Press release - 09/09/2025 Molecular Biomimetics: The Cell Nucleus as a Model for DNA-based Computer Chips In the human body, stem cells process genetic information in an exceptionally reliable and very fast manner. To do this, they access certain sections of the DNA in the cell nucleus. Researchers at KIT have investigated how the DNA-based information processing system works. Their results show that this process is comparable to processes in modern computers and could therefore serve as a model for new types of DNA-based computer chips.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/molecular-biomimetics-cell-nucleus-model-dna-based-computer-chips
Press release - 04/09/2025 Rare bone tumors: Tailor-made mini-proteins switch off tumor drivers Chordomas are rare bone tumors for which there are no effective drugs. A research team from the DKFZ and the NCT Heidelberg has now developed a promising approach: Tailor-made mini-proteins specifically block the driver of tumor development. In the result, slowing the growth of chordoma cells in the laboratory and in a mouse model, while also revealing further molecular vulnerabilities of the tumor that could be addressed with approved drugs.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/rare-bone-tumors-tailor-made-mini-proteins-switch-tumor-drivers-1
Press release - 03/09/2025 Therapeutic vaccination against HPV-related tumors: Nanoparticles make the difference Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have collaborated with the SILVACX project group at Heidelberg University to develop a therapeutic vaccination concept that can mobilize the immune system to target cancer cells. The team showed that virus peptides coupled to silica nanoparticles can elicit effective T-cell responses against HPV-related tumors. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/therapeutic-vaccination-against-hpv-related-tumors-nanoparticles-make-difference
Press release - 28/08/2025 Inhibition of cell division induces immunoreactive peptides in cancer cells A team of scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Netherlands Cancer Institute has discovered a previously unknown vulnerability in cancer cells: When cell division is blocked with chemotherapeutic agents such as Taxol, cancer cells produce small immunogenic peptides that could open up new avenues for immune-based cancer therapies.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/inhibition-cell-division-induces-immunoreactive-peptides-cancer-cells
Enhancing human perception of the imperceptible - 28/08/2025 AI-driven imaging expands possibilities in surgery Doctors frequently experience a restricted view of the surgical field, particularly during endoscopic procedures. A novel technique developed by Prof. Dr. Lena Maier-Hein's team at the DKFZ in Heidelberg integrates spectral imaging with AI-driven data analysis. This innovation facilitates accurate tissue differentiation and delivers real-time insights into organ function.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/ai-driven-imaging-expands-possibilities-surgery
Press release - 21/08/2025 Nanodroplets Could Speed Up the Search for New Medicine Until now, the early phase of drug discovery for the development of new therapeutics has been cost- and time-intensive. Researchers at KIT have developed a platform on which extremely miniaturized nanodroplets with a volume of 200 nanoliters per droplet and containing 300 cells per test can be arranged. This platform enables the researchers to synthesize and test thousands of therapeutic agents on the same chip, saving time and resources. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/nanodroplets-could-speed-search-new-medicine
Press release - 14/08/2025 Freezing brain tumor cells in a dormant state Every brain tumor is made up of cells in successive stages of activation. Researchers have now analyzed the individual structure of these activation pyramids in malignant brain tumors. In doing so, they discovered a signaling protein that slows down the transition from a dormant to an activated state by epigenetically reprogramming the cells. The hope is that this will permanently freeze cancer cells in a dormant state and thus halt tumor growth.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/freezing-brain-tumor-cells-dormant-state
Press release - 01/08/2025 Early Pancreatic Cancer Detection Tumors of the pancreas seldom cause symptoms in their early stages. This means that in many cases, they are not diagnosed until late, when the chances of successful treatment are poor. A new non-invasive diagnostic method designed by Fraunhofer researchers is set to make it possible to detect this aggressive form of cancer early on with high accuracy, significantly improving the prognosis for treatment.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/early-pancreatic-cancer-detection
Press release - 01/08/2025 A Less Debilitating Approach to Cancer Diagnosis Less radiation exposure during diagnosis and treatment for breast and lung cancer: New Fraunhofer method combines X-ray imaging and radar. In the MultiMed project, which explores multimodal medical imaging in 3D, researchers are developing a method that combines X-ray imaging and radar. It´s not only expected to improve the accuracy and efficacy of diagnosing, monitoring and treating breast and lung cancer but also lighten the burden on patients.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/less-debilitating-approach-cancer-diagnosis
Press release - 29/07/2025 New method to design custom protein binder Designing protein binders from scratch has long been a daunting challenge within the field of computational biology. Researchers have now developed an innovative, training-free pipeline that uses the fundamental principle of shape complementarity to design site-specific protein binders, which are then optimised to fit precisely onto chosen target sites. The researchers tested this on proteins linked to cancer.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-method-design-custom-protein-binder
