Press release - 22/07/2013 BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg's international relations bring Heidelberg-based Medicyte GmbH in contact with new distribution partner BIOPRO Baden-Württembergs business development activities have led to the establishment of a new distribution partnership between Heidelberg-based Medicyte GmbH and Dutch Westburg BV. When BIOPRO searches for international partners for Baden-Württemberg companies the state agency often makes use of its international network partners and in this case BIOPROs contact with the Netherlands Business Support Office Stuttgart NBSO brought the desired…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/biopro-baden-wuerttemberg-s-international-relations-bring-heidelberg-based-medicyte-gmbh-in-contact
Article - 15/07/2013 A horse in cow’s clothing Control is good dual control even better. Blind trust in the food industry is not always the best idea. Dioxin EHEC and the horsemeat scandal show how vulnerable safety of the food chain is in a globalised world and also highlights the continuously changing challenges facing food inspectors. Food inspection aims to protect consumers from potential harm caused by food and against fraud committed by the industry.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-horse-in-cow-s-clothing
Article - 08/07/2013 Götz Gresser - new director of the ITV Denkendorf Dr.-Ing. Götz Gresser succeeds Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Planck as director of the Institute of Textile Technology and Process Engineering (ITV) Denkendorf. Gresser regards the application-oriented research and development in the fields of medical technology and biotechnology as an important success factor of the institute and will continue to further develop this.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/goetz-gresser-new-director-of-the-itv-denkendorf
Article - 08/07/2013 Christine Goffinet: independent and successful AIDS researchers Christine Goffinet, 36, from the Institute of Molecular Virology at the University of Ulm has already received numerous awards for her research on AIDS. She was recently awarded a scholarship for postdoctoral lecture qualification under the Margarete von Wrangell Habilitation Programme. However, before she became a virologist, Goffinet chose a career path that was quite different from the standard career path seen on many scientific CVs.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/christine-goffinet-independent-and-successful-aids-researchers
Article - 04/07/2013 Experimental evidence of stem cells for metastasis For the first time, scientists from Heidelberg have characterised cancer cells that initiate metastasis in the blood of breast cancer patients using an in-vivo xenograft mouse model. These cells have the properties of cancer stem cells and are characterised by three surface molecules that can be used as biomarkers for disease progression. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/experimental-evidence-of-stem-cells-for-metastasis
Dossier - 01/07/2013 Electrophysiology – from cardiac pacemakers to drug discovery Electrochemical reactions are involved in many processes in the human organism. Electrophysiology is the study of the central processes of electrical and chemical interaction and communication between neurons and muscle cells, including the transmission and processing of signals in the nerves and the subsequent contraction of the muscles. For example, electrophysiology studies examine the rhythm which which our heart pumps blood through the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/electrophysiology-from-cardiac-pacemakers-to-drug-discovery
Article - 28/06/2013 A world champion of regeneration Planarians can be cut into pieces, and each piece can regenerate into a complete organism. The flatworms are able to do this as they have a huge pool of adult totipotent stem cells that can differentiate into any body cell whatsoever, including germ cells. Scientists from the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies are using new algorithms to analyse the complex planarian genome structures with the aim of obtaining insights into the genetic…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-world-champion-of-regeneration
Article - 27/06/2013 Annegret Wilde – jetlagged cyanobacteria Sleep-deprived bacteria? Prokaryotes that move towards the light? Yes, they actually exist, as demonstrated by Prof. Dr. Annegret Wilde from the Institute of Molecular Genetics at the University of Freiburg. For the past 15 years Wilde has been studying the requirements and capabilities of cyanobacteria and she was appointed chair for molecular genetics at the University of Freiburg in August 2012.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/annegret-wilde-jetlagged-cyanobacteria
