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
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
Article - 07/01/2013 HepaChip: a promising tool for assessing adverse drug effects Liver damage is one of the most common adverse drug effects. Since results obtained with animal experiments can only be transferred to the situation in humans to a limited extent, there is a need for cell-based systems that model human organ function as closely as possible. The new HepaChip, developed by researchers at the NMI in Reutlingen on the basis of human liver and endothelial cells is able to do just this.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/hepachip-a-promising-tool-for-assessing-adverse-drug-effects
Article - 29/10/2012 Friederike J. Gruhl – biology is not always enough Researchers are usually only able to explore the development and growth of tumours with animal models. This is because many human cells lose their typical characteristics once outside the body. Friederike J. Gruhl from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT is working to create a biomimetic environment in Petri dishes in which prostate cells thrive and can be manipulated to become tumours for example - if required. The three-dimensional…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/friederike-j-gruhl-biology-is-not-always-enough
Article - 22/10/2012 The crème de la crème of contact allergy tests goes in vitro As of 2013 all cosmetic products containing a chemical with inherent skin sensitisation potential must be tested without the traditional animal testing. Prof. Dr. Stefan Martin from the Department of Dermatology at the University of Freiburg Medical Centre and his partners have been looking for alternatives to animal testing and have come up with the most specific in vitro test there has ever been. The researchers involved in the project have…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-cr-me-de-la-cr-me-of-contact-allergy-tests-goes-in-vitro
Article - 24/09/2012 MTS: Shock wave technology for the therapy of diabetic foot ulcer Almost 15 percent of an estimated seven million diabetes mellitus patients in Germany suffer from diabetic foot syndrome DFS. It is associated with damage to the foot nerves and blood vessels as well as the presence of chronic wounds which in thousands of cases every year precede lower leg amputations. The Konstanz-based company MTS Medical has developed a shock wave therapy system that has the potential to considerably reduce the number of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/mts-shock-wave-technology-for-the-therapy-of-diabetic-foot-ulcer
Article - 02/07/2012 amcure GmbH is working on a new compound against pancreatic cancer amcure GmbH has identified a new compound with a new efficacy profile against pancreatic cancer. Animal experiments have shown promising results: the drug candidate successfully prevents tumour growth and destroys existing metastases. The company, which was spun out from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in 2011, is now working on its first financing round and is looking for new investors. At the same time it is carefully planning its…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/amcure-gmbh-is-working-on-a-new-compound-against-pancreatic-cancer
Article - 21/05/2012 Interactions between the genome and the environment Parental neglect appears to lead to epigenetic changes in children, which result in behavioural problems in later years. This is one issue amongst the many that were addressed at the colloquium “Gene und Umwelt – Wie wir werden, was wir sind” (Genes and the environment – how we become what we are) recently organized by the Daimler and Benz Foundation in Berlin.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/interactions-between-the-genome-and-the-environment
Article - 02/04/2012 Looking for the molecular conductors of neuroembryogenesis Tissue development in areas such as the nervous system can be likened to the arrangement of various elements in a concert. Genetic control centres play a key role in coordinating which pieces of music are played in which order. These control centres regulate the expression of genes. A team of researchers led by Prof. Dr. Uwe Strähle from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT uses zebrafish to understand the gene networks that control…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/looking-for-the-molecular-conductors-of-neuroembryogenesis
Article - 13/02/2012 A strange combination: green tea extract and light for treating Alzheimer’s Andrei Sommer from the University of Ulm and colleagues from Ulm, Heidelberg and Berlin have succeeded in reducing amyloid beta deposits in human neuroblastoma cells by up to 60 per cent in vitro. The researchers found that the apparently strange combination of green tea and red light has the potential to lead to the development of new therapies for Alzheimer’s. There are currently no treatments available that stop or reverse the progression of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-strange-combination-green-tea-extract-and-light-for-treating-alzheimer-s
