Article - 28/01/2013 Epigenetics and childhood blood cancer Juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia JMML is the most common chronic cancer of the blood in children and tends to have a poor response to chemotherapy. Prof. Dr. Christian Flotho and his team from the Centre of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine in Freiburg have shown that epigenetic mechanisms play a key role in the pathogenesis of JMML. As part of a German Research Foundation priority programme the researchers from Freiburg are working on…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/epigenetics-and-childhood-blood-cancer
Article - 21/01/2013 Early warning signals of ageing in stem cells The large international project SyStemAge is specifically focused on the role of stem cells in ageing and age-related diseases. Coordinated by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the Heidelberg University Hospital the SyStemAge consortium seeks to identify the causes and molecular pathways associated with the processes of ageing on the stem-cell level as well as developing novel strategies for the early treatment of age-related…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/early-warning-signals-of-ageing-in-stem-cells
Article - 14/01/2013 Boehringer takes a deep breath: a look into the company’s respiratory R&D pipeline At its 3rd International Research & Development (R&D) press conference, Boehringer Ingelheim gave journalists insights into its R&D pipeline. Around 200 scientists at the company’s site in Biberach are investigating new treatment options for patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma, idiopathic lung fibrosis, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. In addition, the researchers are also focusing on the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/boehringer-takes-a-deep-breath-a-look-into-the-company-s-respiratory-r-d-pipeline
Article - 07/01/2013 Small RNAs and immunological reactions Patients with common variable immunodeficiency CVID lack antibodies that would protect them against infections. Only a handful of patients develop the disease because of a single defect in any of the genes involved in CVID pathogenesis. A group of researchers led by Dr. Ulrich Salzer at the Centre for Chronic Immunodeficiency CCI at the University of Freiburg Medical Centre investigates how small RNA molecules control B-lymphocyte development as…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/small-rnas-and-immunological-reactions
Article - 18/12/2012 Gene therapy medicinal products: the first gene therapy product has been approved – where does the future lie? Is gene therapy close to broad clinical application? Following negative headlines at the end of the 1990s gene therapy had almost disappeared from the public radar to become an issue almost exclusively dealt with by research laboratories. Gene therapy has now reappeared in the public domain since the European Medicines Agency EMA gave the Dutch biotech company uniQure the go-ahead for the application of somatic gene therapy for the treatment of a…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/gene-therapy-medicinal-products-the-first-gene-therapy-product-has-been-approved-where-does-the-futu
Press release - 14/12/2012 Need for Speed: High-speed Measurements of Molecular Motion in the Cell Nucleus They were able to measure the binding of highly specialised protein complexes that specifically change the spatial structure of the genetic information thereby controlling the readout of the DNA information. The work of Dr. Karsten Rippe and his team was carried out at the BioQuant Center of Heidelberg University and the German Cancer Research Center. Their research has demonstrated that the positioning of nucleosomes complexes of DNA and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/need-for-speed-high-speed-measurements-of-molecular-motion-in-the-cell-nucleus
Article - 10/12/2012 A machine learning method for the prediction of regulatory interactions Heidelberg bioinformaticians have developed a novel method for the automated prediction of regulatory interactions. The regulatory interaction predictor, a machine-learning based approach for predicting interactions between DNA-binding transcription factors and their target genes and obtaining important insights into the gene regulatory networks in complex cells.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-machine-learning-method-for-the-prediction-of-regulatory-interactions
Press release - 10/12/2012 Sex hormone induces elongation of stem cell telomeres The telomere ends of chromosomes become shorter with any cell division round. This is why the lifespan of most cells is limited. One of several exceptions to this rule is the haematopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow. The enzyme telomerase enables them compensate telomere attrition. However defective telomerase function can cause bone marrow failure disorders such as aplastic anaemia amongst others. Prof. Dr. Uwe Martens from the SLK Hospital…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/sex-hormone-induces-elongation-of-stem-cell-telomeres
Press release - 10/12/2012 Cocktail boosts immune cells in fighting cancer Natural killer cells (or NK cells), as part of the body´s immune system, can effectively fight cancer. Unfortunately, they quickly lose their aggressiveness and hence are unable to reject solid tumors. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now discovered a cocktail consisting of three different immune mediators that leaves NK killer cells active over a long period of time. In mice,…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/cocktail-boosts-immune-cells-in-fighting-cancer
Article - 03/12/2012 Differences between white, brown and “brite” fat tissue The latest results on the different metabolic pathways used by white and brown fat cells and potential transformations between the two cell types were discussed at the conference “Metabolism 2012: From Signalling to Disease” held on 15th and 16th November 2012 in Heidelberg. A special cell type, so-called “brite” adipocytes, may have the potential to be used in the treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases such as diabetes.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/differences-between-white-brown-and-brite-fat-tissue
Article - 03/12/2012 Targeted therapeutic approaches that revolutionise melanoma treatment Melanoma is difficult to treat once it has spread from the skin to other parts of the body. Classical chemotherapy is often ineffective and the majority of patients die within a few months after diagnosis. However, the biggest breakthrough in around 30 years has now been achieved with the development of kinase inhibitors that directly interfere with the cancer cells’ molecular signalling pathways. Clinical research into the application of kinase…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/targeted-therapeutic-approaches-that-revolutionise-melanoma-treatment
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
