Article - 15/03/2010 Campaign to eradicate malaria After many decades, efforts to develop an effective vaccine against malaria have finally brought researchers closer to their goal. However, the goal of eradicating malaria completely can only be reached through a complex strategy, to which researchers from Heidelberg are making intensive contributions.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/campaign-to-eradicate-malaria
Article - 15/03/2010 Cystic fibrosis therapy is making good progress Thirty years ago cystic fibrosis CF formerly also known as mucoviscidosis was considered to be a disease that only affected children. Hardly any children with this hereditary metabolic disease ever reached early adulthood. Since then both the therapy and the life expectancy of CF patients have improved considerably. Dr. Gerd Döring from Tübingen is investigating the occurrence of respiratory tract defects that are common in CF patients.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cystic-fibrosis-therapy-is-making-good-progress
Article - 22/02/2010 Treasure trove of data from Ulm helps in the understanding of community-acquired pneumonia CAP community-acquired pneumonia is a common type of pneumonia that mainly affects young and old people. In Germany around 800000 people contract CAP every year and almost one third has to be admitted to hospital exceeding the number of admissions due to cardiac infarction or stroke. The CAPNETZ competence network which up until recently was funded by the German government is gradually shedding light on a hitherto little known disease.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/treasure-trove-of-data-from-ulm-helps-in-the-understanding-of-community-acquired-pneumonia
Article - 11/02/2010 Johanna Schanz: Liver model as an alternative to animal experiments Blood vessels of a piece of pig’s intestine are used as carrier material for the IGB’s liver model and the cells seeded on the blood vessels stem from human biopsies. Dr. Johanna Schanz from the Fraunhofer IGB used this combination to produce her doctoral thesis which led to impressive results: a functional system of blood vessels in a biological carrier structure. Schanz’s outstanding thesis results have led to the creation of a liver model for…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/johanna-schanz-liver-model-as-an-alternative-to-animal-experiments
Dossier - 01/02/2010 Metabolic diseases Metabolic diseases are characterised by disorders of the intermediary metabolism which can either be inherited or acquired. The extent and incidence of metabolic diseases can differ considerably and can range from widespread diseases such as diabetes to rare congenital diseases that frequently have a fatal outcome. Through new approaches in genome research amongst other things science and industry are increasingly focusing on metabolic diseases.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/metabolic-diseases
Article - 31/01/2010 A view into the genome provides information on the lipid metabolism Since its foundation around 10 years ago the VIVIT institute in Dornbirn and Feldkirch has been dealing with the impact of disorders of the sugar and lipid metabolisms on the pathogenesis of diseases such as atherosclerosis liver damage or coronary heart disease. https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-view-into-the-genome-provides-information-on-the-lipid-metabolism
Article - 28/01/2010 Liver cell transplantation for the treatment of innate urea cycle defects Liver transplantation is the only life-saving therapy available to patients suffering from genetic defects of the urea cycle. However, newborns cannot be transplanted with a donor liver. The injection of liver cell suspensions into the liver of sick babies through the portal vein can substitute the lack of enzyme activity, hence preventing brain damage until such time as liver transplantation becomes possible.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/liver-cell-transplantation-for-the-treatment-of-innate-urea-cycle-defects
Article - 18/01/2010 New substance helps PKU patients enjoy food For many decades, a special low-protein (low-phenylalanine) diet has been the only way of treating children suffering from phenylketonuria (PKU) that effectively prevents them from developing severe impairments in mental function. However, this type of diet is not very tasty and it is often difficult to get children to cooperate. A paediatrician from Reutlingen, Prof. Dr. Friedrich Trefz, has now been able to show that the substance sapropterin…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-substance-helps-pku-patients-enjoy-food
Press release - 24/11/2009 Three new collaborative research centres in Baden-Württemberg The German Research Foundation (DFG) is set to establish 17 new collaborative research centres (SFBs) on 1st January 2010. Ten of the new SFBs will focus on life science research projects, and will initially be funded for a period of four years with a total of 78 million euros in funding. One of the SFBs will be established at the University of Freiburg. Six of the 17 new SFBs are SFB/Transregio projects involving researchers from several German…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/three-new-collaborative-research-centres-in-baden-wuerttemberg
Article - 10/11/2009 Fungi as human pathogens The majority of fungal infections are unpleasant rather than dangerous. But they can be life-threatening for individuals with weakened immune systems. The number of deaths caused by systemic mycoses is currently experiencing a big increase. The pathogenicity of opportunistic fungi such as Candida albicans might potentially be related to their unusual reproduction abilities.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/fungi-as-human-pathogens
