Press release - 04/03/2024 First Step Toward Early Diagnosis of Metastasis Team involving the University of Freiburg has developed a new analytical method for the basement membrane in human lungs.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/first-step-toward-early-diagnosis-metastasis
Press release - 01/03/2024 Using Data to Improve Understanding of Relationships between Proteins and Diseases Working with a new Emmy Noether Group, Dr. Pascal Schlosser is investigating how machine learning can aid in understanding the complex relationships between genes, proteins, and diseases.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/using-data-improve-understanding-relationships-between-proteins-and-diseases
Press release - 07/02/2024 The unexpected long-term consequences of female fertility The constant remodeling of the organs of the female reproductive tract during the reproductive cycle leads to fibrosis and chronic inflammation over the years. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now uncovered these unexpected long-term consequences of female reproductive function in mice. The results have been published in the scientific journal CELL.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/die-unerwartete-auswirkung-der-weiblichen-fortpflanzungsfaehigkeit
Press release - 02/02/2024 Epigenetic status determines metastasis Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Medical Faculty Mannheim of the Heidelberg University investigated in mice how spreading tumor cells behave at the site of metastasis: Some tumor cells immediately start to form metastases. Others leave the blood vessel and may then enter a long period of dormancy. What determines which path the cancer cells take is their epigenetic status. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/epigenetischer-status-entscheidet-ueber-metastasierung
Press release - 18/01/2024 Indicator for liver health status identified A high-fat, high-sugar diet damages the liver in the long term. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now identified a characteristic change in the molecular signaling pathways of liver cells in mice that were exposed to such a diet for weeks. It fuels the division activity of hepatocytes and correlates with the risk of patients suffering liver failure after liver surgery.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/indicator-liver-health-status-identified
Press release - 18/12/2023 Researchers discover novel antibiotic substance from the human nose For the first time, the active substance epifadin has been isolated at the University of Tübingen – Epifadin is produced by specific bacteria in the nose and on the skin of humans, has an antibiotic effect, and is the first example of a previously unknown antimicrobial compound class.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/researchers-discover-novel-antibiotic-substance-human-nose
All-enzyme hydrogels in action - 13/12/2023 Biocatalytic foams enable the sustainable synthesis of complex molecules Conventional chemical synthesis processes consume large amounts of energy and environmentally harmful solvents. Prof. Dr. Christof Niemeyer’s team at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has generated porous, solid foams from crosslinked enzymes that allow the production of high-quality compounds under significantly more environmentally friendly conditions. The novel biocatalysts are also extremely resistant and have a long shelf life.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/biocatalytic-foams-enable-sustainable-synthesis-complex-molecules
Press release - 11/12/2023 Heidelberg center for personalized medicine achieves the highest quality standards The German Cancer Society has certified the Center for Personalized Medicine (ZPM) at Heidelberg University Hospital. At the ZPM Heidelberg, patients with advanced and rare cancers and, in future, people with severe chronic inflammatory diseases will receive a molecular genetic analysis. The detailed information can open up new treatment options for those affected.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/zentrum-fuer-personalisierte-medizin-heidelberg-erfuellt-hoechste-qualitaetsstandards
Computer-assisted genome mining - 04/12/2023 Natural product genomics opens up new avenues in the search for antibiotics Antibiotic-resistant pathogens are increasingly endangering our health. Since most of the drugs currently in use are based on secondary metabolites produced by bacteria or fungi, the research group of Prof. Dr. Nadine Ziemert in Tübingen is developing bioinformatic tools to specifically search the genome of these organisms for previously unknown antimicrobial agents.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/natural-product-genomics-opens-new-avenues-search-antibiotics
Press release - 30/11/2023 Taking antibiotics back in time University of Tübingen researchers reverse the evolution of a class of antibiotics to gain insights for the development of new drugs.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/taking-antibiotics-back-time
