Dossier - 16/06/2014 Biotechnology as a tool for the production of food Biotechnology opens up numerous opportunities for the food industry. The targeted use of biotechnological methods can, amongst other things, help reduce the quantity and number of unhealthy ingredients in foods as well as degrade allergenic substances. Genomic research and targeted breeding also greatly facilitate progress in agriculture. Food biotechnology therefore contributes significantly to saving resources, optimising harvest yields and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/biotechnology-as-a-tool-for-the-production-of-food
Dossier - 02/06/2014 Bioanalysis – techniques for the characterization of biological material Science constantly provides researchers with new challenges biologists and bioanalysts have to deal with and which come from sources as varied as the ever increasing number of resistant pathogenic bacterial strains or the famine conditions in Third-World countries. In the search for scientific truths bioanalysis is the development optimization and application of the entire range of analytical methods available. However we need to keep in mind…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/bioanalysis-techniques-for-the-characterization-of-biological-material
Press release - 27/05/2014 DKFZ and NCT: individualized cancer medicine Comprehensive genome analyses of cancer cells have shown that each tumor and cancer patient are unique and need to be treated individually. To pave the way, by 2015 the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg aims to offer cancer patients at the NCT analyses of their individual cancer genomes to be used as the basis for personalized recommendations for treatment. This initiative from the DKFZ and NCT has been made possible by generous…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/dkfz-and-nct-individualized-cancer-medicine
Press release - 26/05/2014 50 years of research for life without cancer The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg turns 50 this year. Conducting research on the basic biological mechanisms of cancer, the DKFZ has been instrumental in our current understanding of the development and growth of cancer and has advanced the development of enhanced methods for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/50-years-of-research-for-life-without-cancer
Article - 28/04/2014 Sciomics: antibody microarrays and their broad range of applications Sciomics GmbH is a start-up biotech from Heidelberg with a special focus on protein microarrays. Sciomics produces complex, high-density antibody microarrays for cancer-relevant proteins and offers services for medical research, diagnostics and the industry, including biomarker screening, the verification of biomarker candidates, the analysis and localization of drug targets and their signalling pathways as well as the characterization of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/sciomics-antibody-microarrays-and-their-broad-range-of-applications
Article - 31/03/2014 TherapySelect – Identifying Susceptibility to Cancer Therapy TherapySelect Dr. Frank Kischkel is an innovative biotechnology company based in Heidelberg, Germany, with a special focus on the development, validation and application of diagnostic tests for cancer patients. The company’s proprietary CTR-Test® uses patients’ cancer cells to determine the tumor’s susceptibility to treatment with cytostatic drugs. This knowledge helps identify ineffective drugs prior to treatment as well as reduce adverse drug…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/therapyselect-identifying-susceptibility-to-cancer-therapy
Article - 24/03/2014 DNA – from Watson and Crick to modern molecular biology Watson and Crick deciphered the structure of DNA around 60 years ago and thus provided the key to understanding how genetic information is passed on. Since this discovery, which laid the foundation for molecular biology, new insights and developments have significantly changed many research areas and have also found their way into our everyday lives. DNA sequencing, genetic fingerprinting or personalised medicine – Watson and Crick’s heritage is…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/dna-from-watson-and-crick-to-modern-molecular-biology
Article - 17/03/2014 Hox gene found to influence germline stem cell niche Prof. Dr. Ingrid Lohmann and her team at the Centre for Organismal Studies COS at the University of Heidelberg are studying the effect of Hox proteins on the early development of Drosophila using genomic genetic molecular and biochemical methods along with complex computer analyses and simulations. They have cast light on a basic regulatory mechanism of stem cell differentiation. They were able to show that the Hox transcription factor Abd-B is…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/hox-gene-found-to-influence-germline-stem-cell-niche
