The participating students were invited to learn more about cluster research into chronic intestinal inflammation and intestinal organoids in particular. Organoids are produced from stem cells in the laboratory and replicate parts of the human intestine in a petri dish. The researchers can carry out experiments on the mini intestinal models and investigate, for example, how certain drugs affect the intestinal cells.

Through guided tours of the laboratories, students were given a comprehensive insight into the clinic - e.g., an endoscopy - and through many discussions with the researchers from the cluster. The artists interpreted the various aspects of the research visually and aesthetically on the basis of their own views. This has resulted in various artistic films and installations, which were first shown at the "Organoid" exhibition at the Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in 2022.

Focus on inflammatory bowel diseases

The focus on intestinal inflammation and intestinal organoids resulted from the original focus of the project:
On the initiative of the Cluster of Excellence PMI, the Japanese scientist Prof. Mamoru Watanabe received an honorary doctorate from Kiel University (CAU) in 2021. Professor Mamoru Watanabe is one of the pioneers in the development of intestinal organoids, with a focus on research into chronic intestinal inflammation. He is closely associated with the PMI Cluster of Excellence. As it was not possible to present the award in person due to the coronavirus pandemic, the PMI cluster looked for new, innovative approaches to enable the award to be presented virtually and still make it visible.