Press release - 29/11/2023 Tracing the Evolution of the Cerebellum Heidelberg scientists unveil genetic programmes controlling the development of cellular diversity in the cerebellum of humans and other mammals. The research results have now been published in the journal Nature.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/tracing-evolution-cerebellum
Press release - 20/10/2023 Why tuberculosis bacteria form long chains A researcher team from Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne led by Dr. Vivek Thacker now group leader at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Heidelberg University Hospital have studied why tuberculosis bacteria form long strands and how this affects their infectivity. Their findings could lead to new therapies and have now been published in the journal Cell.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/why-tuberculosis-bacteria-form-long-chains
Press release - 28/08/2023 Innovative computational approach helps design proteins for cancer treatment The computational design of new proteins for biomedical or other applications involves long computing times on powerful servers. A joint team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen and the University Hospital Tübingen has now developed and tested a new computational method to greatly speed up the necessary energy calculations. Their framework allows for a precise and efficient design of functional proteins.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/innovative-computational-approach-helps-design-proteins-cancer-treatment
DNA nanotechnology - 25/08/2023 Artificial cytoskeleton made of DNA for synthetic cells The physicists Prof. Dr. Kerstin Göpfrich and Prof. Dr. Laura Na Liu want to understand life from the bottom up. They intend to do this by constructing an artificial cell. However, rather than natural protein building blocks, they are using 3D-DNA structures as construction material. The first step involved creating an artificial cell skeleton that dynamically assembles and disassembles like the biological model and can transport vesicles.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/artificial-cytoskeleton-made-dna-synthetic-cells
Tumour organoids facilitate drug discovery - 20/07/2023 Drug screening for children with cancer using patient-specific miniature tumours Standard drugs often don’t work in children and adolescents with recurrent cancer. Researchers from the Hopp Children's Tumour Centre (KITZ) and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg have been looking to open up new therapy options for those affected, and have cultivated individual miniature tumours from biopsy samples to test the effectiveness of a variety of drugs within a few weeks.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/drug-screening-children-cancer-using-patient-specific-miniature-tumours
Press release - 13/07/2023 Intelligent rubber materials Wearable medical devices, such as soft exoskeletons that provide support for stroke patients or controlled drug delivery patches, have to be made of materials that can adapt intelligently and autonomously to the wearer's movements and to changing environmental conditions. These are the type of autonomously switchable polymer materials that have recently been developed by researchers at the University of Stuttgart and the University of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/intelligent-rubber-materials
Press release - 12/07/2023 Mast cells as a sensor: Enigmatic immune cells help to avoid harmful allergens The function of mast cells, which are part of the immune system, is still a mystery. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now shown in mice: mast cells function as a sensor that signals the animals to avoid antigens, including harmful allergens, and thereby protect themselves from health-threatening inflammatory reactions. The findings were published in the journal Nature.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/mastzellen-als-sensor-raetselhafte-immunzellen-helfen-schaedliche-allergene-zu-vermeiden
Press release - 20/06/2023 Pangolin the inspiration for medical robot Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart have developed a magnetically controlled soft medical robot with a unique, flexible structure inspired by the body of a pangolin. The robot is freely movable despite built-in hard metal components. Thus, depending on the magnetic field, it can adapt its shape to be able to move and can emit heat when needed.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/pangolin-inspiration-medical-robot
Press release - 20/06/2023 Tuberculosis Therapy: Smallest Particles Will Deliver the Drug to the Lungs in Future KIT and Research Center Borstel Present Nanoparticles with a High Antibiotic Concentration for Inhalation – Nanocarriers of Antibiotics Can Reduce Resistances and Enhance Compatibility.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/tuberculosis-therapy-smallest-particles-will-deliver-drug-lungs-future
Press release - 16/06/2023 What determines whether breast cancer cells can form metastases? In most cancers, it is not the growth of the primary tumor that determines the prognosis for the patient, but whether it will spread and form metastases. This process is very complex. There are often years between the development of the cancer and the aggressive growth of the metastases. Scientists from the DKFZ, the HI-STEM, the Ruhr University Bochum, Helmholtz Munich and ETH Zurich have studied and identified metastasis growth in breast cancerhttps://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/what-determines-whether-breast-cancer-cells-can-form-metastases
