Article - 10/02/2014 HOT Screen GmbH - models for studying diseases HOT Screen GmbH from Reutlingen Germany develops human organotypical HOT cell culture models related to the human immune system for the assessment of drug activity profiles and the selection of suitable drug candidates. The sophisticated models are made with differentiated cells and can be adapted to a broad range of different diseases - including rheumatoid arthritis osteoarthritis Crohns disease neurodermatitis COPD asthma and many others. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/hot-screen-gmbh-models-for-studying-diseases
Dossier - 10/02/2014 Multiresistant pathogens – a self-inflicted threat? Most bacterial infections have lost their capacity to cause terror thanks to antibiotics. However, the increase in antibiotic resistances is making the fight against bacterial pathogens rather difficult, and the widespread overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics continues to fuel the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Strict surveillance strategies and hygiene rules have been in place for some years with the aim of ensuring the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/multiresistant-pathogens-a-self-inflicted-threat
Dossier - 09/09/2013 New trends in the field of immunology B- and T- lymphocytes along with macrophages have long been regarded as the most important cells of the human immune system and have thus been a major focus of research. This has now changed and it is now the dendritic cells that are regarded as the major components of the adaptive immune system and have become a major focus of scientific interest. Research into innate immune defence mechanisms has also become more important due to the discovery…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/new-trends-in-the-field-of-immunology
Article - 09/05/2013 Immunoproteasome Drug Targeting: Immunoproteasome inhibitors allow control of autoimmune diseases Marcus Groettrup is the chair of immunology at the University of Konstanz and has been active in the field of immunology for many years. In 2009 Groettrup made a discovery that led to him setting up a company. His analysis of immunoproteasomes whose main function is to degrade unneeded or damaged proteins showed that these protein complexes also play a major role in the development of autoimmune diseases. Based on this knowledge Groettrup…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/immunoproteasome-drug-targeting-immunoproteasome-inhibitors-allow-control-of-autoimmune-diseases
Article - 18/02/2013 AIDS researchers from Ulm to shed light on the success of the HIV-1 M group Frank Kirchhoff AIDS researcher at the University of Ulm has come up with a plausible explanation for the pandemic spread of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 HIV-1 M group and its ability to adapt to the human immune system. In a recent study with colleagues from Germany and abroad Kirchhoff used molecular biology methods to investigate the group and compare it with the relatively rare HIV-1 N group. Kirchhoff hopes that the molecular…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/aids-researchers-from-ulm-to-shed-light-on-the-success-of-the-hiv-1-m-group
Article - 11/02/2013 Cholesterol boosts the memory of the immune system Cholesterol has been demonised for a long time as high cholesterol levels are seen as major risk factors for atherosclerosis myocardial infarction and gallstones. However cholesterol is an essential component of mammalian cell membranes and is required for proper membrane function. It exists in huge quantities in the human body. In addition to being essential for cell survival and hence all animal life in general cholesterol also plays a crucial…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cholesterol-boosts-the-memory-of-the-immune-system
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 - 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
Press release - 26/11/2012 Textile pressure ulcer prevention Immobile patients are in constant danger of developing pressure ulcers on the skin. Empa, Schoeller Medical and the Swiss Paraplegic Centre have worked together to develop a special sheet that is gentle on the skin and helps to make patients more comfortable.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/textile-pressure-ulcer-prevention
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
Article - 12/11/2012 Autoimmune diseases – when the body sheds its skin Most people believe that snakes and insects are the only animals able to shed their skin. However autoimmune diseases of the largest human organ i.e. the skin can have a similar effect by creating blisters scars peeling and wet wounds. Dr. Cassian Sitaru from the University of Freiburg Medical Centre specifically focuses on blistering autoimmune dermatoses. Using disease models in Petri dishes and laboratory mice Sitaru and his team hope to find…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/autoimmune-diseases-when-the-body-sheds-its-skin
Article - 22/10/2012 The crème de la crème of contact allergy tests goes in vitro As of 2013 all cosmetic products containing a chemical with inherent skin sensitisation potential must be tested without the traditional animal testing. Prof. Dr. Stefan Martin from the Department of Dermatology at the University of Freiburg Medical Centre and his partners have been looking for alternatives to animal testing and have come up with the most specific in vitro test there has ever been. The researchers involved in the project have…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-cr-me-de-la-cr-me-of-contact-allergy-tests-goes-in-vitro
Article - 15/10/2012 Vegetables help fend off bacteria in the intestines Their discovery in the human intestines came as quite a surprise up until a few years ago LTi lymphoid tissue inducer - cells were only known to be involved in the embryonic development of the immune system. A team of researchers led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Diefenbach from the University of Freiburg Medical Centre has since been able to show the protective role played by LTi cells in fortifying the intestinal wall as a reaction to nutrients found…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/vegetables-help-fend-off-bacteria-in-the-intestines
Article - 15/10/2012 ERC Starting Grants 2012: Baden-Württemberg achieves above-average success On September 10th 2012, the European Research Council (ERC) announced the results of the fifth funding round of its Starting Grants. Baden-Württemberg was awarded 13 grants, and is the state with the largest number of a total of 34 grants awarded to German life sciences researchers. Baden-Württemberg life sciences researchers will be receiving Starting Grants worth around 20 million euros.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/erc-starting-grants-2012-baden-wuerttemberg-achieves-above-average-success