Article - 26/11/2012 Membrane proteins in the mitochondria do more than just generate cellular energy The proteins in the membranes of the mitochondria are complex machines in the nanoworld that mediate the oxygen-coupled generation of energy in cells. Their role in this process is not yet understood in detail. However, the proteins’ intractability has not discouraged Prof. Dr. Carola Hunte’s research group at the University of Freiburg. The group is using state-of-the-art methods to look deep into the proteins’ active centres and decipher the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/membrane-proteins-in-the-mitochondria-do-more-than-just-generate-cellular-energy
Press release - 22/11/2012 Mechanism to Repair Clumped Proteins Explained Clumped proteins can be dissolved with the aid of cellular repair systems a process of critical importance for cell survival especially under conditions of stress. Heidelberg researchers have now decrypted the fundamental mechanism for dissolving protein aggregates that involves specific molecular chaperones.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/mechanism-to-repair-clumped-proteins-explained
Press release - 22/11/2012 CeGaT and Genomatix are finalists of Boston Children’s Hospital’s CLARITY challenge CeGaT (Center for Genomics and Transcriptomics) GmbH, the Department of Prostate Cancer Research, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Bonn and Genomatix Software GmbH were announced as finalist (Top 3) of the CLARITY challenge, organized by Boston Children’s Hospital.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/cegat-and-genomatix-are-finalists-of-boston-children-s-hospital-s-clarity-challenge
Article - 19/11/2012 Uncovering the genetics of prostate cancer The prostate genome project, which is part of the International Cancer Genome Consortium, is focused on the genetic and epigenetic causes of the development and progression of this highly variable cancer and finding markers that enable the reliable diagnosis of the disease. The German research groups involved in the project are coordinated by the German Cancer Research Center and concentrate on prostate cancer patients under 50 years of age, as…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/uncovering-the-genetics-of-prostate-cancer
Press release - 13/11/2012 immatics’ renal cancer vaccine IMA901 completes phase 3 patient recruitment immatics biotechnologies GmbH announced that it has completed patient recruitment into the pivotal phase 3 trial evaluating its lead cancer vaccine IMA901 for renal cell carcinoma RCC. The first interim overall survival results are expected during the first half of 2014.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/immatics-renal-cancer-vaccine-ima901-completes-phase-3-patient-recruitment
Press release - 12/11/2012 immatics appoints Peter Chambré as Chairman immatics biotechnologies GmbH, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing advanced therapeutic vaccines that are active against cancer, today announced the appointment of Peter Chambré as Chairman of the Board with immediate effect. Peter Chambré has had extensive senior management experience in the biopharmaceutical sector and now holds several Chairman positions in the life sciences industry. He will replace Thomas Widmann, who has…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/immatics-appoints-peter-chambr-as-chairman
Press release - 12/11/2012 GATC Biotech joins a new EU research network for young researchers Seven European research institutions and GATC Biotech have formed a consortium providing cutting-edge training in the scientific study of the human past. The BEAN (Bridging the European and Anatolian Neolithic) Initial Training Network has been awarded four years of funding from the European Commission through the Marie Curie Actions program. It is a new multinational and multidisciplinary Marie Curie Research initiative exploring the origins of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/gatc-biotech-joins-a-new-eu-research-network-for-young-researchers
Article - 12/11/2012 Otmar D. Wiestler – combining excellent research and cancer medicine The University of Tübingen Medical Faculty’s award of an honorary doctorate to the Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Cancer Research Center, Professor Dr. Otmar D. Wiestler, was not just a distinction awarded to a renowned neuropathologist, oncologist and stem cell researcher, it also honoured a well-known personality who has made a significant contribution to shaping health research in Germany.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/otmar-d-wiestler-combining-excellent-research-and-cancer-medicine
Press release - 12/11/2012 Searching for new strategies against prostate cancer The European Research Council (ERC) has announced that Roland Schüle, Scientific Director at the Department of Urology, University of Freiburg Medical Centre has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant. Professor Schüle will receive €2.5 million for a period of 5 years for his research proposal to identify and characterize the molecular and physiological functions of the epigenetic enzyme LSD1 and to explore its role in prostate cancer.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/searching-for-new-strategies-against-prostate-cancer
Press release - 09/11/2012 Apogenix’s Apocept™ for glioblastoma multiforme named one of “Top 10 Projects to Watch” Apogenix a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel protein therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases announced that its lead product Apocept APG101 has been selected by Elsevier Business Intelligence and Windhover Conferences as one of oncologys Top 10 Projects To Watch.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/apogenix-s-apocept-for-glioblastoma-multiforme-named-one-of-top-10-projects-to-watch
Dossier - 05/11/2012 Cancer – basic research, successes and trends Science is approaching cancer treatment by using new systems biology approaches and setting up large-scale multidisciplinary projects such as the International Cancer Genome Consortium. Progress in genome, epigenome and gene expression analyses of cancer cells, new insights into the regulation and interaction of cells gained in cooperation with stem cell research and virus research contributes to gaining a causal understanding of cancer. This…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/cancer-basic-research-successes-and-trends
Press release - 30/10/2012 DKFZ and Genetic Immunity Sign Collaboration Agreement to Develop HPV Therapeutic Vaccine Genetic Immunity, Budapest, a leader in immunotherapy technology product development, and DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany) signed a collaborative agreement to develop a DNA-based vaccine for the treatment of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection that causes cervical cancer and other cancers of the anus, penis, vulva, vagina, and oropharynx. Present HPV vaccines (Cervarix, Gardasil) have no therapeutic effect on…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/dkfz-and-genetic-immunity-sign-collaboration-agreement-to-develop-hpv-therapeutic-vaccine
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