Article - 13/02/2012 Suzanne Kadereit: assessing nanotoxicity using stem cells Nanotoxicity has become the subject of concern because of increasing toxic effects of nanomaterials on living organisms. However such effects are difficult to detect in people. In an interview with BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg Dr. Susanne Kadereit biologist at the University of Konstanz reports about her work involving the development of a human in-vitro system that enables the more effective assessment of the toxicity of nanoparticles.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/suzanne-kadereit-assessing-nanotoxicity-using-stem-cells
Press release - 30/09/2011 Blood Vessels from Your Printer Researchers have been working at growing tissue and organs in the laboratory for a long time. These days, tissue engineering enables us to build up artificial tissue, although science still hasn’t been successful with larger organs. Now, researchers at Fraunhofer are applying new techniques and materials to come up with artificial blood vessels in their BioRap project that will be able to supply artificial tissue and maybe even complex organs in…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/blood-vessels-from-your-printer
Press release - 31/08/2011 Insilico’s alternatives to animal testing Insilico Biotechnology is partner in several EU research projects aimed at developing testing methods for cosmetic substances without using animals. Computer-based models and simulations will be implemented to support and advance the development of cell and tissue cultures which produce reliable results even for long-term applications.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/insilico-s-alternatives-to-animal-testing
Article - 29/08/2011 Ute Schepers – the therapeutic potential of small RNAs and molecular transporters Small RNAs can specifically interfere with cellular mechanisms; or more precisely, with the cells’ protein biosynthesis machinery. Scientists have therefore decided to exploit this potential by using small RNAs against cancer cells or cells damaged in other ways. But the question arises as to how the small RNAs can reach the site where their role is to prevent the generation of dangerous proteins. Dr. Ute Schepers and her team from the Karlsruhe…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/ute-schepers-the-therapeutic-potential-of-small-rnas-and-molecular-transporters
Article - 29/07/2011 Labor Dr. Merk und Kollegen - Viruses under control It is difficult to imagine how Ochsenhausen-based Labor Dr. Merk und Kollegen (LMK) would be able to develop, produce and test medical products for bacterial and viral contaminations without using cell cultures. The medium-sized company also produces viruses for testing and has stored more than 80 different viruses – enveloped and non-enveloped ones, animal and human pathogens – at -80˚C.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/labor-dr-merk-und-kollegen-viruses-under-control
Dossier - 25/07/2011 Cell culture technology: it all started with frog nerve fibres The history of cell culture technology is closely connected with cell biology and the discoveries made in the field of cell biology. Ever since the study of science became a professional activity, researchers have been trying to keep cells and tissues alive outside organisms for purposes of investigation. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/cell-culture-technology-it-all-started-with-frog-nerve-fibres
Article - 27/06/2011 New therapeutic approaches: nitric oxide for the treatment of brain tumours Researchers led by neurosurgeon Dr. Astrid Weyerbrock from the Freiburg University Medical Centre are working on the improvement of therapies for the effective treatment of glioblastomas that involve deciphering the biological mechanisms that lead to these complex brain tumours. They are using a volatile molecule that is also found in the earths atmosphere.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-therapeutic-approaches-nitric-oxide-for-the-treatment-of-brain-tumours
Article - 14/06/2011 Retinitis pigmentosa: a new form of cell death What form of cell death do the photoreceptors of people suffering from retinitis pigmentosa undergo and how can their degeneration be prevented or delayed with pharmaceutical substances? Dr. Paquet-Durand from the Institute for Ophthalmic Research in Tübingen is working to resolve these questions.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/retinitis-pigmentosa-a-new-form-of-cell-death
Article - 04/04/2011 Technical innovations for better diagnostics The quantitative detection of DNA single-strand breaks is of great importance for many areas of biomedical research and diagnostics. The Fluorescence-detected Alkaline DNA Unwinding FADU assay assists in the investigation of mechanisms of DNA damage and repair following DNA strand breaks upon exposure to chemicals. Prof. Alexander Bürkle and his team at the University of Konstanz have automated and optimised the original FADU assay which was…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/technical-innovations-for-better-diagnostics
Press release - 21/03/2011 Polymer brushes with mini proteins protect implants Patients who have had surgical implants are at risk of developing serious complications due to bacterial infections. This affects around two to six per cent of patients with implants. Scientists from the KIT Institute of Functional Interfaces (IFG) have now succeeded in developing a protective layer that prevents bacteria from adhering to implants and creating dangerous biofilms that can lead to serious infections. The protective layer has proven…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/polymer-brushes-with-mini-proteins-protect-implants