Article - 21/07/2016 New anticancer drugs – hop compounds have the potential to treat cancer Secondary hop compounds appear to have a positive effect on the immune system and therefore have the potential to be used for the treatment and prevention of cancer. However, the bioavailability of hop compounds in the human body is relatively poor. Researchers from Hohenheim and Tübingen are therefore looking for a way to increase their absorption rate.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-drugs-for-the-treatment-of-cancer-hop-compounds-have-the-potential-to-treat-cancer
Article - 02/08/2016 Can the ticking Huntington clock be stopped? An early phase clinical study involving thirty-six Huntington’s disease (HD) patients is currently underway to investigate whether a method called gene silencing can cure the disease. If the gene that causes the disease can be turned off, it would be the first step towards a treatment that not only fights symptoms but actually treats the causes of HD, hence providing a cure. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/can-the-ticking-huntington-clock-be-stopped
Article - 08/08/2016 First achromatopsia gene therapy clinical trial in Germany is going well Around 3000 people suffer from achromatopsia in Germany. Achromatopsia is an inherited visual disorder characterised by the absence of full colour vision. The disease is caused by a genetic defect that makes the retina's cone photoreceptors, needed for daylight and colour vision, non-functional. There is currently no cure for achromatopsia. Scientists from Tübingen University Hospital and their colleagues from Munich and New York have now…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/first-achromatopsia-gene-therapy-clinical-trial-in-germany-is-going-well
Article - 18/08/2016 Moonlighting proteins can make bacteria pathogenic The mechanism underlying the export of biomolecules from cells remains unknown. Prof. Dr. Friedrich Götz and his team at the Institute of Microbial Genetics at the University of Tübingen have found out that staphylococci can turn into dangerous pathogens by excreting normally harmless enzymes. The researchers believe that the enigmatic excretion of such enzymes is due to a completely new mechanism and are thus planning to carry out further…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/moonlighting-proteins-can-make-bacteria-pathogenic
Article - 08/09/2016 A diamond might make sequencing more accurate DNA sequencing techniques have been developed along the lines of faster, further, cheaper. State-of-the-art methods make it possible to handle large projects in a relatively short period of time. However, the error rate is still very high. Dr. Maria Fyta and her team at the Institute for Computational Physics at the University of Stuttgart have carried out quantum-transport calculations which suggested that specific chemical modifications in the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-diamond-might-make-sequencing-more-accurate
Article - 20/09/2016 CRISPR-Cas has more surprises in store Since 2012, a DFG-funded research group called FOR1680 has been studying CRISPR-Cas, an immune system that unicellular bacteria and arachaea use to protect themselves against attacks from viruses and plasmids. Prof. Dr. Anita Marchfelder, a molecular biologist at Ulm University and coordinator of the FOR1680 research group, and many other researchers were surprised to find that prokaryotes incorporate the genetic material of enemies as a kind of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/crispr-cas-has-more-surprises-in-store
Article - 04/10/2016 Distance learning course in molecular biology – from lab to studies In cooperation with the University of Mainz, the Springer publishing house is now offering distance learning courses for laboratory and technical assistants who wish to study while they are working. The courses lead to a Bachelor of Science degree. The successful programme for ambitious non-academics is being developed in several Baden-Württemberg cities. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/distance-learning-course-in-molecular-biology-from-lab-to-studies
Article - 10/10/2016 Teva plans the large-scale production of monoclonal antibodies in Ulm Teva is investing heavily in its biotechnological production site in Ulm. On behalf of BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg, Walter Pytlik spoke with Dr. Hermann Allgaier, CEO of Teva Biotech, about the importance of biotechnology for the Group and about Teva in general. The company is headquartered in Israel.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/teva-plans-the-large-scale-production-of-monoclonal-antibodies-in-ulm
Article - 13/12/2016 Smart sensor technology from Ulm can do more than just breath analysis Detecting disease-specific molecules in human breath is technically feasible, but time-consuming and rather costly. "µbreath" could soon change this. The breath gas analysis device has all the necessary requirements for commercial success in the healthcare sector: it is compact, accurate, highly sensitive and fast. The chemist who developed µbreath, Prof. Boris Mizaikoff from Ulm University, and his partners are hoping to start…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/smart-sensor-technology-from-ulm-can-do-more-than-just-breath-analysis
Diagnosis - 13/02/2017 Idana: an anamnesis software that asks the right questions Studies have shown that communication between doctors and patients is very important for doctors to be able to give a precise diagnosis and to increase patient acceptance of therapy. Unfortunately, doctors often do not have the time for in-depth conversations with their patients. A new anamnesis software called Idana looks set to change this situation. The software tailors questions specifically to individual patients and helps treating doctors…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/idana-an-anamnesis-software-that-asks-the-right-questions
Article - 23/03/2017 CeMIT – professional innovation management for the medical device sector With the establishment of the Centrum für Medizintechnische Innovationen Tübingen, or CeMIT, the University Hospital of Tübingen is building a bridge between hospitals and medical device companies, which share the aim to develop new and better medical technology products and methods. Partners from small and medium-sized companies are expected to particularly benefit from the services that CeMIT provides and the guidance it can offer in finding…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cemit-professional-innovation-management-for-the-medical-device-sector
24 - 30 April 2017 European Immunization Week From 24 till 30 April 2017 is "European Immunization Week" – the BIOPRO provides information about this topic. Influenza pandemics are dangerous and can claim many lives. Children and the elderly in particular run a high risk of developing influenza-related complications, because their immune system is often weakened by the virus. In Germany, annual vaccination against seasonal influenza has therefore been recommended for these target…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/european-immunization-week
