Press release - 11/02/2025 New perspectives for personalized therapy of brain tumors Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and ShanghaiTech University have developed an innovative method for growing brain tumors of individual patients in the laboratory that mimic the original structure and the molecular property of the parental tumor as closely as possible. Drug tests in this model were found to correlate very well with actual patient responses, making it a valuable method for investigating therapies.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-perspectives-personalized-therapy-brain-tumors
Press release - 07/02/2025 Multiple myeloma: When cancer cells break out of the bone marrow, a dangerous diversity arises A research team from the Heidelberg Medical Faculty, the German Cancer Research Center, the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) and the Max Delbrück Center has discovered new details about the spread of the incurable bone marrow cancer multiple myeloma in the body: When the cancer cells break out of the bone and multiply outside the bone marrow, a wide variety of tumor cells arise, accompanied by a significantly altered immune response. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/multiple-myeloma-when-cancer-cells-break-out-bone-marrow-dangerous-diversity-arises
Press release - 13/01/2025 New tool for synthetic biology Scientists at the University of Stuttgart have succeeded in controlling the structure and function of biological membranes with the help of "DNA origami". The system they developed may facilitate the transportation of large therapeutic loads into cells. This opens up a new way for the targeted administration of medication and other therapeutic interventions. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-tool-synthetic-biology
Expert interview - 16/12/2024 Learning from Nature for Innovation Natural phenomena are used to find technological solutions in a number of fields. In an interview with BIOPRO, Prof. Dr. Peter M. Kunz discusses groundbreaking innovations emerging from Baden-Württemberg and shares insights on how the principles of bionics can inspire the next generation of innovators.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/learning-nature-innovation
NMI spin-off develops theranostics - 02/12/2024 immuneAdvice develops diagnostics to predict the efficacy of immunotherapies Certain types of cancer are already being effectively treated using immunotherapies, though success rates can vary significantly between patients. Researchers from the Natural and Medical Sciences Institute (NMI) in Reutlingen, along with colleagues at the University of Tübingen, are working on a diagnostic approach to accompany therapy, which would rapidly assess whether the treatment is effective or requires adjustment. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/immuneadvice-develops-diagnostics-predict-efficacy-immunotherapies
Greener NHS - 18/11/2024 National Health Service working towards climate neutrality The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland is taking steps to become more environmentally sustainable. The NHS has committed to the ambitious goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040, aiming to significantly reduce its climate impact in the coming years.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/national-health-service-working-towards-climate-neutrality
NMI project WOUNDSENS - 23/10/2024 Wound monitoring using sensory nanofibres Monitoring the condition of chronic, non-healing wounds requires wound dressings to be changed at short, regular intervals. In the EU-funded WOUNDSENS project, researchers at the NMI in Reutlingen are using electrospinning to produce novel types of wound dressings. These consist of biosensory fibres that send information about the condition of the wound to the outside, thereby improving inflammation detection.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/wound-monitoring-using-sensory-nanofibres
Press release - 16/10/2024 Sensitive Arm Prostheses A quantum sensor that can register nerve impulses without contact opens up new possibilities in prosthetics. Researchers at Fraunhofer IPA are developing together with the industrial partner Q.ANT the prototype of one Prosthetic arm that is controlled by neural commands like healthy limbs.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/sensitive-arm-prostheses
Sustainable medical technology - 10/10/2024 Rethinking plastics in medical technology Good healthcare relies heavily on medical products made from plastic. However, the widespread use of synthetic materials, particularly disposable items, creates vast amounts of waste, depletes resources and leads to a substantial carbon footprint. To create more environmentally friendly plastic products in the future, substantial changes to production processes are essential.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/rethinking-plastics-medical-technology
Press release - 23/09/2024 Carl Zeiss Foundation supports early career research group for biohybrid neuroimplants Dr Simon Binder has been awarded a five-year, 1.5 million euro grant from the Carl Zeiss Foundation for his research into novel neuroimplants. Binder will establish the early career research group ‘Biohybrid Neuroimplants based on Soft Hydrogel Electrodes’ at the University of Freiburg. It is affiliated with the research institutions BrainLinks-BrainTools.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/carl-zeiss-foundation-supports-early-career-research-group-biohybrid-neuroimplants
Press release - 17/09/2024 Five new cross-border doctoral networks at Universität Heidelberg Five transnational and cross-institutional doctoral networks at Heidelberg University are being funded as part of the “Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions”. They work together on current scientific topics with high innovation potential. Ruperto Carola coordinates an MSCA Doctoral Network on artificial intelligence in physics, two networks in medicine, life sciences and engineering. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/five-new-cross-border-doctoral-networks-universitat-heidelberg
Innovation for sustainable plastic packaging - 04/09/2024 Liquid Plug & Play: eco-designed plastic packaging – not just for ultrasound gel In the healthcare industry tons of consumables such as ultrasound gel go to waste because packaging can’t be completely emptied. An invention called Liquid Plug & Play could offer a solution for the future. This innovation, which consists of a reusable outer shell and a disposable product pouch for viscous substances, can be completely emptied. It also prevents cross-contamination and offers many other benefits.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/liquid-plug-und-play-eco-designed-plastic-packaging-not-just-ultrasound-gel
