Press release - 25/09/2020 Bosch’s new rapid coronavirus test delivers reliable results in 39 minutes Bosch has developed a new rapid test for its Vivalytic analysis device to detect the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen. The test provides a reliable result in 39 minutes and is currently the fastest polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test worldwide.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/boschs-new-rapid-coronavirus-test-delivers-reliable-results-39-minutes
Article - 09/10/2019 Epigenomics from the Cyber Valley Cyber Valley Stuttgart-Tübingen is a European hotspot for artificial intelligence and home to many renowned experts and scientists. They are now joined by Gabriele Schweikert, who heads up the Computational Epigenomics research group in the Cyber Valley’s Division of Computational Biology. Schweikert is interested in exploring epigenetic mechanisms using machine learning methods.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/epigenomik-aus-dem-cyber-valley
Dossier - 28/08/2018 With molecular diagnostics to biomarker-based personalised therapy Diagnosing suitable biomarkers is a prerequisite for tailoring personalised therapies to patient heterogeneity. Genetic tests and genome sequencing play a key role in these diagnoses. Up until now, personalised therapy has achieved the greatest success in the field of oncology. However, personalised treatments are also gaining in importance for treating other diseases.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/with-molecular-diagnostics-to-biomarker-based-personalised-therapy
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 - 28/03/2018 New method for analysing epigenetic modifications - in the service of medical progress It is not just genetic factors that influence developmental processes and diseases; it is becoming increasingly evident that epigenetic changes play a major role too. Thanks to a new method developed at the University of Stuttgart, epigenetic processes can now be investigated in living cells.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-method-for-analysing-epigenetic-modifications-in-the-service-of-medical-progress
Big Data - 14/12/2017 Looking at the whole genome raises new questions Research laboratories around the world have long focused on studying the whole human genome. It is hoped that knowing the whole human genome will improve diagnostics and enable more specific therapies. Although genome analysis has not yet reached routine clinical application, whole genome sequencing has already raised many ethical and legal issues - for researchers, physicians and patients.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/looking-at-the-whole-genome-raises-new-questions
Article - 14/08/2017 Saskia Biskup – towards precision medicine Therapeutic success can only be achieved when diagnoses are as precise as possible. Nowadays, genetic analyses can make precise diagnoses for many diseases. And thanks to high-throughput technology, results are available to patients very quickly. Dr. Dr. Saskia Biskup recognised the importance of precision medicine many years ago and went on to found CeGaT GmbH, a company that combines human genetics with high-throughput sequencing. Three…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/saskia-biskup-towards-precision-medicine
Prenatal diagnosis - 23/03/2017 Microdroplets for safe and rapid prenatal diagnoses Although the methods used to carry out amniocentesis are quite sophisticated, there is still a 0.5 percent risk of miscarriage following the intervention. Therefore, an EU-funded project called AngeLab is developing a rapid test that only requires a blood sample of the mother rather than amniotic fluid. The test yields information on the genetic health of the foetus within only a few hours. As part of the project, researchers from the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/microdroplets-for-safe-and-rapid-prenatal-diagnoses
Article - 26/10/2016 GeneWerk: precision analyses for humans Gene therapy approaches are increasingly being used for treating life-threatening diseases in humans. GeneWerk GmbH, a spin-off of the DKFZ and the NCT in Heidelberg, offers customised, high-resolution molecular and bioinformatic analyses that ensure the efficacy and safety of gene therapy and immunotherapy studies. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/genewerk-precision-analyses-for-humans
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 - 27/07/2016 “Open science“ – a successful recipe for combating viruses Danger identified, danger averted – the better the dynamic changes of the viral genome are understood, the better the spread of the pathogens can be predicted, thus enabling more efficient countermeasures to be taken. A team of researchers from Tübingen and Seattle is developing an open source online platform that maps the evolution of viruses and identifies dangerous developments.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/open-science-a-successful-recipe-for-combating-viruses
Researcher profile - 13/06/2016 Matthias Willmann wants to get the big picture – tracking down infectious agents While fighting and curing bacterial infections in sick patients is one part of the picture, epidemiological investigation of the spread of pathogens is another. Dr. Matthias Willmann also assesses the impact of these factors on the healthcare system as a whole and draws conclusions that might boost early detection of pathogens and prevention of infections. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/matthias-willmann-wants-to-get-the-big-picture-tracking-down-infectious-agents
Article - 30/05/2016 The unknown dark spot of the microcosm The world of microorganisms is still largely unknown. Researchers such as Kai Sohn from the Fraunhofer IGB in Stuttgart are working on decoding, analysing and gradually gaining a better understanding of the microbial genome. In their search for new enzymes and other biomolecules, both biotechnologists and pharmacologists are interested in micoorganisms, and physicians are hoping that detailed insights into the microbial genome will lead to the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-unknown-dark-spot-of-the-microcosm
Dossier - 18/04/2016 Epigenetics – heritable traits without changing the DNA sequence Epigenetics, i.e. the inheritance of traits that does not involve a change in the DNA sequence, was once a controversial subject that has since become a central focus of biological research. Epigenetic inheritance is now studied by numerous national and international research programmes. Many cellular regulatory and differentiation processes are controlled by epigenetic mechanisms that take place on different levels, including the DNA, histone,…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/epigenetics-heritable-traits-without-changing-the-dna-sequence
