Construction of the network
Dr. Heiko Traupe, Professor emeritus, continues to function as a coordinator of the network and does this work in an honorary capacity. The reference center ReCIP is headed by Priv. Doz. Dr. Vinzenz Oji, Münster. Mrs. B. Willis helps the ReCIP currently as an assistant.
The ReCIP in Münster cooperates very closely with Prof. Dr. Judith Fischer, who is head of the institute of human genetics in Freiburg, Germany. Prof. J. Fischer has already identified several genetic defects in ichthyoses and offers a high level molecular diagnostic for these diseases including the possibility of next generation sequencing (exome sequencing and gene panel diagnostics). Moreover, there is a close cooperation with Dr. Ingrid Hausser from the institute of pathology of the University of Heidelberg. Dr. I. Hausser is an expert for electron microscopy (ultrastructure) of ichthyoses that can help and supplement in establishing the correct diagnosis. We want to emphasize that there is a close cooperation with the patient organization Selbsthilfe Ichthyose e.V. and members of the NIRK association continue to support the annual meetings of Selbsthilfe Ichthyose.