Dossier - 10/03/2014 Cancer therapy and cancer diagnostics Thanks to improved diagnostics and therapy, today’s cancer patients can live considerably longer than patients several years ago. Nevertheless, some cancers, especially the strongly metastatic ones, are difficult to treat. Therapies targeting immune cells or cancer stem cells could potentially improve the current situation. The early detection and classification of tumours is crucial for the successful treatment of the disease, and molecular…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/cancer-therapy-and-cancer-diagnostics
Article - 17/02/2014 Personalised tumour diagnostics with high-throughput sequencing CeGaT GmbH Center for Genomics and Transcriptomics in Tübingen is one of the first organisations that have managed to combine human genetic diagnostics with high-throughput sequencing for the diagnosis of specific tumour variants. CeGat researchers have developed diagnostic panels that they use to study more than 550 tumour-relevant genes simultaneously. The identification of genetic changes provides a more detailed diagnosis of tumours and helps…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/personalised-tumour-diagnostics-with-high-throughput-sequencing
Article - 20/01/2014 Microarray copier – for copying DNA, RNA and protein arrays Dr. Günter Roth from the Centre for Biological Systems Analysis at the University of Freiburg is working on the development of a microarray copier that can almost at the push of a button copy arrays of any type of molecule DNA RNA and proteins from next-generation sequencing chips onto standard slides thereby combining the world of microarrays with the sequencing world. The approach has a huge application potential for the production of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/microarray-copier-for-copying-dna-rna-and-protein-arrays
Article - 16/01/2014 Kerstin Otte and her specific interest in tiny RNA molecules Molecular biologist Kerstin Otte is guided and inspired by content. This interest-based principle has brought Kerstin Otte to the Upper Swabian city of Biberach where she has found her professional niche. She has been professor of general molecular and cell biology at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Biberach University of Applied Sciences since 2006. She is currently specifically focussed on a class of small RNA molecules that…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/kerstin-otte-and-her-specific-interest-in-tiny-rna-molecules
Article - 16/12/2013 An RNA switch for protein mutations RNA is a family of biological molecules with multiple roles, including the transmission of information and the catalysis of chemical reactions in a similar way to enzyme action. Ribozymes (ribonucleic acid enzymes) of this kind function for example within the ribosome where they link amino acids during protein synthesis. Professor Jörg Hartig from the University of Konstanz has developed a new ribozyme-based method that enables him to control the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/an-rna-switch-for-protein-mutations
Dossier - 02/12/2013 RNA interference: confidence is returning The 15-year history of RNA interference is not short on dramatic effects. It begins with the unexpected discovery and publication of the process of post-transcriptional gene silencing in 1998 for which the two Americans Andrew Fire and Craig Mello were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine just eight years after their discovery. In 2001 Thomas Tuschl succeeded in switching off genes in human cells with small synthetic pieces of RNA…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/rna-interference-confidence-is-returning
Article - 25/11/2013 Elisa May: a sharp, microscopic look at DNA damage DNA damage is part of our everyday life. Every day, tens of thousands of DNA single-strand breaks occur in every cell, but we have a variety of sophisticated genome maintenance mechanisms to protect ourselves against such problems. However, serious diseases can result in cases where the cellular repair system fails. Amongst other things, there is a close relationship between the failure of DNA repair mechanisms and the development of cancer.…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/elisa-may-a-sharp-microscopic-look-at-dna-damage
Article - 18/11/2013 Insilico Biotechnology AG: strategic orientation secures corporate growth Insilico Biotechnology AG from Stuttgart designs and optimises biotechnological processes for the chemical pharmaceutical and food industries. The company makes predictions on the behaviour of cells and organisms. This knowledge can be used to reduce the time required for the development or optimisation of biotechnological processes involving the production of drugs. The company owns a worldwide unique systems biology platform that integrates…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/insilico-biotechnology-ag-strategic-orientation-secures-corporate-growth
