UKJ
Prof. Michael Bauer
Image: Michael Szabo, UKJProf. Dr. Michael BAUER
Email: michael.bauer@med.uni-jena.de
Phone: + 49 3641 9-323101
Prof. Michael Bauer is Director of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at Jena University Hospital. His research focuses on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening infections and sepsis, with particular emphasis on infection-associated organ dysfunction and the individual host response.
Within interdisciplinary collaborations in Jena, including the Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI), his group contributes clinical and biomedical expertise to the development and translation of novel photonic and molecular approaches for rapid infection diagnostics, patient stratification and individualized therapy.
Research Areas
Prof. Bauer's research within ACP focuses on the translation of optical and spectroscopic technologies into biomedical applications, particularly for the diagnosis and monitoring of severe infections. Research interests include:
- Culture-independent optical detection and identification of pathogens
- Raman-spectroscopic characterization of infection and host-response states
- Photonic approaches for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing
- In vivo fluorescence imaging of cellular and organ function
- Optical monitoring of metabolism, redox state and tissue function
- Translation of biophotonic diagnostic technologies into clinical workflows
Teaching Fields
Prof. Bauer’s teaching covers aspects of pathophysiology and molecular aspects in critical care medicine with a focus on life-threatening infections:
- Fundamentals of oxygen transport, energy metabolism and redox state
- Systems biology of infection, sepsis and organ failure
Research Methods
The group applies and clinically evaluates optical and spectroscopic techniques in close cooperation with photonics research groups in Jena. Methods include:
- In vivo and intravital fluorescence microscopy
- Fluorescence-based monitoring of cellular and organ function
- Raman microspectroscopy for label-free characterization of cells and microorganisms
- Raman-based pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing
- Spectroscopic characterization of leukocyte activation and host-response states
- Integration of optical measurements with clinical and molecular reference diagnostics
Recent Research Results
Micro-Raman spectroscopy to study hepatic metabolism and excretory function.
Picture: Research group of Michael BauerA major focus of the interdisciplinary work involving Prof. Bauer is the translation of optical spectroscopy into rapid diagnostic approaches for infectious diseases. Raman spectroscopy enables label-free molecular characterization of microorganisms and host cells and therefore provides complementary information to conventional microbiological and clinical diagnostics.
Raman-spectroscopic analysis of peripheral blood leukocytes has demonstrated that infection-associated changes in cellular activation can be detected directly from their molecular fingerprints. In clinical samples, these signatures enabled differentiation between sterile inflammation, infection and sepsis, illustrating the potential of optical spectroscopy for characterization of the host response [1].
Raman-based approaches have also been developed for direct pathogen diagnostics. Analysis of patient-derived samples has enabled identification and differentiation of bacterial species, including microorganisms present in mixed infections [2]. In combination with microfluidic sample handling, Raman spectroscopy further provides a route towards rapid, label-free antimicrobial susceptibility testing [3].
Complementary optical imaging approaches are used to investigate cellular and organ function in vivo. Intravital fluorescence microscopy and suitable fluorescent probes allow dynamic visualization of processes such as hepatic uptake, transport and excretion and thereby provide optical access to functional changes associated with critical illness [4].
These activities contribute to the broader objective of translating photonic technologies into clinically applicable methods for rapid infection diagnostics and functional monitoring, particularly within interdisciplinary collaborations such as the Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research.
[1] Ramoji et al., Crit. Care Explor. 3, e0394 (2021).
[2] Aubrechtová Dragounová et al., Analyst 148, 3806 (2023).
[3] Schröder et al., J. Biophotonics 10, 1547 (2017).
[4] Recknagel et al., J. Biophotonics 5, 571 (2012).