Healthcare industry

The X-ray-based determination of bone density is currently the only method that enables the early diagnosis of osteoporosis. However this examination method has rather limited informative value. That is why the University Hospital in Tübingen is now establishing high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging MRI that provides the physicians with completely new insights into the microarchitecture of the bones.

Article - 09/06/2008

Moderate growth

In 2007 the German biotechnology sector was marked by moderate growth. Turnover climbed over two billion euros and research and development expenditure reached one billion euros. These are the central findings of the latest company survey carried out by biotechnologie.de.

Scientists at the University Hospital of Ulm and the Hanover Medical School MHH have succeeded in deciphering genetic defects in patients suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia. Their findings allow for more individualised therapies in the future.

The German Research Foundation will continue to fund the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy - Molecular Pathogenesis and Therapy for another four years with a total of 10 million euros. The Department of Cardiology of the University Hospital of Tübingen will also become part of the SFB.

Simone Fulda 40 is an extremely inquisitive person who has managed to turn her passion into a profession. In 2007 the petite woman from Cologne was appointed professor of paediatric research at the University of Ulm University Childrens Hospital where she is working on the relationship between apoptosis and cancer and the development of new methods for cancer treatment.

Article - 10/05/2008

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen Prize 2008

Prof. Dr. Martin Bendszus was awarded the Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen Prize 2008. He received the prize together with 10000 euros for his work dealing with in vivo diagnostics of the peripheral nervous system using magnetic resonance imaging.

In their 9th German Biotechnology Report the industry experts from Ernst Young paint an essentially confident picture of the German biotech industry. However despite the general optimism the picture has a few negative points no company will go public in 2008.

In conjunction with reference laboratories of the World Health Organization WHO medtech company Curetis AG is developing new technologies and products that identify the pathogens of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and their resistance. The solutions are impressive.

The benchmark paper on the Genetic Diagnostics Act which has long been heralded by the governing coalition foresees the binding counselling of people concerned. The coalition is opposed to allowing employers to require their employees to undergo genetic tests.

In the second article in the series on the platforms successful cooperations BioValley presents an encouraging approach for improving the quality of life of severely ill cancer patients and the successful establishment of an industrial biochip platform.

The first European Conference for Clinical Nanomedicine is to be held soon in Basel. BIOPRO has therefore discussed this promising area of application with Beat Löffler and Dr. Patrick Hunziker the founders of the European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine.

The major focus of the planned research initiative is precompetitive and application-oriented basic and initial research.

Since the 1st March 2008 the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at the University Hospital in Heidelberg has a new medical director Professor Dr. Hans-Ulrich Kauczor 45 succeeds Professor Dr. Günter Kauffmann.

Young medical professionals or young scientists are eligible to apply for funding.

Biametrics Marken and Rechte GmbH has developed new analytical devices based on reflectometric interference spectroscopy thus adopting the trend of label-free detection methods. This is because labelling tends to interfere with the natural activity of the biomolecules under investigation.

mtm laboratories has launched the Cervatec assay for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer. The Cervatec assay will initially be commercialized as an adjunct to the Pap test for the screening of women aged 35 and younger.

Although the biomolecule DNS has provided many explanations and hopeful projections opinions are divided over the question of DNA being the carrier of genetic information. There is a huge need for clarification. Biologists clinicians psychologists lawyers and bioethicists discussed in Tübingen.

In 1998 James Thomson was the first to generate stem cells from human embryos. BIOPRO will present the new methods in the field of embryonic stem cell research. Stem cell experts regeneration biologists medics and ethicists will explain whether they think that the new methods are useful or not.

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.

Article - 10/02/2008

4th Biomarker Workshop at the NMI in Reutlingen: another success

The Biomarker Workshop held at the NMI in late January has become a fixed date for a growing number of proteomics researchers. With an attendance of 130 this years workshop exceeded all previous ones. Those who were keen to find out more about the latest trends and findings were presented with a successful mix of basic and applied research information.

Dossier - 01/02/2008

Glycobiotechnology - sugar research is picking up speed

Alongside DNA and proteins sugar structures play an important role in cellular transport and communication processes. They are also part of the molecular control and regulation machinery making them of particular interest to biotechnologists. The pharmaceutical industry as well as the food sector and material sciences have realised the potential of sugar structures.

Micro-biolytics GmbH now based in the Esslingen-based Life Science Centre develops and produces microsystems solutions for bioanalytical issues. With the support of networks micro-biolytics is hoping to considerably expand its activities.

Press release - 20/01/2008

LifeCodexx AG - Clarity within the genetic data jungle

Constance based GATC Biotech founds the subsidiary company LifeCodexx AG. LifeCodexx is the first web-based information service for the storage and utilisation of biological and medical data from the analysis of genetic codes and protein codes in the EU.

Scientists at the German Cancer Research Centre DKFZ have now succeeded in generating peptides on a microchip - faster and thus cheaper than with previous methods.

Nele Wellinghausen has always been interested in plants and animals. As a teenager she studied ferns and won the German Jugend forscht competition. Nowadays the medical expert carries out research on microorganisms specifically on pathogens that lead to sepsis.