Healthcare industry

DFG and BMBF will provide 15 million euros per year each starting in 2009.

Article - 07/07/2008

Control centre for light and cold

Plants grow well under optimal light conditions but only if they are not under stress. Cell biologists have long assumed that information is exchanged between the molecular signalling pathways that mediate light perception and stress tolerance.

Gerrit Begemann and Axel Meyers research groups at the University of Constance have found out how the sword shape of swordtails develops. Transplants of single sword rays to the dorsal caudal fin of a male fish induce an additional sword.

In future small bubbles will allow the identification of pathological alterations at a very early stage. Molecular imaging methods developed by Bracco Imaging S.p.A. use a new ultrasound contrast agent. The German subsidiary of the company Bracco Imaging Deutschland GmbH based in Constance develops and sells contrast agents.

Dossier - 03/07/2008

Molecular imaging - a close look inside the human body

Molecular imaging recognises the functional state of cells and molecules. It visualises biological processes on the cellular and molecular level and is thus able to detect pathological alterations a long time before disease symptoms become apparent. Molecular imaging offers new possibilities for improving diagnosis and enabling more targeted therapies than has previously been possible. Many experts regard molecular imaging as a paradigm shift in…

The X-ray-based determination of bone density is currently the only method that enables the early diagnosis of osteoporosis. However this examination method has rather limited informative value. That is why the University Hospital in Tübingen is now establishing high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging MRI that provides the physicians with completely new insights into the microarchitecture of the bones.

Cancer cells are dangerous foodies. They metabolise far greater amounts of sugar than healthy cells. Nuclear medicine experts make use of cancer cells craving for sugar since the advent of modern positron emission tomography PET. This has led to an improvement in the quality of cancer treatment.

Experienced medical physicists are able to detect everything without needing an operating table or a scalpel to construct a detailed picture of a patient’s cardiovascular system. Dr. Michael Markl is one of these experts, who nevertheless require top technological equipment, i.e. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to gain comprehensive insights into the vascular system.

Five well-known German pharmaceutical and medical device companies have now joined forces and are combining their know-how in the bid to turn molecular imaging methods into reality as soon as possible. Tuttlingen-based KARL STORZ GmbH is a partner in the project.

Researchers in Ulm are hoping to find new ways to destroy bone marrow cancer multiple myeloma cells through radiation. The German Jos Carreras Leukaemia Foundation is funding the research with a total of about 300000 euros over three years.

The new drug screening and safety pharmacology laboratory at NMI Technologie Transfer GmbH NMI TT GmbH in Reutlingen with its standardised and special test systems complies fully with the requirements of safety pharmacology tests.

The NanoZoomer robot at the TIGA High-Tech Imaging Centre at the University of Heidelberg delivers images of cells and tissues and analyses them completely automatically. The system creates virtual slides that can then be viewed at different focal planes.

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced an agreement to acquire Actimis Pharmaceuticals based in San Diego for 515 million US dollars. Boehringer is specifically targeting an asthma compound developed by Actimis.

The Information and Communication Theory in Molecular Biology priority programme coordinated by Martin Bossert in Ulm is one of 16 new priority programmes of the German Research Foundation DFG. The DFG has set aside ten million euros.

The University Eye Hospital in Heidelberg is the first hospital in Germany to offer innovative eye treatments with a femtosecond laser. Starting in July 2008 the innovative treatment will be offered free of charge as part of a clinical study on intrastromal corrections.

Article - 28/06/2008

A doorman in plant cells

The Research Group of Klaus Harter at the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology ZMBP University of Tübingen Germany identified the AHK5 as an important signallingprotein for the stress-response in plant cells. The result of the study is released on PLoS ONE.

The economic situation in Germany has improved considerably in the second quarter of 2008. Things are looking particularly robust in biotechnology and medical technology. This is the verdict following a new VDI survey on the German innovation climate index.

At the end of the year Alessandro Banchi 62 Chairman of the Board of Directors at Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH and head of Marketing and Sales is to be succeeded by the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors Dr. Andreas Barner 55.

Plants are unable to survive without sulphur. Sulphur is an important constituent of many proteins but also of glutathione a central molecule in plants response to stress. The metabolism of sulphur is an important field of research of Prof. Dr. Heinz Rennenberg at the University of Freiburg.

Results obtained by scientists at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University Hospital of Heidelberg show that in contrast to previous assumptions the tumour necrosis factor alpha TNF-alpha has no influence on pain and mobility.

Dr. Frank Brändle and Dr. Marco Thines managing directors of PathoScan GbR in Hohenheim have developed a PCR-based test system which allows the detection of fungi and bacteria in seed at very early stages. The test system will be patented in the near future.

Eight projects in the preclinical and first clinical stage will be transferred to 4SC. Nycomed decided not to further invest in oncology RD activities. 4SC develops drug candidates for inflammatory diseases cancer and infectious diseases.

In Germany one couple in ten is unable to conceive naturally. There are a number of different in vitro fertilisation methods available for those who wish to have children. However the potential risks to the child are still unknown.

The Hartmann Group based in Heidenheim continues to grow in the first quarter of 2008. Sales increased 6.3 over the last year sales volume increased 7.1. The company expects further growth in sales and volume for the year 2008.

Cells with irreparable DNA damage normally induce programmed cell death, or apoptosis. However, this mechanism often fails in tumor cells so that transformed cells are able to multiply and spread throughout the body. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center have now discovered a possible cause of this failure.