Innovation for sustainable plastic packaging - 04/09/2024

Liquid Plug & Play: eco-designed plastic packaging – not just for ultrasound gel

In the healthcare industry tons of consumables such as ultrasound gel go to waste because packaging can’t be completely emptied. An invention called Liquid Plug & Play could offer a solution for the future. This innovation, which consists of a reusable outer shell and a disposable product pouch for viscous substances, can be completely emptied. It also prevents cross-contamination and offers many other benefits.

Start-up Actimi GmbH - 23/11/2022

Real-time telemonitoring of heart failure

Improved quality of life for patients and lower costs for health insurers: these are the advantages of telemonitoring patients with advanced heart failure. The Stuttgart-based start-up Actimi offers an all-in-one platform for those who treat and those who suffer from the disease.

In a study, a team of researchers show that groups of magnetic microrobots can generate fluidic forces strong enough to rotate objects in different directions without touching them. These microrobot swarms can turn gear systems, rotate objects much larger than the robots themselves, assemble structures on their own, and even pull in or push away many small objects. The work was now published in Science Advances.

The powerhouse of the cells, known as mitochondria, appear to be able to influence the number of lipid droplets in the cell. Research into this previously unknown mechanism was conducted using baker’s yeast. This is shown by a recent study by the University of Freiburg, the University of Bonn and the University Hospital Bonn and the University of Freiburg. The results have now been published in the journal Nature Cell Biology.

An international team led by Professor Tobias M. Böckers from Ulm University Medical Centre has been awarded up to 1.7 million euros to develop a novel therapy for a rare, syndromic form of autism. The research project focuses on a gene whose loss of function can manifest itself in severe impairments in language, behaviour and everyday functions of those affected.

Climate protection is health protection - 26/02/2026

Planetary health: advancing human health in the era of climate change

Heatwaves, deteriorating air quality and extreme weather events are reshaping our living conditions. The climate and environmental crisis represent one of the greatest threats to human health. Are we prepared? Adaptation strategies, heat action plans and public education are essential to protecting health in a changing climate.

Protein activity can be precisely regulated via subtle changes in temperature using heat-sensitive switches. Underlying this capability is a novel modular design strategy developed by researchers at the Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology of Heidelberg University. The strategy allows the integration of sensory domains in various proteins regardless of function or spatial structure.

The introduction of mammography screening programs in Europe has significantly changed breast cancer diagnoses, accompanied by a decline in breast cancer mortality rates. This is shown by the most comprehensive analyses of population-based data on breast cancer in 21 European countries to date, led by the DKFZ. The most striking finding: after the introduction of screening, significantly more early-stage, less advanced tumors were detected.

AI plays a huge role in the semiconductor industry, both by facilitating more efficient development processes and as a target application in development work. This is why the Fraunhofer Heilbronn Research and Innovation Centers HNFIZ are adding the Chip AI research and innovation center for AI chip design to their service range. The center is funded via the Dieter Schwarz Foundation.

Immunotherapies have greatly improved the treatment of metastatic melanoma, but they can cause serious side effects. A study led by researchers from Heidelberg University's Medical Faculty, the Heidelberg University Hospital, and the NCT in Heidelberg now shows that autoantibodies detected in the blood before the start of therapy could help to better assess the individual risk of side effects in patients.