Press release - 25/11/2024 Chromosomal chaos promotes therapy resistance in leukemia cells and opens up new treatment approaches Chromosomal instability plays a role in the progression of cancer: it shapes the properties of tumor cells and drives the development of therapy resistance. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the Heidelberg Stem Cell Institute HI-STEM* and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) used state-of-the-art single-cell analysis methods to analyze the cellular heterogeneity of a specific form of acute myeloid leukemia. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/chromosomal-chaos-promotes-therapy-resistance-leukemia-cells-and-opens-new-treatment-approaches
Press release - 15/11/2024 Selenium proteins as a possible new target for cancer research An important enzyme helps the body produce selenium proteins – this discovery could open up new strategies for treating cancer in children. This has been published by scientists from the University of Würzburg, the University Sao Paolo, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Heidelberg Stem Cell Institute HI-STEM*.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/selenium-proteins-possible-new-target-cancer-research
Press release - 15/11/2024 Patient association raises 10,000 euros for work on PURA syndrome - Donation for research into rare neuronal developmental disorder at Ulm University PURA syndrome is a rare developmental disorder of the brain for which there is currently no cure. The patient association PURA Syndrome Germany was founded last year. Since then, the affected families have been collecting donations with great dedication – and have decided to donate the majority of this money to research into the syndrome at Ulm University. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/patient-association-raises-10000-euros-work-pura-syndrome-donation-research-rare-neuronal-developmental-disorder-ulm-university
Press release - 30/10/2024 Diabetes switch in DNA: Non-coding region in the genome influences ONECUT1 gene They are underestimated genetic control elements: it is known that changes in the genome can trigger diabetes. But now researchers at the University Hospital Ulm and the INSERM Cochin Institute in Paris have shown that a previously under-researched region of the genome also plays a crucial role in the development of this disease. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/diabetes-switch-dna-non-coding-region-genome-influences-onecut1-gene
Press release - 01/10/2024 Reporter Skin: In-vitro Skin Makes Cell Reaction to Test Substance Measurable in Real Time At the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, a three-dimensional skin model has now been set up for the first time that directly displays the skin's reaction to substances: The reporter skin. Thanks to the built-in reporter, the cellular response can be measured precisely and quickly – using a living model. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/reporter-skin-vitro-skin-makes-cell-reaction-test-substance-measurable-real-time
Press release - 25/09/2024 How do rare genetic variants affect health? AI provides more accurate predictions Whether we are predisposed to particular diseases depends to a large extent on the countless variants in our genome. However in the case of genetic variants the influence on the presentation of certain pathological traits has been difficult to determine. Researchers have introduced an algorithm based on deep learning that can predict the effects of rare genetic variants. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/how-do-rare-genetic-variants-affect-health-ai-provides-more-accurate-predictions
Press release - 25/09/2024 How developmental signals can contribute to Genomic Mosaicism Certain developmental signals play a significant role in maintaining our genetic blueprints. They prevent alterations in the genome, known as mosaicism. The underlying biological mechanism helps the DNA to produce an identical copy of itself during cell division using the original genetic blueprint. However, it can also contribute to genomic mosaicism during nerve cell development.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/how-developmental-signals-can-contribute-genomic-mosaicism
Press release - 19/09/2024 Quality standards for looking into the tumor genome Personalized medicine with individually tailored therapies is becoming more a reality in cancer. This requires a look into the genetic material of tumors, a molecular diagnostic tumor profile. A research group from the German Network for Personalized Medicine (DNPM) has recorded the quality standards according to which genome analyses are carried out in Germany. The data is a prerequisite for integrating gene sequencing into routine care. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/quality-standards-looking-tumor-genome
Press release - 04/09/2024 Epigenetic changes reprogram astrocytes into brain stem cells With mice, researchers showed that experimentally induced lack of blood flow in the brain epigenetically reprograms astrocytes into brain stem cells, which in turn can give rise to nerve progenitor cells. This discovery shows that astrocytes could potentially be used in regenerative medicine to replace damaged nerve cells.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/epigenetic-changes-reprogram-astrocytes-brain-stem-cells
Press release - 22/08/2024 Validated targets for personalized cancer immunotherapy Knowledge of the target structures for the immune cells is a basic prerequisite for the development of personalized cancer immunotherapies. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center and the NCT Heidelberg are publishing a sensitive method based on mass spectroscopy to identify such tumor-specific "neoepitopes". The analytical method is designed to detect these low abundance protein fragments and requires minimal amounts of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/validated-targets-personalized-cancer-immunotherapy
Press release - 01/08/2024 Targeted therapy for cancer of unknown primary (Cup) Encouraging results from a large international study led by Heidelberg have recently been published in the journal “Lancet”: The genetic material of cancer cells with unknown tissue of origin contains numerous targets for specific drugs that are already available and have been developed to treat other forms of cancer. These suppressed the disease in CUP patients for significantly longer than chemotherapy.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/targeted-therapy-cancer-unknown-primary-cup