Overview World Days The "World Days" serve to recall international issues and current world problems. BIOPRO takes the "World Days" in the field of healthcare industry as an occasion to inform about this topic.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/world-days
Article - 01/06/2017 New TBE transmission pathways discovered Researchers have discovered two new TBE transmission pathways: the first related to the consumption of raw milk and raw milk cheese that can cause encephalitis, and the second is another tick species that can pass on the TBE virus, thus increasing the risk of contracting the disease even in winter. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-tbe-transmission-pathways-discovered
Article - 19/06/2017 Eric Gottwald: innovative 3D cell culture systems for pharmaceutical testing Realistic alternatives to animal testing are more in demand than ever, especially in the drug development field. One possible solution is 3D cell cultures that possess the characteristics of the tissue from which they originate. Such systems were already developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) many years ago. Due to the huge demand for such systems, Prof. Dr. Eric Gottwald and two of his colleagues founded a company called…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/eric-gottwald-innovative-3d-cell-culture-systems-for-pharmaceutical-testing
Article - 15/09/2017 Zika virus infections and their consequences Infections caused by mosquito-borne Zika viruses during pregnancy can lead to severe brain defects in babies. The European Union has provided funding of around ten million euros for an international research programme on Zika virus infections in which the University Hospital of Heidelberg plays a key role. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/zika-virus-infections-and-their-consequences
Transregional research cooperation - 11/10/2017 New research consortium to develop new liver cancer treatments The causes, signs and symptoms of liver cancer are extremely complex. Investigating them requires the collaboration of many experts across university and regional boundaries. A new transregional research group is now studying the complex overall mechanisms at the cellular, genetic and molecular level in order to develop new concepts and drugs for treating liver and bile duct cancers.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-research-consortium-to-develop-new-liver-cancer-treatments
Article - 06/11/2017 HEIDELTEC: gummy bears may replace injections Peptide- and protein-based drugs like those used for treating diabetes, cancer and autoimmune diseases cannot be administered orally. This is because these biomolecules degrade in the gastrointestinal tract, thus preventing them from reaching their target site in the body. Protein- and peptide-base drugs therefore have to be administered by way of injection, which is comparatively complicated and painful. However, a start-up company called…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/heideltec-gummy-bears-may-replace-injections
Article - 05/04/2018 Crossing the valley of death with translational cancer research It can take many decades before promising research results become therapies that have a positive effect on cancer patients. Most research projects go adrift somewhere between the laboratory and the bedside in the so-called "valley of death". Projects carried out at the DKFZ show that translational cancer research actually works.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/crossing-the-valley-of-death-with-translational-cancer-research
Article - 03/07/2018 The digital laboratory is picking up speed A new team at the Fraunhofer IPA is developing digital laboratory systems to support industrial partners in planning and managing laboratory processes. This benefits companies in terms of quality assurance, economic efficiency and, notably, ergonomic improvements to the work place.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-digital-laboratory-is-picking-up-speed
Expert interview - 26/06/2018 Genome analyses: "Germany lags behind dramatically" Around 6,000 genetic diseases can be diagnosed using genetic tests. Genetic testing enables the accurate identification of diseases especially when symptoms are unclear, and also allows statements to be made about disease progression. However, restrictive regulations considerably hinder the use of genetic diagnostics. BIOPRO spoke with Dr. Dr. Saskia Biskup, a human genetics specialist and co-founder of the Tübingen-based company CeGaT. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/genome-analyses-germany-lags-behind-dramatically
Article - 14/08/2018 Simple and fast: new optical method for analysing living cells The junior researchers Dr. Daniel Geiger, Tobias Neckernuß and Jonas Pfeil from Ulm have developed an innovative method for non-contact real-time analysis of cells and other particles. The analysis involves low data rates and correspondingly little effort. This is what makes the method so attractive for medical applications.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/simple-and-fast-new-optical-method-for-analysing-living-cells
Article - 21/08/2018 Parkinson's disease: vitamin B3 has a positive effect on nerve cells Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the world. There are around 4.1 million sufferers worldwide. It is characterised by motor impairments that result from the death of certain nerve cells in the brain. Researchers at the University of Tübingen have now discovered that vitamin B3 has a positive effect on damaged nerve cells and can boost their energy metabolism.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/parkinsons-disease-vitamin-b3-has-a-positive-effect-on-nerve-cells
Article - 10/10/2018 BABYBE GmbH: Premature babies in contact with mum around the clock It used to be believed that premature babies needed as much rest as possible. However, studies have since shown that this is not the case at all. According to these studies, the brains of premature babies need to be stimulated 24 hours a day, ideally close to the mother, to ensure healthy development. The Stuttgart-based start-up BABYBE GmbH has developed a special gel mattress that enables babies to perceive their mother’s heartbeat and voice…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/babybe-gmbh-premature-babies-in-contact-with-mum-around-the-clock
Article - 02/10/2018 Artificial intelligence in the life sciences: machines as assistants Artificial intelligence is currently one of the most innovative issues, but also one of the most controversial research areas. It already has a firm footing in many areas of our everyday life and often we are not even aware of it. Artificial intelligence has long been an integral part of many processes in research and diagnostics in medicine and the life sciences – and it will be even more widely used in the future.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/artificial-intelligence-in-the-life-sciences-machines-as-assistants