3R-Center - 18/08/2021 Putting alternatives to animal testing into practice Animal experiments are still central to biomedical research. However, it has become increasingly clear that not all of them are absolutely necessary. Alternative techniques exist. The new 3R-Netzwerk Baden-Württemberg is now seeking to promote these more vigorously - and improve animal welfare in cases where alternatives to animal testing are not available.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/putting-alternatives-animal-testing-practice
Press release - 03/03/2021 New Baden-Württemberg network to reduce animal experiments A new network has been set up in Baden-Württemberg aimed at reducing animal experiments as well as further improving animal welfare. It combines new approaches and measures at the state’s biomedical research locations, which are expected to limit stress in laboratory animals and steadily reduce the number of animals used in research in line with the 3R principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-baden-wuerttemberg-network-reduce-animal-experiments
Organ failure due to fatty liver - 24/09/2020 HepaRegeniX develops an active substance for liver regeneration When the liver stops regenerating on its own, it might be possible in future for doctors to intervene with a chemical agent. Tübingen-based HepaRegeniX GmbH is developing a promising candidate with the aim of improving the treatment of both acute and chronic liver failure. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/heparegenix-develops-active-substance-liver-regeneration
Biochip systems - 02/09/2020 Miniature organs with great potential Dr. Peter Loskill and his team at the Fraunhofer Institute in Stuttgart and the University Hospital of Tübingen are developing what is known as an "organ-on-a-chip" (OoC). An OoC is a microfluidic system that simulates small functional units of organ tissue. OoCs can be used in different ways: in basic and pharmaceutical research as well as in clinical research and application, where they might render many animal experiments…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/miniature-organs-great-potential
Expert interview - 08/08/2018 Ludolph: diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative disorders Ulm has long been a world leader in diagnosing and treating rare neurological disorders, notably amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Huntington's disease (HD). We spoke with Professor Albert C. Ludolph, spokesperson for the Ulm DZNE site, medical director of the Clinic for Neurology at the RKU (University and Rehabilitation Clinics of Ulm) and world-renowned ALS researcher.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/ludolph-diagnosing-and-treating-neurodegenerative-disorders
Alternative to animal experiments - 21/03/2018 Drug tests using miniature organs At present, potential new drugs have to be tested on animals before they can be used on humans. However, results obtained from animals are not always transferrable to the situation in humans, which is why researchers around the world have long been seeking alternatives. Miniature human organs that can be used to test the efficacy of potential human drugs might provide a solution.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/drug-tests-using-miniature-organs
Press release - 05/09/2017 Cell marking opens up a window into the body A new and particularly reliable method for marking cells can simplify research into diseases such as myocardial infarction, diabetes or Alzheimer's and reduce the use of test animals: Scientists from the University of Tübingen have developed a method by which they can target specific cell types in mice and monitor their behavior using positron emission tomography (PET). PET-based cell tracking allows scientists to observe complex life…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/cell-marking-opens-up-a-window-into-the-body
Article - 22/08/2017 Transgenic mice in influenza research – risk assessment and vaccine development A research team from Freiburg is developing a method for identifying human influenza viruses of animal origin. This could potentially improve measures taken to prevent imminent pandemics. The researchers are working with genetically modified mice. Transgenic mice also play a role in the development of a ’universal’ influenza vaccine. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/transgenic-mice-in-influenza-research-risk-assessment-and-vaccine-development
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 - 07/06/2017 A gene that regulates body heat and fat storage Researchers from Heidelberg have shown that the organismal balance between heat production and energy storage is regulated by a gene called THADA. In animal experiments, knocking out the THADA gene leads to excessive food intake, obesity and sensitivity to cold. As humans spread throughout the world and settled in different climate zones, THADA was exposed to high selection pressure due to evolutionary adaptation. This explains why human…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-gene-that-regulates-body-heat-and-fat-storage
24.04.2017 World Day for Laboratory Animals On 24 April 2017 is "World Day for Laboratory Animals" – the BIOPRO provides information about this topic. In Baden-Württemberg alone, up to 600,000 animals are used for scientific purposes every year. In order to reduce their pain and suffering as much as possible, researchers all over the world are working on the development of innovative methods to replace animal experiments, including cell culture methods for drug analysis,…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/world-day-for-laboratory-animals
Article - 21/12/2016 For all types of tests: Signatope’s biomarker assays Signatope is a new biotech company that has been offering innovative biomarker assays for application in drug discovery since August 2016. The company’s assays can be used in all phases of drug development to detect potential adverse drug effects on the kidneys, liver and other organs in any species whatsoever using minute amounts of sample.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/for-all-types-of-tests-signatopes-biomarker-assays