Press release - 08/10/2012 Affimed raises € 15.5 million in a Series D financing round Affimed Therapeutics AG the therapeutic TandAb antibody company announced the successful closing of a Series D financing round of 15.5 million on 8 October 2012. The proceeds from this transaction will be used to fund the clinical development of Affimeds therapeutic pipeline that consists of two TandAb products AFM11 and AFM13. Both candidates have unique properties as shown in preclinical studies.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/affimed-raises-15-5-million-in-a-series-d-financing-round
Press release - 07/08/2012 immatics announces publication of IMA901 cancer vaccine data in Nature Medicine immatics biotechnologies GmbH, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing advanced therapeutic vaccines that are active against cancer, today announced that key data covering the scientific and clinical development of its lead cancer vaccine, IMA901, have been published in Nature Medicine. The paper highlights that renal cell carcinoma patients experience longer survival times when their immune system produces an immune response to…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/immatics-announces-publication-of-ima901-cancer-vaccine-data-in-nature-medicine
Press release - 01/08/2012 With broccoli against infections The microbiologist and immunologist Prof. Dr. Andreas Diefenbach, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg Medical Centre, has been awarded a European Research Council "Starting Grant" for his project "NutrImmune". The ERC Starting Grant is one of Europe’s most prestigious grants for young investigators.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/with-broccoli-against-infections
Article - 23/07/2012 The identification of stress molecules in living fish Fireflies use light to attract mates and hunt prey the zebrafish in Dr. Thomas Dickmeis laboratory mainly glow in situations of stress. The biologist from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT and two of his doctoral students have created a zebrafish line that can be used as a high-throughput test system for glucocorticoid hormones. Pharmaceutical companies might in future be able to use living vertebrate models i.e. zebrafish to test new…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-identification-of-stress-molecules-in-living-fish
Article - 16/07/2012 Laupheim to become an international forum for biomanufacturing The 2nd Laupheimer Zelltage conference organized by Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH in Laupheim on 11th and 12th June 2012 focused on “Bioprocess light”. Twelve experts from applied research institutions and biotech companies from Germany and abroad provided the 200 or so guests with information on how modern bioproduction methods can be made simpler, more robust, cheaper, more reliable and hence more competitive.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/laupheim-to-become-an-international-forum-for-biomanufacturing
Article - 02/07/2012 Together against liver failure Medicines that are usually effective in treating diseases can sometimes be associated with severe adverse effects. This can occur when the liver which normally metabolizes drugs and renders them harmless becomes overburdened and even collapses completely. Prof. Dr. Jens Timmer from the University of Freiburg and Prof. Dr. Ursula Klingmüller from the German Cancer Research Center DKFZ in Heidelberg have joined forces in a huge European research…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/together-against-liver-failure
Press release - 01/06/2012 immatics wins 2012 TiE50 Award Immatics biotechnologies GmbH, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing advanced therapeutic vaccines that are active against cancer, today announced that it has been named a 2012 TiE50 winner. These prestigious awards recognize entrepreneurship, innovation and management excellence within the life sciences, software, internet, mobile and energy sectors.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/immatics-wins-2012-tie50-award
Article - 29/05/2012 Intestinal bacteria and human gut types The type of bacteria that colonize the human gut does not just influence our digestion and well-being. Metagenome sequencing has provided an international consortium involving scientists from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory at the University Hospital of Heidelberg with evidence that certain individuals have different gut types with different types of bacteria. Such individuals not only differ in their predisposition to disease, but also…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/intestinal-bacteria-and-human-gut-types
Article - 21/05/2012 Interactions between the genome and the environment Parental neglect appears to lead to epigenetic changes in children, which result in behavioural problems in later years. This is one issue amongst the many that were addressed at the colloquium “Gene und Umwelt – Wie wir werden, was wir sind” (Genes and the environment – how we become what we are) recently organized by the Daimler and Benz Foundation in Berlin.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/interactions-between-the-genome-and-the-environment
Article - 21/05/2012 Kathrin Thedieck – the art of deciphering signalling The molecule mTOR is one of the most important cellular switch centres it controls cellular growth in relation to the availability of nutrients and also plays a key role in the pathogenesis of cancer neurodegenerative diseases and ageing. Dr. Kathrin Thedieck from the Institute of Biology III at the University of Freiburg is interested in solving the question as to how insulin growth factors or nutrients such as amino acids influence the complex…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/kathrin-thedieck-the-art-of-deciphering-signalling
Article - 23/04/2012 Vascular grafts: biomolecules to prevent blood vessels from reclosing Obstructed blood vessels can be operated on and adequate blood flow restored. However, stents and bypasses are often subject to high reclosure rates. Excessive immune reactions close to where the intervention took place might prevent the regeneration of adjacent vessel walls and even lead to reclosure. New interventions involving RNA interference seem to be a way out of this dilemma.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/vascular-grafts-biomolecules-to-prevent-blood-vessels-from-reclosing