The methods platform consists of five cores and is seamlessly connected to the structures established in the data platform. The methods platform checks the technical feasibility of external and internal research projects and enquiries and promotes their quality by integrating the organ-specific expertise of the experts involved. This is essential, as there is still very little experience with post-mortem samples among most researchers. In addition, organ-specific diagnostics for complex deaths are carried out in the methods platform and diagnostic criteria and methods for validated findings are continuously reviewed. It also ensures the best possible quality and harmonisation of autopsy samples and develops recommendations for improving sample quality and collection. Another task within the methods platform is to promote higher autopsy figures by supporting local autopsy centres and active capacity building in the specialist societies. In an effort to be able to report current developments and changes to relevant stakeholders in the public health system in a timely manner, the data received in NAREG is monitored and surveillance indicators are used.
Contact:naton@uke.de
Services
The NATON method platform provides organ-specific diagnostic assurance for quality improvement in terms of content. Organ-specific diagnostics are necessary for complex or unclear incoming cases. It is not uncommon for highly specialised organ-specific expertise to be lacking at some sites and for challenging, rare and unusual findings to be found that are particularly important for a complex understanding of disease processes and pathophysiological relationships.
The expertise of the diagnostics core is essential to ensure the correct classification of such cases and thus to incorporate correct data into NATON. The Surveillance and Evidence Core is also responsible for monitoring the methodological content of incoming data. This is only possible manually and the evaluation of autopsy findings requires not only scientific activity but also medical expertise.
The NATON services are listed below according to the centre's expertise. For overarching questions, please send an e-mail to naton@uke.de
| Centre | UK Dresden |
|---|---|
| Institute | Pathology |
| Expertise | Gastrointestinal tract and liver |
| Service | Histopathological co-assessment |
| Contact persons | Prof. Dr Gustavo Baretton, Dr Jessica Pablik |
| Procedure | Please first contact us briefly to clarify the question, then send the sample by post (e.g. as a paraffin block or section preparation) |
| Centre | UK Tübingen |
|---|---|
| Institute | Pathology and Neuropathology |
| Expertise | Examination of the immune system, multiparametric tissue imaging, myocarditis diagnostics, in situ virus detection |
| Services | In situ characterisation of the immune response using (multicolour) staining and gene expression analyses |
| Contact persons | Dr Massimo Granai, PD Dr Hans Bösmüller, Prof Karin Klingel (Cardiopathology) |
| Procedure | Personal contact for project discussion |
| Centre | UK Hamburg-Eppendorf |
|---|---|
| Institute | Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene |
| Expertise | Infection diagnostics from post-mortem tissue/blood [techniques: culture, molecular diagnostics, serology] |
| Service | Pathogen-related diagnostics e.g. - Molecular diagnostics of respiratory pathogens - SARS-CoV-2 VOC typing [both also from FFPE material] |
| Contact person | Dr Marc Lütgehetmann, mluetgeh@uke.de; Sophie Pflüger l.pflueger@uke.de |
| Procedure | Please first contact us briefly (by e-mail) to clarify the question, number and type of samples, then send them in by post (e.g. as a swab, extracted DNA/RNA, etc.). |
| Centre | Charité University Medicine Berlin |
|---|---|
| Institute | Neuropathology |
| Expertise | Tissue-based pathogen detection, pathology of the nervous system and musculature |
| Service | Tissue Diagnostics |
| Contact person | Dr Helena Radbruch helena.radbruch@charite.de |
| Procedure | Please first contact us briefly to clarify the issue, then send in the sample by post (e.g. blank section or block). |
| Centre | UK Hamburg-Eppendorf |
|---|---|
| Institute | Neuropathology |
| Expertise | Central Nervous System |
| Services | Reference assessment, method development/standardisation, tissue provision |
| Contact person | Prof. Dr Markus Glatzel, m.glatzel@uke.de |
| Procedure | Please first contact us briefly to clarify the issue, then send in the sample by post (e.g. paraffin blocks, formalin-fixed moist material). Once the assessment has been completed, the samples are returned to the site. |