Article - 17/05/2016 Innovative biochip for discovering drugs for treating neuronal conditions Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and epilepsy are three prominent examples of neuronal conditions (disorders affecting the nerve cells) for which drugs for treatment are intensively sought. Paolo Cesare from the NMI in Reutlingen has developed an innovative 3D system for testing drugs that does not require animal testing. In 2015, the MEAFLUIT system was awarded first prize in BioRegio STERN Management GmbH's Science2Start idea competition. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/innovative-biochip-for-discovering-drugs-for-treating-neuronal-conditions
Article - 21/03/2016 Shock wave therapy gives hope to many men Although the approval of vasodilatory drugs made available an effective medicine for treating erectile dysfunction, not all men respond to this type of treatment. MTS Medical UG from Konstanz has developed a therapeutic device that means that these men can now get help too. What's more, the device has no adverse health effects.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/shock-wave-therapy-gives-hope-to-many-men
Article - 11/01/2016 Study shows correlation between intestinal gene activity and obesity People with obesity suffer from more than just health problems related to their weight. They often feel socially stigmatised because their disease is often seen as a self-inflicted condition. A new study by the University of Hohenheim in cooperation with the eSwiss Medical and Surgical Center in St. Gallen now shows that severe obesity is closely associated with gene activity in the intestinal tissue. This activity is responsible for producing…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/studie-zeigt-zusammenhang-zwischen-gen-aktivitaet-im-darm-und-uebergewicht
Article - 29/06/2015 3D cell culture model for more efficient tumour research The development of anti-cancer drugs is a lengthy process because results obtained in vitro in the laboratory often differ from what then occurs in a living organism. A group of researchers led by Prof. Dr. Margareta Müller at the Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences is therefore developing a new cell culture model that adjusts in vitro to real conditions.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/3d-cell-culture-model-for-more-efficient-tumour-research
Article - 22/06/2015 3D bioprinting: replicating the shape of bone parts Prof. Dr. Günter Finkenzeller, head of the Research and Tissue Engineering Laboratory in the Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery at the Freiburg University Medical Centre, and Dr. Peter Koltay from the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) at the University of Freiburg, are being given German Research Foundation (DFG) funds for a period of three years to develop a 3D printing technique for functional bone tissue containing blood…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/3d-bioprinting-replicating-the-shape-of-bone-parts
Article - 21/07/2014 Predicting the efficiency of cancer drugs using mathematical models A research consortium was established at the Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology SRCSB at the University of Stuttgart in January 2013 with the goal of establishing models that help predict the action of targeted therapeutics. The scientists combine molecular biology experiments with complex mathematical models in order to achieve a holistic understanding of disease and therapy. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/predicting-the-efficiency-of-cancer-drugs-using-mathematical-models
Article - 19/05/2014 Alcoholism: the molecular basis of addiction and deprivation Scientists at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim use rats and mice to study the genetic basis and neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol addiction, the changes that occur during alcohol deprivation and the factors that favour a relapse. In translational research, the results from animal experiments are reviewed using alcohol-dependent patients in order to turn them quickly into preventive strategies and therapies.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/alcoholism-the-molecular-basis-of-addiction-and-deprivation
Article - 31/03/2014 Cell culture reactor – a mechanical lung as an alternative to animal experiments When people breathe, not only do they inhale oxygen, but they also ingest harmful substances into the lung. Animal experiments still need to be carried out in order to assess the potential effects of air-borne pollutants, but alternatives are being sought in order to reduce the number of animal tests. In cooperation with Cultex Laboratories GmbH, Askea Feinmechanik GmbH from Amtzell has developed a cell culture reactor for conducting in vitro…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cell-culture-reactor-a-mechanical-lung-as-an-alternative-to-animal-experiments
Article - 31/03/2014 The growing significance of peptide therapeutics The therapeutic use of peptides lags behind that of proteins. And there are good reasons for this. However, it seems that this is beginning to change and that peptide therapeutics are growing in significance. As a matter of fact, peptides have become rather popular candidates for drugs. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-growing-significance-of-peptide-therapeutics
Article - 24/03/2014 Vaccine against papillomaviruses protects from skin cancer Papillomaviruses are thought to cause non-melanoma skin cancer in people exposed to UV radiation, especially those who have suppressed immune systems. Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Charité University Hospital in Berlin have developed a vaccine that protects mice against such skin tumours. The vaccine is even effective in mice that have previously been infected with papillomaviruses and that have suppressed…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/vaccine-against-papillomaviruses-protects-from-skin-cancer
Article - 07/08/2013 New regulations covering the use of laboratory animals The new directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes was adopted on 22nd September 2010 and was implemented into the German Animal Welfare Act which came into force in February 2013. These regulations have implications for companies and researchers alike. In recent years a growing number of alternative methods to animal testing have been developed. Dr. Nina Hasiwa CEO of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-regulations-covering-the-use-of-laboratory-animals
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 - 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