Dossier - 04/11/2013 Biotechnology – driver of innovation in the pharmaceutical industry The biotech industry is the innovative driver for a pharmaceutical industry that, due to the shift from blockbluster products to personalised medicine, now depends on new concepts. The production of new drugs using genetic engineering relies on knowledge gained from genomics, proteomics and systems biology and creates new treatment strategies that combine therapy and diagnostics (i.e. companion diagnostics) to provide a specific individualised…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/biotechnology-driver-of-innovation-in-the-pharmaceutical-industry
Press release - 16/10/2013 BIOTECHNICA 2013 - Baden-Württemberg is a top life sciences spot. The BIOTECHNICA trade show rolled out the red carpet for its exhibitors. Over 10,000 visitors walked over the carpet to inspect the exhibits that were on display at the Baden-Württemberg booth. The impressive exhibits of the companies showed that Baden-Württemberg has many highly innovative SMEs in the life sciences field. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/biotechnica-2013-baden-wuerttemberg-is-a-top-life-sciences-spot
Article - 09/09/2013 Karsten Borgwardt, a specialist in data mining The use of cutting-edge genomics, proteomics and metabolomics methods generates ever-increasing amounts of data in ever decreasing timescales. Special mathematical and computational methods are required for deducing relevant information from specific patterns. The data mining specialist Karsten Borgwardt from Tübingen is developing such methods for specific application in the life sciences. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/karsten-borgwardt-a-specialist-in-data-mining
Article - 19/08/2013 The Heidelberg practice of whole-genome sequencing After two years’ work, scientists from Heidelberg have now presented their opinion on the ethical and legal consequences of the total sequencing of the human genome. The paper presents principles and practical recommendations aimed at maintaining the balance between the wellbeing and interests of patients on the one hand and the freedom of research and clinical progress on the other.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-heidelberg-practice-of-whole-genome-sequencing
Article - 12/08/2013 A complete exome sequence in one week The exome is the part of the genome that is formed by exons i.e. the DNA regions that code for proteins and other functional products. Though comprising only about 1 of the total genome the majority of disease-causing mutations occur in the exome. Selectively sequencing the coding regions of the genome is quicker than whole-genome sequencing. Therefore exome sequencing plays an important role in the diagnosis of genetic diseases and cancer.…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-complete-exome-sequence-in-one-week
Dossier - 05/08/2013 Progress expands bioethical boundaries Bioethics is a rich and continually evolving field. In the broadest sense, bioethics relates to the way human individuals treat any form of life. The issue of whether human beings have the right to do whatever they want goes way back. However, rapid progress in genetic engineering and cell biology means that it is now necessary to look at certain issues in a new way and recognise that not everything that is technically feasible should actually be…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/progress-expands-bioethical-boundaries
Article - 29/07/2013 Genetic fingerprinting - a useful method in fruit production Genetic fingerprinting is a well-known technique used for paternity testing and in forensic science. However, the technique is also used in the field of agriculture. Molecular genetics makes it possible to develop and apply new research and breeding methods to the field of fruit production in order to improve production and quality standards. Dr. Haibo Xuan from the Competence Centre for Fruit Production (KOB) at Lake Constance has been working…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/genetic-fingerprinting-a-useful-method-in-fruit-production
Article - 28/06/2013 A world champion of regeneration Planarians can be cut into pieces, and each piece can regenerate into a complete organism. The flatworms are able to do this as they have a huge pool of adult totipotent stem cells that can differentiate into any body cell whatsoever, including germ cells. Scientists from the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies are using new algorithms to analyse the complex planarian genome structures with the aim of obtaining insights into the genetic…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-world-champion-of-regeneration
Article - 24/06/2013 Cloned human beings are not to be feared An international team of scientists led by Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov at the Oregon Health & Science University, USA, succeeded for the first time ever in cloning human embryonic stem cells by somatic cell nuclear transfer. This breakthrough raises questions about the potentials and dangers of creating human stem cells by cloning. Prof. Dr. Marcel Leist from the University of Konstanz, who uses human embryonic stem cells for his research, gives…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cloned-human-beings-are-not-to-be-feared