Press release - 05/07/2024 Outstanding ideas – new imaging processes for cancer diagnostics and nanopropellers for ocular gene therapy The summer reception hosted by BioRegio STERN Management GmbH has once again provided a fitting backdrop for the Science2Start award ceremony. Last Thursday, at Tübingen observatory, was the 15th time that scientists and start-up founders were celebrated for outstanding ideas that a panel of experts judged to have special economic potential.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/outstanding-ideas-new-imaging-processes-cancer-diagnostics-and-nanopropellers-ocular-gene-therapy
Press release - 31/05/2024 Toolkit makes protein design faster and more accessible The Damietta Server broadens the accessibility to protein design research and its applications in various biotechnological and biomedical fields. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, the University of Tübingen, and the University Hospital Tübingen have developed a web-based toolkit to accelerate and simplify protein design without needing powerful computers or extensive protein design expertise on the user’s end.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/toolkit-makes-protein-design-faster-and-more-accessible
Press release - 31/05/2024 Heidelberg University successful with six bids for collaborative research In the current approval round of the German Research Foundation (DFG) Heidelberg University has been successful with six applications for grants to fund major, internationally visible research consortia. The six research consortia − three of them will reach the maximum funding length of twelve years after their extension − are to receive financial resources totalling nearly 87 million euros over a period of four years.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/heidelberg-university-successful-six-bids-collaborative-research
Press release - 06/05/2024 Research under high pressure Why 3,000 bars are needed to take a comprehensive look at a protein: Konstanz researchers Frederic Berner and Michael Kovermann present a new high-pressure spectroscopy method to unravel the properties of proteins' native structures.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/research-under-high-pressure
Press release - 10/04/2024 Cyber Valley grants 500K to CELL’n’ROLL via 2023 Innovation Fellowship Program Pioneering cutting-edge diagnostic systems for the detection of complex diseases: Cyber Valley is pleased to announce it has awarded funding of 500K EUR to the CELL’n’ROLL team through the 2023 Cyber Valley Innovation Fellowship program, funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/cyber-valley-grants-500k-cellnroll-2023-innovation-fellowship-program
Press release - 10/04/2024 Growth through medical technology: Bosch and Randox invest heavily in the Vivalytic analysis platform With its Vivalytic analysis platform, Bosch has set itself the goal of making fast and highly precise diagnostics accessible at the point of care – and aims to use molecular diagnostics to become a leading provider in the market by 2030. To achieve this, Bosch has now agreed on a strategic partnership with Randox Laboratories Ltd., a leading diagnostic and medical technology company.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/growth-through-medical-technology-bosch-and-randox-invest-heavily-vivalytic-analysis-platform
Press release - 13/03/2024 Protection from an unexpected source Contrary to common belief, not all viruses are harmful to their hosts. Sometimes viruses can even protect their hosts from infection by other viruses. Scientists at the Max-Planck-Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg and their collaborators have now demonstrated that this is the case for so-called endogenous virophages: small DNA viruses that are mostly found inserted into the genomes of single-cell eukaryotes.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/protection-unexpected-source
Press release - 05/01/2024 How memories are formed in the brain – a new role for the internal compass University of Tübingen neuroscientists discover new functions of head-direction cells suggesting they may contribute to episodic memory formation.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/how-memories-are-formed-brain-new-role-internal-compass
All-enzyme hydrogels in action - 13/12/2023 Biocatalytic foams enable the sustainable synthesis of complex molecules Conventional chemical synthesis processes consume large amounts of energy and environmentally harmful solvents. Prof. Dr. Christof Niemeyer’s team at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has generated porous, solid foams from crosslinked enzymes that allow the production of high-quality compounds under significantly more environmentally friendly conditions. The novel biocatalysts are also extremely resistant and have a long shelf life.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/biocatalytic-foams-enable-sustainable-synthesis-complex-molecules
Computer-assisted genome mining - 04/12/2023 Natural product genomics opens up new avenues in the search for antibiotics Antibiotic-resistant pathogens are increasingly endangering our health. Since most of the drugs currently in use are based on secondary metabolites produced by bacteria or fungi, the research group of Prof. Dr. Nadine Ziemert in Tübingen is developing bioinformatic tools to specifically search the genome of these organisms for previously unknown antimicrobial agents.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/natural-product-genomics-opens-new-avenues-search-antibiotics
Press release - 30/10/2023 New research group: construction of tissue in laboratory An interdisciplinary research group combining mechanical engineering and biotechnology has taken up its work at the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM) of Heidelberg University. The team under the direction of Dr Kai Melde will pursue an innovative approach to biofabrication – 3D cell culture using ultrasound. Tools are being developed that can be used as an alternative to or enhancement for 3D printing. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/neue-forschungsgruppe-konstruktion-von-gewebe-im-labor
Sustainability report - 31/08/2023 ReKlimaMed: how effective is the German healthcare sector when it comes to sustainability? Hospitals, care facilities and the healthcare industry, together with laboratories, private practices and pharmacies, ensure our medical care, but in so doing they produce enormous amounts of greenhouse gases and consume many resources. The ReKlimaMed report prepared by the viamedica foundation presents an inventory of current sustainable activities, and provides stakeholders with information and recommendations for action.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/reklimamed-how-effective-german-healthcare-sector-when-it-comes-sustainability
Press release - 07/08/2023 Vegan trend in Europe: In Germany, milk substitutes from plants are most popular alternative Germany has the most active market, Southern Europe wants more variety, and people in Poland find dairy substitutes too expensive, according to a recent study by the University of Hohenheim.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/vegan-trend-europe-germany-milk-substitutes-plants-are-most-popular-alternative