Article - 24/06/2013 Cells and biomaterials for the treatment of intervertebral disc defects A new therapeutic method uses a patient’s own cartilage cells for the regeneration of intervertebral discs. The NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute in Reutlingen and its partners are scientific partners in the first clinical application of the new method. The key aim of the researchers from Reutlingen is the validation of the safety, efficiency and efficacy of the new method in order to prepare for approval for broad application in…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cells-and-biomaterials-for-the-treatment-of-intervertebral-disc-defects
Article - 24/06/2013 Cloned human beings are not to be feared An international team of scientists led by Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov at the Oregon Health & Science University, USA, succeeded for the first time ever in cloning human embryonic stem cells by somatic cell nuclear transfer. This breakthrough raises questions about the potentials and dangers of creating human stem cells by cloning. Prof. Dr. Marcel Leist from the University of Konstanz, who uses human embryonic stem cells for his research, gives…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cloned-human-beings-are-not-to-be-feared
Article - 17/06/2013 New software systems for patient-friendly cancer radiotherapy The new large-scale cooperative project SPARTA is aimed at developing adaptive, intelligent and flexibly expandable software systems for the improved radiotherapy of cancer. The Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), which integrates the common research interests of all institutions in Heidelberg active in the field of radiotherapy, plays a pivotal role in the project.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-software-systems-for-patient-friendly-cancer-radiotherapy
Article - 17/06/2013 Evolution of light perception networks in plants Genetically identical plants develop rather differently depending on the light conditions in which they live. In the dark the plant grows in length in order to reach the sunlight needed for photosynthesis. Exposed to light the plant then switches to a different development programme becomes green and assembles its photosynthesis machinery. Prof. Dr. Andreas Hiltbrunner from the University of Freiburg is interested in finding out how the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/evolution-of-light-perception-networks-in-plants
Article - 17/06/2013 EHEC prevention: mission ‘safe salad’ Raw fruit and vegetables are popular and healthy, at least as long as they are not contaminated with pathogens such as those that caused the EHEC outbreak in 2011 where sprouted foods were identified as the source of the E. coli outbreak. Researchers from the University of Hohenheim are looking into how the risk of consumers being infected by ready-to-eat vegetables and salads can be minimised. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/ehec-prevention-mission-safe-salad
Article - 10/06/2013 Stem-cell tests to provide protection to unborn babies The development of unborn babies may already be impaired in the womb by pollutants from the environment food and drugs to which their mothers are exposed. Reliable and informative toxicity tests are necessary in order to assess and prevent the effects toxic substances may have on unborn babies. Biologist Dr. Tanja Waldmann from Konstanz University is developing toxicity test systems based on human embryonic stem cells which contribute to improved…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/stem-cell-tests-to-provide-protection-to-unborn-babies
Dossier - 03/06/2013 Food analytics – applied consumer protection Consumers – in other words, all of us – rightly expect to be supplied with healthy, high-quality and safe foods. However, over the past few years, food scandals have frequently hit the headlines. They are brought to light in laboratories that have a huge arsenal of methods and procedures to analyse food. Although the media would have us believe otherwise, the vast majority of foods are safe and very rarely hazardous to human health. This is in…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/food-analytics-applied-consumer-protection
Article - 03/06/2013 Red light to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of gene expression The interaction of proteins and RNA is a crucial factor in the regulation of gene expression. These protein-RNA interactions can be specifically controlled and investigated inside the cell using proteins with customised chemical functions. In his doctoral thesis, chemist Moritz Schmidt from the University of Konstanz addresses the possibility of conveying new functions to proteins by introducing non-natural amino acids. He has developed a…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/red-light-to-elucidate-the-regulatory-mechanisms-of-gene-expression
Article - 03/06/2013 Laser light for the diagnosis of stroke Stroke is one of the most common causes of death in the Western world and in Germany the most common cause of moderate to severe disabilities. Besides effective prevention, the rapid and specific diagnosis of impaired blood circulation in the brain is key in the effective treatment of stroke patients. PD Dr. Thomas Gisler from the University of Konstanz has developed CereFLux, a method that allows the flow of blood in the human brain to be…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/laser-light-for-the-diagnosis-of-stroke
