The University Medical Centre Mannheim launched a brain aneurysm centre on 4 November 2026. The interdisciplinary service brings together neurosurgery, neuroradiology, neuropsychology and other specialities to organise diagnosis, treatment and structured follow-up care in one place. It is headed by Professor Nima Etminan. He describes the initiative as firmly patient-centred and stresses that decisions should be more closely tailored to individual risks.
The centre plans to offer standardised imaging, multidisciplinary case conferences and clear pathways for conservative and invasive treatments. Services will include telemedicine follow-up, drug trials, complex bypass operations and endovascular procedures, including modern stent systems such as flow diverters. The aim is to refine decisions about whether treatment is appropriate and avoid both over- and undertreatment.
According to the hospital, the initiative is being funded primarily by the Hector Foundation . The pledge amounts to around €3.4 million over three years. Together with funding from the faculty and the hospital, this creates a budget of about €5 million for development, research and information services.
In explaining the decision to bring services together, University Medical Centre Mannheim cites an increase in the detection of unruptured aneurysms through imaging. Recent reviews and national projects are examining prevalence, individual risk assessment and the benefits of new treatments. Projects such as PIRATE are developing computer-based models to support clinical decisions. At the same time, members of the specialist community say robust long-term data on some newer implants are not yet available across all regions; clinical assessments therefore remain nuanced.
Patients and their families face three main questions: who is at high risk, how often should check-ups take place, and when do the benefits of an intervention outweigh its risks? The centre promises clear information, fixed follow-up plans and close involvement in national studies. It says it will link care in Mannheim with existing services across Germany.
With the centre’s launch, Mannheim is adopting a coordinated approach across neurosurgery, neuroradiology and in-hospital research. The aim is to improve the quality of care for people with brain aneurysms while systematically gathering evidence on the long-term effectiveness of modern procedures.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).