Healthcare industry

People with know-how must bear responsibility said the microbiologist Dr. Kilian Hennes who lectures bioprocess engineering at Constance University of Applied Sciences HTWG. Teaching is one of the major challenges for the experienced scientist and practitioner in particular because his discipline is seen as somewhat exotic by future process engineers and requires a different way of looking at things. But this is what makes his job truly…

At the Nestl Product Centre PTC in Singen around 170 specialists from 28 countries research and develop new products and processes for the production of culinary products baby food and desserts. Discoveries from basic research are incorporated into actual products and technical facilities and processes are continually improved. The PTC is one of twelve Nestl research centres worldwide.

Nils Johnssons work focuses on communication research involving living objects. The 48-year-old biochemist is investigating how proteins manage the complicated process of cytokinesis the division of the cell plasma. Thanks to a specific method Johnsson is able to detect when proteins are interacting with each other.

The Dietmar Hopp Foundation has donated one million euro for a new small-animal tomograph at the University Hospital in Heidelberg. The new system is suitable for small animals such as rats and mice and can be used to investigate diseases and therapies.

As one of the people who initiated the establishment of EMBL and in his role as founding director of the ZMBH Hermann Bujard has made a considerable contribution to the transformation of Heidelberg into a leading location for molecular and biological research in Germany. As the director of EMBO Bujard is now promoting the development of molecular biosciences across Europe.

The University of Tübingen opened its new laboratory for Preclinical Imaging and Imaging Technology of the Werner Siemens Foundation. The professorship is the only one in Europe combining preclinical imaging and the development of new imaging technologies.

Press release - 20/01/2008

Genetic causes and therapy of cardiac insufficiency

Since 2001 the Medical University Hospital in Heidelberg has coordinated the Cardiovascular Network within the framework of the National Genome Research Network NGFN which also involves nine other big German university hospitals.

Prostate cancer is the most frequent malignant tumour in men. Researchers from Freiburg and Bonn have succeeded in developing the basics for new therapies in particular for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

In Germany every year 800000 people contract community acquired pneumonia and 50000 die of it. A new foundation based in Ulm is hoping to contribute to a better understanding of this unpleasant disease and to improve the therapy to combat it.