Reduced immunosuppression possible in transplantations - 05/06/2023 Modified immune cells produce donor-specific tolerance Traditionally, transplant recipients have had to take immunosuppressive medication for life to prevent organ rejection. However, there are considerable side effects involved. Using modified immune cells (MICs), TolerogenixX GmbH from Heidelberg has now managed to generate donor-specific tolerance in recipients of living kidney transplants without suppressing the overall immune system.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/modified-immune-cells-produce-donor-specific-tolerance
Press release - 17/05/2023 Playing hide and seek in the centromere Centromeres, the DNA sections often found at the center of the chromosomes, display enormous interspecies diversity, despite having the same vital role during cell division across almost the entire tree of life. An international team of researchers has discovered that the variation in centromere DNA regions can be strikingly large even within a single species. The findings, now published in the journal Nature, shed light on the molecular…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/playing-hide-and-seek-centromere
Press release - 16/05/2023 First company in the world to offer preclinical drug tests for children with cancer The recently established ITCC-P4 gGmbH provides academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies with a comprehensive repertoire of modern laboratory models of pediatric tumors. The aim is to systematically test new treatment options for children and adolescents with cancer and to contribute data to regulatory approval processes in order to make the development of new cancer therapies for children and adolescents more attractive.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/first-company-world-offer-preclinical-drug-tests-children-cancer
Press release - 08/05/2023 Automated detection of embryonic developmental defects Researchers at the University of Konstanz publish image analysis software that automatically detects and classifies defects of animal development. Thanks to artificial intelligence, "EmbryoNet" outperforms human experts in terms of speed, accuracy and sensitivity.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/automated-detection-embryonic-developmental-defects
Press release - 24/04/2023 Hidden RNA repair mechanism discovered in humans Konstanz researchers discover the function of a previously unexplored protein: In three characteristic steps, "C12orf29" links the ends of RNA strands. Proteins that perform this kind of RNA ligation were previously unknown in humans. The results of the study suggest that it is important for RNA repair during cellular stress.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/hidden-rna-repair-mechanism-discovered-humans
Press release - 13/03/2023 AI and multispectral imaging facilitate keyhole surgery How can camera images be used during minimally invasive surgeries to assess whether the operated organ is sufficiently perfused with blood? Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe have now succeeded in automatic monitoring of ischemia during a kidney surgery using only the optical properties of the tissue and not relying on injection of contrast agent. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/ki-und-moderne-bildgebung-erleichtern-schluesselloch-chirurgie
Press release - 01/03/2023 Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteria produce a molecule that paralyzes immune system cells Bacteria of the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa are antibiotic-resistant hospital germs that can enter blood, lungs and other tissues through wounds and cause life-threatening infections. In a joint project, researchers from the Universities of Freiburg and Strasbourg in France have discovered a mechanism that likely contributes to the severity of P. aeruginosa infections.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/pseudomonas-aeruginosa-bakterien-stellen-ein-molekuel-her-das-zellen-des-immunsystems-laehmt
Immune complexes in COVID-19 - 01/03/2023 Vicious circle of hyperinflammation Whether a person experiences only a mild malaise or a critical course of disease after a coronavirus infection apparently depends on the antigen-antibody complexes that form in our body. The discovery of these immune complexes set a group of researchers, headed up by Prof. Dr. Hartmut Hengel from the Freiburg University Medical Centre, on the trail of a vicious circle of constantly escalating inflammation.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/vicious-circle-hyperinflammation
Press release - 24/01/2023 Genome Editing Procedures Optimised Heidelberg scientists succeed in boosting the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 and related methods and modifying initially inaccessible DNA sequences.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/verfahren-der-genom-editierung-optimiert
