Press release - 26/05/2025 Explainable artificial intelligence increases the accuracy and endurance of dermatologists in melanoma diagnosis Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have shown in an international eye-tracking study that dermatologists not only improve their diagnostic accuracy by using explainable artificial intelligence, but also show significantly less fatigue when assessing challenging cases. The researchers were able to demonstrate this by measuring a reduction in cognitive stress indicators.
Life-saving smartphone app delivers rapid help during cardiac arrest - 19/05/2025 Do smartphone-based first responder alerting systems increase the chances of survival in the event of cardiac arrest? Every minute counts when the heart suddenly stops beating or pumps so weakly that the brain is no longer receiving enough oxygen. The HEROES trial, coordinated in Freiburg, is investigating whether the survival rate of patients requiring out-of-hospital resuscitation improves when qualified first responders are alerted via the ‘Region of Lifesavers’ app - enabling them to begin high-quality resuscitation measures as early as possible.
Press release - 07/05/2025 Contactless. Precise. Pioneering: Muscle Monitoring with Quantum Sensors A research team led by PD Dr. Justus Marquet and from the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research has developed two methods that allow muscle activity and training-induced adaptations to be measured completely contactlessly. The studies demonstrate that magnetic fields generated during muscle activity can be captured using highly sensitive quantum sensors - without the need for electrodes or skin contact.
Animal-free testing of chemicals and cosmetics - 07/05/2025 Human reporter skin for visualsing skin reactions Before new cosmetics can be placed on the market, all ingredients must undergo rigorous testing for safety and efficacy. Dr. Anke Burger-Kentischer of the Fraunhofer IGB has long been at the forefront of animal-free research and has developed an innovative method to quickly and reliably test cosmetics and other chemicals without using animals. She was awarded the 2024 Hamburg Research Prize for her groundbreaking ‘reporter skin’ in vitro model.
Baden-Württemberg AI Alliance - 08/04/2025 Achieving widespread use of AI Artificial intelligence presents both opportunities and risks. The Baden-Württemberg AI Alliance is dedicated to fostering collaboration among AI stakeholders to ensure that AI solutions deliver tangible benefits to citizens and businesses across the state. The alliance will also place greater emphasis on advancing AI applications within the healthcare sector.
Press release - 14/03/2025 Tool identifies specific viruses to combat dangerous bacteria University of Tübingen research team shortens the search for attackers that can wipe out multiresistant pathogens – with the aim of treating infections without antibiotics
Press release - 06/03/2025 NMI TT in Reutlingen and Düsseldorf University Women's Hospital develop high-precision method for analyzing individual circulating tumor cells Researchers have developed a new method that enables a more precise analysis of individual tumor cells circulating in the blood. This allows not only the previously possible genomic investigation of such tumor cells, but also the focused analysis of single-cell signaling pathways at the functional protein level. The combined analysis of the mutated genome and signaling proteins opens up new avenues for more targeted treatment methods.
Press release - 28/02/2025 Recognise developmental disorders early with AI: Automatically classifying movement patterns in babies Using a new combination of three sensors and artificial intelligence, researchers at Heidelberg Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University and Heidelberg University Hospital are recognising patterns in babies' movements that show whether their nervous system is developing healthily.
Press release - 28/02/2025 Early Excellence in Science Award für Ivana Winkler The Bayer Foundation's Early Excellence in Science Award 2024 in the category of Data Science goes to Ivana Winkler of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). Winkler's work uncovered the unexpected effect of female reproductive capacity: the constantly recurring remodeling of the organs of the female reproductive tract during the sexual cycle leads to fibrosis and chronic inflammation over the years.
Vicinity Bio: Optimisation of cancer diagnostics - 27/11/2024 Comprehensive histological diagnostics through high-dimensional imaging and artificial intelligence Microscopic examination of tissue samples is essential, particularly in tumour diagnostics. The Tübingen-based company Vicinity Bio leverages cutting-edge imaging technologies combined with machine learning to generate comprehensive datasets of individual cells from tissue sections. This approach not only helps identify more targeted therapies but also enhances our understanding of cellular functions and processes within tissues and tumours.
Press release - 25/11/2024 Chromosomal chaos promotes therapy resistance in leukemia cells and opens up new treatment approaches Chromosomal instability plays a role in the progression of cancer: it shapes the properties of tumor cells and drives the development of therapy resistance. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the Heidelberg Stem Cell Institute HI-STEM* and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) used state-of-the-art single-cell analysis methods to analyze the cellular heterogeneity of a specific form of acute myeloid leukemia.
Advancing quantum technology into real-world applications - 06/11/2024 QSens: BMBF future cluster brings quantum sensors of the future into medicine The BMBF-funded future cluster ‘QSens – Quantum Sensors of the Future’ is developing ultra-sensitive sensors that could open up new options in medicine, enabling faster drug research, more accurate diagnostics and improved rehabilitation. The universities of Stuttgart and Ulm are actively working with 17 industry partners to put these cutting-edge innovations to immediate practical use.