Article - 14/04/2016 Rapid and unambiguous detection of infection in a miniature laboratory In cooperation with industrial partners, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart have spent many years developing innovative diagnostic tools for use in infection biology. Among these are microsystems that combine complete test procedures on a “lab-on-a-chip” (LOC) and enable simultaneous analysis of several thousand parameters relatively quickly and with little effort. The scientists…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/rapid-and-unambiguous-detection-of-infection-in-a-miniature-laboratory
Article - 03/03/2016 Liquid biopsies – beacons of hope for cancer diagnosis? Researchers around the world, including researchers from the Freiburg University Medical Center, are working on developing simple blood tests, so-called liquid biopsies, that can be used to obtain accurate information about tumour staging and the progress of therapy. An international liquid biopsy symposium was held in Freiburg in October 2015 and has produced valuable insights.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/liquid-biopsies-beacons-of-hope-for-cancer-diagnosis
Article - 21/01/2016 Genome research as information research DNA sequencing has become indispensable in modern science. Innovative advances that will bring about changes in the life sciences and medicine are due to rapid developments in genome analysis technologies. In the interview below, Peter Pohl, CEO and co-founder of GATC Biotech AG, explains why DNA sequencing will become even more important in future. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/genome-research-as-information-research
Article - 17/12/2015 Inhibition of bromodomain affects stem cell differentiation DNA methylation and histone modification are epigenetic mechanisms that affect gene transcription. Moreover, protein complexes can regulate gene expression by modifying chromatin structure and function. Dr. Thomas Günther and his team from the Center for Clinical Research at the Freiburg University Medical Center are studying the effect of the inhibitor PFI-3 on the BAF complex. This protein complex modifies chromatin structure and controls the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/nhibition-of-bromodomain-affects-stem-cell-differentiation
Article - 29/09/2014 myPOLS Biotec UG - made-to-measure enzymes for diagnostics and research The company myPOLS Biotec UG, a spin-off from the University of Konstanz, specializes in services involving DNA and RNA polymerases and creates artificial enzymes by evolution in test tubes. These next-generation polymerases can be used for many research and diagnostics applications. myPOLS Biotec’s polymerases are promising enzymes for future applications with the potential to make the detection of pathogens and DNA analysis faster and easier. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/mypols-biotec-ug-made-to-measure-enzymes-for-diagnostics-and-research
Article - 30/06/2014 Targeting epigenetic DNA modifications for the diagnosis of cancer Epigenetic DNA modifications have been shown to play a role in carcinogenesis and are therefore a promising target for the early detection of cancer. Dr. Daniel Summerer and his research group at the University of Konstanz have developed a method that enables the direct and site-specific identification of epigenetic changes. The method represents a new approach in the field of epigenetic analysis as well as a major step towards simpler cancer…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/targeting-epigenetic-dna-modifications-for-the-diagnosis-of-cancer
Article - 24/03/2014 DNA – from Watson and Crick to modern molecular biology Watson and Crick deciphered the structure of DNA around 60 years ago and thus provided the key to understanding how genetic information is passed on. Since this discovery, which laid the foundation for molecular biology, new insights and developments have significantly changed many research areas and have also found their way into our everyday lives. DNA sequencing, genetic fingerprinting or personalised medicine – Watson and Crick’s heritage is…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/dna-from-watson-and-crick-to-modern-molecular-biology
Article - 09/12/2013 Stronger base pairing improves DNA analyses A team from the Institute of Organic Chemistry at Stuttgart University has found a chemical substitute for one of the four primary DNA building blocks, i.e. thymine. Thymine can cause problems in DNA hybridisation experiments. The thymine substitute called “E”, which stands for ethynylpyridone, binds more strongly and selectively with the adenine base on the complementary DNA strand than thymine. Highly specific DNA tests might benefit from the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/stronger-base-pairing-improves-dna-analyses
Article - 29/04/2013 ‘Autotech meets Biotech’ – current status and outlook Intensive cooperation between the engineering-driven sectors and the biotechnology sector is a prerequisite for driving forward automation in the field of biotechnology. The Engineering – Life Sciences – Automation (ELSA) cluster initiative of BioRegio STERN Management GmbH aims to promote cross-industry cooperation. A study entitled ‘Biotech meets Autotech’, which was carried out as part of the ELSA project, provides insights into the current…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/autotech-meets-biotech-current-status-and-outlook
Article - 14/01/2013 A Heidelberg man of African origin The lower jaw of Homo heidelbergensis was an isolated find and has long been overshadowed by other spectacular early human finds. Homo heidelbergensis is regarded as the last common ancestor of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, and so is a central part of the debate on modern human origins.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-heidelberg-man-of-african-origin
Dossier - 26/11/2012 Genetic diagnostics: technology reaches the limits of what is medically reasonable Rapid progress in sequencing technologies is poised to set the imagination of biomedical researchers on fire. Experts now believe that progress is about to make possible what seemed to be utopian a few years ago – it seems likely that it will soon be possible to sequence the human genome in only a few minutes and store and automatically analyse it using tiny automates. However, is everything that is technically feasible also reasonable?https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/genetic-diagnostics-technology-reaches-the-limits-of-what-is-medically-reasonable