Press release - 12/09/2025 In bad company: Immune cells in the tumor environment determine the success of therapy for childhood brain tumors The cellular environment of a tumor can either support or sabotage recovery. The most comprehensive study to date on the tumor microenvironment in low-grade gliomas, conducted by KiTZ, Jena University Hospital, the DKFZ, and Heidelberg University Hospital, shows what a supportive or obstructive “neighborhood” looks like in childhood brain tumors. The study also provides clues as to how tumor communication might be blocked. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/bad-company-immune-cells-tumor-environment-determine-success-therapy-childhood-brain-tumors
Press release - 05/09/2025 After EMBL: Umlaut.bio and its potential role in drug development Alumnus Bastian Linder discusses the origin of this start-up and how a tRNA mechanism is helping scientists understand the importance and use of various RNA modifications as they pertain to disease.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/after-embl-umlautbio-and-its-potential-role-drug-development
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 Nature publication: Mechanical tensions as a driver of evolution When embryos grow, cells and tissue are constantly bumping into each other. This creates mechanical tensions that could endanger their development. A team from University of Hohenheim and the Japanese RIKEN Center have discovered that fly embryos have strategies to deal with this pressure. The different species have developed two different solutions. This ability to control mechanical tension could be a key to why so many body plans have evolved.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/nature-publication-mechanical-tensions-driver-evolution
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
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 - 12/08/2025 Biomarkers for Brain Insulin Resistance Discovered in the Blood If the brain no longer responds properly to insulin (insulin resistance), this can lead to overweight, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at the DZD in Potsdam and Tübingen have discovered small chemical modifications to genetic material (epigenetic changes*) in the blood that indicate how well the brain responds to insulin. These markers could help to detect insulin resistance in the brain – by means of a simple blood test.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/biomarkers-brain-insulin-resistance-discovered-blood
Press release - 11/08/2025 The Cerebral Cortex Ages Less than Thought The human brain ages less than thought and in layers – at least in the area of the cerebral cortex responsible for the sense of touch. Researchers at DZNE, the University of Magdeburg, and the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research at the University of Tübingen come to this conclusion based on brain scans of young and older adults in addition to studies in mice. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/cerebral-cortex-ages-less-thought
Press release - 01/08/2025 In science we trust? Six takeaways from a Science and Society conference EMBL's latest Science and Society conference brought together researchers, ethicists, communicators, policy professionals, and more to discuss the thorny question of trust in science.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/science-we-trust-six-takeaways-science-and-society-conference
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 - 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 bacteriahttps://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/unexpected-side-effect-how-common-medications-clear-way-pathogens
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 - 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
Diagnostic tool for people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis - 17/06/2025 Chronic inflammatory bowel disease - using an app to sustainably improve everyday life Keeping appointments? Planning everyday life? For people living with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), sudden and unpredictable flare-ups can severely limit their ability to participate in daily life. The start-up coreway aims to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by IBD by leveraging data-driven insights and contributing to the advancement of personalised medicine.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/chronic-inflammatory-bowel-disease-using-app-sustainably-improve-everyday-life
Press release - 05/06/2025 Colorectal cancer screening via smartphone? Colorectal cancer screening programs are currently underutilized in Germany. This also applies to testing for blood in the stool. The immunological stool tests can detect tiny amounts of blood in the stool. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have investigated whether smartphone-based testing could be a meaningful alternative or supplement to traditional laboratory tests.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/colorectal-cancer-screening-smartphone
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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/explainable-artificial-intelligence-increases-accuracy-and-endurance-dermatologists-melanoma-diagnosis
Press release - 22/05/2025 Six Clusters of Excellence for the University of Tübingen Tübingen achieves remarkable success and has good chance of maintaining its University of Excellence title – Top research in three areas to be sustained from other sources of support.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/six-clusters-excellence-university-tubingen
Press release - 21/05/2025 How aging changes the blood system in humans and mice The reservoir of blood stem cells shrinks with age. It becomes increasingly dominated by stem cells that produce immune cells associated with chronic inflammation. Almost all of the 60-year-olds studied show this change. The new discovery could help explain the chronic inflammation that occurs with age and makes us more susceptible to disease. It could also help identify early warning signs of unhealthy aging processes.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/how-aging-changes-blood-system-humans-and-mice
Press release - 19/05/2025 How the Epstein-Barr virus promotes its spread in the body Many people are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and most are unaware of it. However, EBV can sometimes cause cancer, and this pathogen also appears to play an important role in multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. Researchers have discovered that EBV increases the ability of infected immune cells to migrate. In this way, the pathogen promotes its spread in the body – a discovery that may have therapeutic implications.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/how-epstein-barr-virus-promotes-its-spread-body
Press release - 13/05/2025 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cancer Research Dr Dr Varun Venkataramani and Dr Moritz Mall have been awarded this year’s Hella Bühler Prize for their outstanding research on the interaction between nerve and tumor cells and on tumor plasticity. The award granted by Heidelberg University goes to young researchers from the Heidelberg research location who have already drawn attention to themselves through the outstanding scientific quality of their cancer research. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/award-outstanding-contributions-cancer-research
Press release - 09/04/2025 The positive effect of paws Pets reduce the risk of stress-related disorders in city dwellers Contact with pets reduces the risk of developing stress-related disorders in adult life in urban children. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the Section for Molecular Psychosomatic Medicine at Ulm University Hospital together with other researchers from Germany and the USA. Living with animals is said to alleviate inflammatory stress reactions. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/positive-effect-paws-pets-reduce-risk-stress-related-disorders-city-dwellers