Press release - 17/01/2023 Sugar-based inhibitors disarm the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa The hospital pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires the sugar-binding proteins LecA and LecB to form biofilms as well as to attach to and penetrate host cells. These so-called lectins are therefore suitable targets for active substances to combat Pseudomonas infections. Researchers from Saarbrücken and Freiburg have now produced potent inhibitors for LecA and LecB that are more stable and soluble than previous drug candidates.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/zuckerbasierte-inhibitoren-entwaffnen-den-krankheitserreger-pseudomonas-aeruginosa
Press release - 11/01/2023 Newly discovered surface structures may affect immune function Using new microscopic methods in combination with machine learning-based image analysis, researchers from Freiburg have discovered new structures on the surface of living B cells that affect the distribution and possibly the function of their antigen receptors. The researchers' study has been published in The EMBO Journal.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/newly-discovered-surface-structures-may-affect-immune-function
Press release - 20/12/2022 Rapid Evolution of Spermatogenesis Heidelberg scientists decode the genetic foundations of rapid testicle evolution in mammals and humans. Evolutionary pressure across male mammals to guarantee the procreation of their own offspring led to a rapid evolution of the testicle. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/rapid-evolution-spermatogenesis
Press release - 20/12/2022 New approach prevents rejection of transplanted organs Inhibition of a protein complex in cells of the immune system prevents rejection of transplanted organs – this has been shown in a study by immunologists from the University of Konstanz, the Biotechnology Institute Thurgau (BITg) and Chongqing Cancer University Hospital.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-approach-prevents-rejection-transplanted-organs
Press release - 25/11/2022 Praise for Ulm's trauma research from DFG CRC 1149 reaches 3rd funding phase What a success for Ulm University and its medical centre! The German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; DFG) extends the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) on Trauma Medicine for the second time. The third funding phase infuses the CRC 1149 'Danger Response, Disturbance Factors and Regenerative Potential after Acute Trauma' with 11.1 million euros. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/praise-ulms-trauma-research-dfg-crc-1149-reaches-3rd-funding-phase
Press release - 24/11/2022 SARS-CoV-2 detection in 30 minutes using gene scissors Researchers of the University of Freiburg introduce biosensor for the nucleic acid amplification-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/sars-cov-2-nachweis-30-minuten-mit-der-genschere
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.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/real-time-telemonitoring-heart-failure
Press release - 18/11/2022 Leading Swiss laboratory equipment manufacturer Hamilton Bonaduz AG buys Freiburg-based microfluidic technology company BioFluidix GmbH BioFluidix GmbH, a spin-off resulting from the cooperation between Hahn-Schickard and the Department of Microsystems Engineering at the University of Freiburg, is now part of the Swiss Hamilton Bonaduz AG.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/fuehrender-laborgeraetehersteller-hamilton-bonaduz-ag-kauft-freiburger-mikrodosierunternehmen-biofluidix-gmbh
Press release - 17/11/2022 New target for Alzheimer's therapies found DZNE researchers discover link between the protein medin and Alzheimer's disease. The protein medin is deposited in the blood vessels of the brains of Alzheimer's patients along with the protein amyloid-β. DZNE Researchers have discovered this so-called co-aggregation. They have now published their observation in the renowned journal Nature.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-target-alzheimers-therapies-found
Press release - 15/11/2022 Silicone Sponge Captures Unknown Bacteria From human intestines to the bottom of the sea: Microorganisms populate nearly any habitat, no matter how hostile it is. Their great variety of survival strategies is of huge potential in biotechnology. Most of these organisms, however, are unknown, because they cannot be cultivated.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/silikonschwamm-spuert-unbekannte-bakterien-auf
Press release - 14/11/2022 Neurotoxicological hazard assessment without animal testing Using animal-free methods to assess the hazard potential of chemicals to the nervous system of unborn children? An international research team including toxicologists from Konstanz and Düsseldorf has developed a testing battery based on human cells that has the potential to replace traditional methods for assessing developmental neurotoxicity.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/neurotoxicological-hazard-assessment-without-animal-testing