Article - 03/06/2013 With metabolomics food analytics goes all the way In the not-too-distant future, food analysts hope they will be able do more than just detect mycotoxin traces and determine the concentration of individual nutrients such as vitamin C. Their ambition is in fact much broader: “We would like to understand the nutritional and physiological effect of food,” said Prof. Sabine Kulling from the Max Rubner Institute in Karlsruhe. As with other life sciences areas, metabolomics is seen as a key technology…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/with-metabolomics-food-analytics-goes-all-the-way
Article - 27/05/2013 Economic factors outpace medical factors – are regulatory authorities brakes to innovation? The Pharmaceuticals Market Reorganisation Act (AMNOG) of January 2011 aims to limit the rising costs of pharmaceuticals and to create a balance between innovation and the affordability of drugs. For the pharmaceutical industry this means that the price of new pharmaceuticals depends on their proven additional benefit. The ‘healthcare industry provider network’ (hipnet) invited representatives from Boehringer Ingelheim and SocraTec R&D GmbH to…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/economic-factors-outpace-medical-factors-are-regulatory-authorities-brakes-to-innovation
Article - 27/05/2013 Autophagy – a stupid idea? The term autophagy or autophagocytosis comes from the Greek and means something like to eat oneself. During normal cell operation waste accumulates that needs to be disposed of in some way as it would otherwise impair crucial cellular processes. But even in times of starvation cells behave just as the body as a whole does the system does not become inoperative immediately and die but draws on its reserves. On the cellular level this happens by…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/autophagy-a-stupid-idea
Article - 24/05/2013 Nanotechnology in Ulm goes into application: a sensor for the life sciences Life scientists use rather bulky measurement devices to study sensitive cells. Huge pipettes or cannulas are pushed into ultra-tiny structures such as cell membranes or cytoplasm in order to measure complex processes or reactions inside cells. Rough treatment of this kind can damage cells and affect measurement results in ways that are difficult to quantify. The materials scientist Steffen Strehle from Ulm University has plans to begin…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/nanotechnology-in-ulm-goes-into-application-a-sensor-for-the-life-sciences
Dossier - 21/05/2013 No new drugs to be placed on the market without clinical trials New pharmaceuticals are subject to approval by drug authorities. Prior to approval of a new pharmaceutical several hurdles such as preclinical and clinical studies need to be cleared. Clinical trials are performed to ensure the quality efficacy and safety of a medicinal product. Clinical development is a time-consuming and costly process and takes on average ten to fifteen years before a pharmaceutical company can apply for the approval of the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/no-new-drugs-to-be-placed-on-the-market-without-clinical-trials
Article - 21/05/2013 Green gold: bioactive plant foods Nowadays everything must be good for something must have a direct noticeable or tangible effect. The ever topical issue of nutrition is no exception. All this makes functional food a promising and inexhaustible market. Teams of scientists around the world are focussing on how unhealthy food can be made healthy. Bioactive plant foods are expected to close a gap that should not have existed in the first place. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/green-gold-bioactive-plant-foods
Article - 18/05/2013 Biofilm research aims at fighting hospital germs Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium that can be found in many different places – soil, water, washing basins, toilets and washing machines, to name but a few examples. Due to its resistance to antibiotic treatment, P. aeruginosa is mainly known as the cause of hospital-acquired infections. David Schleheck, a biologist from Konstanz University, deals specifically with the bacterium’s presence in biofilms. His research could open up new…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/biofilm-research-aims-at-fighting-hospital-germs
Article - 17/05/2013 Dengue fever, the neglected infectious disease Dengue fever is the most common infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The disease is spreading in Europe and Germany, an upward trend that is due to increased long-distance travel. There are no specific drugs or vaccine for dengue, which is why an international research network has been established to improve the management of the disease. The consortium is coordinated by the Department of Tropical Medicine at Heidelberg University.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/dengue-fever-the-neglected-infectious-disease