Press release - 09/07/2024 Unique characteristics of previously unexplored protein discovered Freiburg-Prague research collaboration achieves scientific breakthrough in understanding cell division. The international research collaboration has uncovered a new mechanism of the crosstalk between microtubules and actin cytoskeleton during cell division and revealed unique characteristics of the previously unexplored protein FAM110A.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/unique-characteristics-previously-unexplored-protein-discovered
Press release - 02/07/2024 DKFZ spin-off Epignostix raises €4.3m seed round to commercialize diagnostic tumor classifier Heidelberg Epignostix GmbH, a deeptech start-up committed to precision cancer diagnostics today announces €4.3M in seed funding. This investment will enable Heidelberg Epignostix to make a substantial leap forward in driving market development for its flagship indication for brain tumor classification.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/dkfz-spin-epignostix-raises-euro-43m-seed-round-commercialize-diagnostic-tumor-classifier
Press release - 21/06/2024 New tool maps microbial diversity with unprecedented details Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen developed the groundbreaking tool SynTracker. SynTracker expands traditional microbial analysis by considering genomic structural variation to complement existing SNP-based methods. This innovation reveals more precision and depths of microbial strain diversity and evolution.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-tool-maps-microbial-diversity-unprecedented-details
Press release - 13/06/2024 Which of the two DNA strands is damaged influences the cell's mutation profile Cancer genomes are the result of diverse mutation processes. Scientists have analyzed the molecular evolution of tumors after exposure to mutagenic chemicals. DNA lesions that persists unrepaired over several cell generations lead to sequence variations at the site of damage. This enabled the researchers to distinguish the contribution of the triggering lesion from that of the subsequent repair in shaping the mutation pattern.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/which-two-dna-strands-damaged-influences-cells-mutation-profile
Press release - 13/06/2024 Position of the cell nucleus affects epigenetics and therefore gene activity and cell function Depending on whether the cell nucleus of an epithelial cell is located on the outer or inner side of the tissue, the genome is more or less acetylated - genes can therefore be translated easier or harder. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have demonstrated this for the first time in the development of the Drosophila wing. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/position-cell-nucleus-affects-epigenetics-and-therefore-gene-activity-and-cell-function
Press release - 12/06/2024 Pathogen identification — next-generation sequencing optimizes diagnostics Invasive infections such as sepsis require immediate and targeted treatment. Experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and group partners have succeeded in establishing a reconceptualized detection principle that can make a crucial contribution to saving lives through fast, ultra-accurate pathogen identification. They have been chosen to receive the 2024 Stifterverband Science Prize for their efforts.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/pathogen-identification-next-generation-sequencing-optimizes-diagnostics
Press release - 16/05/2024 Colorectal cancer: tracking down subtypes Colorectal cancer differs from patient to patient. That is why scientists are looking for characteristic tumors markers that allow to make predictions about the likely response to certain therapies and the individual prognosis. The aim is to identify colorectal cancer subtypes so that these can then be treated in a customized manner. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/colorectal-cancer-tracking-down-subtypes
Epifadin from the nasal microbiome - 28/03/2024 From the nose: novel antibiotic substance discovered Antibiotics are becoming an increasingly blunt weapon against infectious diseases. The number of (multi-)resistant germs has been rising rapidly for years and even reserve antibiotics no longer work. Researchers at the University of Tübingen have now isolated a completely new antibiotic substance called epifadin from the microbiome of the human nose. It is effective against many different bacteria - including the dangerous hospital MRSA.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/nose-novel-antibiotic-substance-discovered
Press release - 22/03/2024 Decoding the shared genetic toolkit for male sex determination Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen broke new ground by demonstrating that an HMG-box gene in brown algae is crucial for determining male sex. This breakthrough significantly expands our understanding of sex-determination mechanisms in eukaryotic organisms. Until now, master sex-determination genes had been identified in only a select number of animals and plants. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/decoding-shared-genetic-toolkit-male-sex-determination
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 - 05/03/2024 New Center for Synthetic Genomics Applying and developing new technologies for DNA synthesis to pave the way for producing entire artificial genomes – that is the goal of a new interdisciplinary center, 'Center for Synthetic Genomics', that is being established at Heidelberg University, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-center-synthetic-genomics
Press release - 01/03/2024 Using Data to Improve Understanding of Relationships between Proteins and Diseases Working with a new Emmy Noether Group, Dr. Pascal Schlosser is investigating how machine learning can aid in understanding the complex relationships between genes, proteins, and diseases.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/using-data-improve-understanding-relationships-between-proteins-and-diseases
Press release - 11/12/2023 Heidelberg center for personalized medicine achieves the highest quality standards The German Cancer Society has certified the Center for Personalized Medicine (ZPM) at Heidelberg University Hospital. At the ZPM Heidelberg, patients with advanced and rare cancers and, in future, people with severe chronic inflammatory diseases will receive a molecular genetic analysis. The detailed information can open up new treatment options for those affected.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/zentrum-fuer-personalisierte-medizin-heidelberg-erfuellt-hoechste-qualitaetsstandards
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