Press release - 02/11/2022 How Cells Find the Right Partners During the growth and development of living organisms, different types of cells must come into contact with each other in order to form tissues and organs together. A small team working with Prof. Dr. Anne Classen of the Excellence Cluster CIBSS of the University of Freiburg has discovered that complex changes in form, or morphogenesis, during development are driven exclusively via the affinity of cells to each other.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/how-cells-find-right-partners
Viral cancer therapy - 26/10/2022 Therapeutic viruses against tumours and metastases Viruses can overcome cell barriers and transfer information to their host cells. They know how to make their host cell’s infrastructure work for them. This makes them excellent biotechnological tools, which a research group from the Fraunhofer IGB in Stuttgart is using to its advantage. The team is developing a therapeutic virus that not only recognises and fights tumours, but also has the potential to reach metastases.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/therapeutic-viruses-against-tumours-and-metastases
Press release - 25/10/2022 Three ERC Synergy Grants For Universität Heidelberg Scientists Heidelberg University scientists are to receive three ERC Synergy Grants – three highly endowed grants of the European Research Council – for pioneering research projects by several teams working in collaboration.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/three-erc-synergy-grants-universitaet-heidelberg-scientists
Press release - 20/10/2022 Cytoskeleton acts as cells’ bouncer for bacteria Researchers of the University of Freiburg have discovered a previously unknown function of septins in defending cells against dangerous hospital pathogens.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/das-zellskelett-haelt-die-eintrittspforte-fuer-bakterien-geschlossen
Press release - 19/10/2022 Molecular structure of one of the most important receptors in the immune system unraveled Researchers from Freiburg and Harvard publish the three-dimensional structure of the B cell antigen receptor, shedding new light on its composition.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/molecular-structure-one-most-important-receptors-immune-system-unraveled
Press release - 04/10/2022 Microscopic Octopuses from a 3D Printer Although just cute little creatures at first glance, the microscopic geckos and octopuses fabricated by 3D laser printing in the molecular engineering labs at Heidelberg University could open up new opportunities in fields such as microrobotics or biomedicine. The printed microstructures are made from novel materials – known as smart polymers – whose size and mechanical properties can be tuned on demand and with high precision. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/mikroskopisch-kleine-kraken-aus-dem-3d-drucker
Press release - 21/09/2022 ERC funding: How to deliver gene therapies to a specific target site? With its "Proof of Concept" grants, the European Research Council ERC supports scientists in further developing the commercial potential of their research results. Nina Papavasiliou from the DKFZ is now receiving the prestigious grant for the second time: she wants to advance the development of a "molecular delivery service" that ensures that therapeutic genes reach the right address in the body in a targeted manner.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/erc-funding-how-deliver-gene-therapies-specific-target-site
Organ-on-chip for the analysis of drug effects - 20/07/2022 New 3D cell platform allows continuous metabolic monitoring Organ-on-chips systems are systems containing miniature tissues grown inside mircrofluidic chips. By integrating microsensors, researchers at the IMTEK Freiburg, together with the RWTH Aachen University Hospital, created a novel variant that allows the measurement of metabolic activity directly on site and in real time. This enables the rapid and detailed analysis of drug effects outside an organism.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-3d-cell-platform-allows-continuous-metabolic-monitoring
AaviGen GmbH: Hope for heart failure - 14/07/2022 Gene therapy for weakened hearts Treating a weak heart – for example after a heart attack – at the GP’s surgery with a single intravenous injection, without causing serious side effects: what sounds almost too good to be true is actually already under development. The Heidelberg-based biotech company AaviGen is working on a platform technology based on adeno-associated viruses that can help introduce therapeutic genes in a highly specific way into diseased heart muscle cells.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/gene-therapy-weakened-hearts
Biotech in outer space - 06/07/2022 yuri, a space start-up: weightlessness for commercial research Growing cells without the effect of gravity could revolutionise drug development. A start-up called yuri on Lake Constance enables made-to-measure experiments on the ISS for stem cells, artificial organs, surfaces and materials. On board the next mission are some mini-cell labs from Berlin's Charité and Goethe University Frankfurt.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/yuri-space-start-weightlessness-commercial-research