Healthcare industry

Press release - 01/12/2009

Stefan Wiemann elected new spokesman of the German Genome Research Network

Associate Professor (PD) Dr. Stefan Wiemann of the German Cancer Research Centre (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) has been elected spokesman of the Project Committee of the National Genome Research Network. This funding programme supports projects in medical genome research aimed at fighting relevant widespread diseases.

Press release - 04/09/2009

Motivation impetus for researcher on bacteria

Dirk Linke 37 has been awarded the Advancement Award of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie DGHM. The award includes prize money of 2500 Euro and will be presented on September 20th 2009 during the 61st Annual Meeting of the DGHM in Göttingen.

Article - 10/06/2009

Dirk Linke - a vaccine is ready - just in case

There is a well-known saying: travel broadens the mind. This is not the only consequence of travel – the biochemist Dr. Dirk Linke from Tübingen travelled to India on holiday and brought back an idea for a new scientific project. Since his return, his idea, the possibility of developing a vaccine with a wide-ranging effect against some of the most frequent diarrhoea pathogens, has even generated financial backing from prominent supporters.

Press release - 10/06/2009

New tests for and new data about the new influenza type

In Germany, test methods that enable the identification of an infection caused by the new influenza A/H1N1 virus, even after the symptoms have subsided or disappeared completely, have become available for the first time. The National Influenza Reference Centre (NRZ) at the Robert Koch Institute has developed two serological tests based on the detection of antibodies in the blood serum. The antibodies are produced about 2 weeks after onset of…

Press release - 30/04/2009

In the tubular system of human cells

Scientists from the Hygiene Institute at the Heidelberg University Hospital have succeeded for the first time ever in showing the three-dimensional architecture of the dengue virus replication and assembly sites in human cells. Their paper was recently published in the renowned journal “Cell Host & Microbes”.

Press release - 31/03/2009

Cancer researcher from Heidelberg awarded the Dr. Hella Bühler Prize

Dr. Ronald Koschny assistant doctor in the Department of Gastroenterology at the University Hospital in Heidelberg was awarded the Dr. Hella Bühler Prize. Koschny received the prize which comes with a cheque for 100000 euros for his groundbreaking work on finding new therapies in particular therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Press release - 02/03/2009

Paralysed parasites

Researchers at Heidelberg University Hospital have discovered a protein that is vital for the toxoplasmosis pathogen. This quite common infectious disease which is mainly transferred to humans from cats is especially dangerous for pregnant women as it can harm an unborn child.

Article - 09/02/2009

Bodo Philipp – the discovery of the general principles of bacterial interaction

Dr. Bodo Philipp from the University of Constance specifically focuses on ecologically relevant activities of bacteria for example cell-cell interactions. His findings could prove effective in removing bacteria from areas where high levels of hygiene are required thereby making it possible to prevent life-threatening bacterial infectious diseases. Dr. Bodo Philipp uses the much feared Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria as model organisms for his…

Article - 14/01/2009

From old to new – the path to the next generation of antibiotics

When they were first discovered antibiotics were seen as miracle cures. The perception of antibiotics has not greatly changed since. No other class of drugs has ever been able to double the average life expectancy in such a short time. However there is a huge risk that the success that has been achieved will come to nothing because a growing number of pathogens are becoming resistant to antibiotics.

The Comprehensive Infectious Diseases Centre at the University of Ulm was recently presented to the public. The centre is responsible for coordinating the cooperation between specialists in the diagnosis and therapy of complex infectious diseases.

Joint research projects must be submitted to both nodal agencies by 31 October 2008.

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Eitel Rector of the University of Heidelberg awarded the HMLS Prize to Prof. Dr. Bernd Bukau Centre for Molecular Biology in Heidelberg and Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Kräusslich Institute of Hygiene at the University of Heidelberg.

Eight projects in the preclinical and first clinical stage will be transferred to 4SC. Nycomed decided not to further invest in oncology RD activities. 4SC develops drug candidates for inflammatory diseases cancer and infectious diseases.

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.

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.

Article - 24/03/2008

Successful cooperation between science and industry

At the recent Science meets Business Day four tandem teams of the German BioValley Platform presented their projects. These will be introduced in two articles. The first article focuses on natural substances with a pharmaceutical potential.

In Germany junior researchers will find it easier in future to network with international colleagues. Science centres which the German government is planning to set up around the world will also contribute to the attractiveness of Germany as a science location.

The deadline for the submission of preproposals is 29th February 2008.

In Germany every year 800000 people contract community acquired pneumonia and 50000 die of it. A new foundation based in Ulm is hoping to contribute to a better understanding of this unpleasant disease and to improve the therapy to combat it.