Press release - 16/07/2025 Unexpected side-effect: how common medications clear the way for pathogens Study led by the University of Tübingen: many non-antibiotics weaken the natural protective function of the intestine – with consequences for the colonization with pathogenic bacteria
AI-supported image recognition accelerates identification of zebrafish mutants - 16/07/2025 EmbryoNet AI automatically identifies developmental disorders In complex organisms, embryonic development is tightly regulated by intricate signalling pathways. When these pathways are disrupted, they can lead to characteristic developmental defects that are not easy to detect with the naked eye. Developmental biologist Prof. Dr. Patrick Müller from the University of Konstanz has developed EmbryoNet, an AI-powered software tool that uses image analysis to reliably identify such developmental disorders.
Press release - 15/07/2025 ERC funding for research into improved cancer immunotherapies With its Proof of Concept grants, the European Research Council (ERC) supports scientists in further developing the economic potential of their research results. Two scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now received this coveted funding for the second time.
Press release - 14/07/2025 Faster and brighter protein labeling with new tool SNAP-tag2 The protein SNAP-tag is a powerful tool for labeling proteins with synthetic fluorophores for bioimaging. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg have engineered a much improved version named SNAP-tag2 as well as optimized substrates for faster labeling in live cells.
Press release - 11/07/2025 Molecular arms race: How the genome defends itself against internal enemies An international research team has deciphered a mechanism of evolutionary arms race in human cells. The findings provide insights into how mobile elements in DNA hijack cellular functions – and how cells can defend themselves against this in order to prevent conditions such as tumour formation or chronic inflammation.
Press release - 11/07/2025 Cellular stress response – researchers discover potential therapeutic target for heart failure Researchers at the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) have identified a key molecule involved in a form of heart failure that has so far been difficult to treat.
Press release - 10/07/2025 Investigating kinase activity in living cells The ability of protein kinases to transfer a phosphate group to target proteins plays an important role in many cellular processes. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research have now developed a novel molecular tool that can monitor these kinase activities both spatially and temporally. This makes it possible to investigate the link between kinase activities and cellular phenotypes in heterogenous cell populations and in vivo.
Press release - 09/07/2025 The evolution of cancer cells decoded Cancer can take decades for cancer-promoting changes in the genome to eventually lead to the formation of a malignant tumor. Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center have now developed a method that allows for the first time to reconstruct the temporal development—the evolution—of cancerous cells from a single tissue sample.
Press release - 09/07/2025 A new drug target for treating cancer and viral infections An international team of researchers led by Konstanz biologists has identified a molecular mechanism that regulates the activity of N-myristoyltransferases. This enzyme plays a role in biological signalling pathways, where dysregulation can lead to serious illness.
Press release - 08/07/2025 Five million euros for research into early cancer detection Investing in a healthier future: The HORNBACH Group is supporting the new National Cancer Prevention Center in Heidelberg with a donation of five million euros. In the future, a new laboratory will conduct research into more effective early detection and screening methods.
Computer tool opens up new ways to address antibiotic resistance - 02/07/2025 PhARIS identifies effective phages against multi-resistant bacteria Bacteriophages - viruses that specifically attack and destroy bacteria - are emerging as promising alternatives to antibiotics in the fight against drug-resistant infections. To speed this effort, researchers have created PhARIS, a computational tool that mines genomic data to pinpoint phages that are effective against S. aureus. By rapidly matching phage and pathogen, PhARIS can accelerate the development of targeted phage therapies.
Press release - 27/06/2025 Felix Glang receives Otto Hahn Medal Felix Glang, of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, has been awarded the Otto Hahn Medal in recognition of his achievements in developing new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods. Glang's methods enable clearer and faster brain scans.