Press release - 24/07/2025 The origin of evil: stem cell-like cells are the reason for relapses of blood cancer in children and adolescents Stem cell-like leukemia cells are responsible for relapses in children and adolescents with a certain type of blood cancer, T-ALL. Researchers at the Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), the Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit and the German Cancer Research Center were able to show this in a study. The results could help to overcome resistance in this form of blood cancer and prevent relapses.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/origin-evil-stem-cell-cells-are-reason-relapses-blood-cancer-children-and-adolescents
Press release - 24/07/2025 What makes cells migrate – and what can stop them Konstanz researchers identify an enzyme that plays a role in the migration of cells in our body - not only during normal tissue formation and wound healing, but also when tumor cells metastasize. This makes the enzyme an interesting candidate for potential future therapeutic approaches.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/what-makes-cells-migrate-and-what-can-stop-them
Press release - 22/07/2025 Colorectal cancer in type 2 diabetes: An insightful look into the microenvironment of tumors Diabetics have a higher risk of colorectal cancer and often a poorer prognosis after developing the disease. The biological mechanisms behind this association were largely unknown. A research team at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) has now discovered that tumors with a low number of immune cells appear to be particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of diabetes. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/colorectal-cancer-type-2-diabetes-insightful-look-microenvironment-tumors
Press release - 21/07/2025 Cancer Cachexia: Liver Identified as Driver of Body Wasting Many people with cancer experience dramatic loss of muscle and fat tissue. In many cases, even the heart muscle is affected. This wasting syndrome, affects around half of all cancer patients. Researchers from Helmholtz Munich, in collaboration with Heidelberg University Hospital, the Technical University of Munich, and the German Center for Diabetes Research, have now identified a previously overlooked driver of cachexia: the liver. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/cancer-cachexia-liver-identified-driver-body-wasting
Press release - 18/07/2025 Faster sepsis diagnosis through hyperspectral imaging and AI Sepsis is one of the most dangerous medical emergencies. The condition is the result of a misdirected immune response to an infection, which can quickly lead to organ failure and death. Every hour counts – but early detection is difficult. A new study from Heidelberg now presents an innovative approach: artificial intelligence (AI) and hyperspectral imaging of the skin enable immediate and non-invasive sepsis diagnosis directly at the bedside.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/faster-sepsis-diagnosis-through-hyperspectral-imaging-and-ai
Funding FIGHT KIDS CANCER 2025-2026 Call for proposals Funding programme, Funded by: European Science Foundation (ESF), sb_search.searchresult.label.programSubmissionDate: 17/10/2025 https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/database/funding/fight-kids-cancer-2025-2026-call-proposals
Press release - 15/07/2025 Mapping the metabolism of blood stem cells Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg and ETH Zürich have created the first integrated map detailing the metabolic and molecular changes in human blood stem cells as they age, specialize, or turn cancerous. Their innovative research, made possible by highly sensitive low-input techniques, identifies the nutrient choline, as a key player in preserving youthful stem cell traits. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/mapping-metabolism-blood-stem-cells
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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/erc-funding-research-improved-cancer-immunotherapies
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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/molecular-arms-race-how-genome-defends-itself-against-internal-enemies
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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/investigating-kinase-activity-living-cells
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. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/evolution-cancer-cells-decoded
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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-drug-target-treating-cancer-and-viral-infections
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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/five-million-euros-research-early-cancer-detection
Press release - 18/06/2025 Hector Foundation Prize 2025 for Annika Reinke: “Metrics Reloaded” improves the quality of AI-supported image analysis Computer scientist Annika Reinke from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) has been awarded the Hector Foundation Prize 2025, endowed with €10,000, for her outstanding work in the field of AI-supported medical image analysis. She received the award for the project Metrics Reloaded, which can significantly improve the quality and reliability of AI-supported image analysis.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/hector-foundation-prize-2025-annika-reinke-metrics-reloaded-improves-quality-ai-supported-image-analysis
Press release - 16/06/2025 Novel laboratory models pave the way for targeted therapies for childhood sarcomas Sarcomas in soft tissue usually occur in young people and are difficult to treat. Due to a lack of laboratory models, the causes of their development are poorly understood. A team of researchers has now succeeded in creating mouse models with a functioning immune system that replicate sarcoma types that remain unstudied. The method opens up new avenues for the targeted development of immunotherapies for children and adolescents with sarcomas.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/novel-laboratory-models-pave-way-targeted-therapies-childhood-sarcomas