Press release - 04/11/2009 Tracking Down the Causes of Fatty Liver Dr. Stephan Herzig, head of a junior research group at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is awarded this year’s Research Award of the German Obesity Society (Deutsche Adipositas-Gesellschaft). The prize comprises an award sum of 5,000 euros and is awarded annually to a young researcher aged up to 40 years, whose scientific work is a special contribution to the study of obesity. Herzig investigates the…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/tracking-down-the-causes-of-fatty-liver
Article - 24/10/2009 Molecular switches for gene expression in the embryo Prof. Dr. Andreas Hecht and his team at the University of Freiburg are investigating one of seven known fundamental signalling systems that are involved in almost all embryonic development processes and that determine the fate of cells. The scientists are mainly interested in gaining insights into why the same molecules initiate different genetic programmes and hence development pathways depending on the cell type where they have their effect.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/molecular-switches-for-gene-expression-in-the-embryo
Press release - 14/09/2009 Launch of SAFE-T Consortium: Translational Safety Biomarkers "Faster Development of Safer Medicines through Translational Safety Biomarkers": On September 14, 2009, the Safer And Faster Evidence-based Translation (SAFE-T) consortium project under the EU Innovative Medicines Initiative - Joint Undertaking (IMI-JU) was presented at the EUROTOX 2009 conference in Dresden. The consortium announces the start of work to qualify biomarkers for drug-induced kidney, liver and vascular injury in…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/launch-of-safe-t-consortium-translational-safety-biomarkers
Article - 03/09/2009 The lipid metabolism and the immune system What has the lipid metabolism of the human body got to do with inflammation? Scientists in Dr. Petra May’s group at the Centre for Neuroscience at the University of Freiburg recently found that molecules which normally regulate the availability of cholesterol and other water-insoluble substances, also interact with the signalling networks of the immune system. According to their findings, a receptor which mediates the uptake of certain…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-lipid-metabolism-and-the-immune-system
Article - 20/08/2009 Evidence of a beneficial effect from a respiratory poison Many surgical interventions are associated with the temporary interruption of an organ’s blood supply. In the lung, for example, this might lead to cell death. The anaesthesiologist Dr. med. Torsten Loop and his team at the Freiburg University Medical Centre are investigating the possibilities of protecting organs during surgery. The researchers have found a special gas that has a protective effect, but that normally tends to inhibit respiration.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/evidence-of-a-beneficial-effect-from-a-respiratory-poison
Press release - 31/07/2009 Liver research to receive one million euro in funding The INTERREG programme of the European Union will provide funding for a liver disease research project conducted by the Department of Internal Medicine II at the Freiburg University Medical Centre. The “Hepato-Regio-Net” will receive a total of one million euro in funding for a period of three years. Prof. Dr. Robert Thimme, executive senior physician in the Department of Medicine, will serve as the project’s spokesperson and Dr. Richard Fischer,…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/liver-research-to-receive-one-million-euro-in-funding
Press release - 30/07/2009 Why do hepatitis virus infections become chronic? The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved funding for a new research project at the Universities of Freiburg and Heidelberg. The researchers are working on improving our understanding of the mechanisms that lead to chronic virus infections: how do hepatitis viruses manage to evade immunological defence reactions and survive in the organism without damaging the organism?https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/why-do-hepatitis-virus-infections-become-chronic
Article - 23/07/2009 Making cancer cells commit suicide They divide and divide, and no natural border can stop them. Tumours such as the Ewing sarcoma, a bone cancer that occurs predominantly in teenagers, grow incessantly, making treatment difficult. A few years ago, Prof. Dr. Udo Kontny and his team from the University Hospital in Freiburg discovered a way to stop the growth of this particular tumour by activating a switch on the surface of cells which induces cellular death. Can physicians learn to…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/making-cancer-cells-commit-suicide
Press release - 02/07/2009 Phenex receives 1.4 Mio Euro BioChance Grant Phenex Pharmaceuticals AG today announced the approval of a 1.4 Mio Euro grant from the KMU-Innovativ-BioChance program of the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). The grant will support preclinical research & development of Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) ligands for medical applications beyond Type 2 Diabetes.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/phenex-receives-1-4-mio-euro-biochance-grant
Article - 30/06/2009 More targeted treatment of the brain network “Casting out the demons with the ruler of the demons” – is what the majority of neuroactive drugs still do. A group under the leadership of Dr. Ralf Meyer at the University Medical Centre in Freiburg is investigating why substances used to treat epilepsy or depression have a negative effect on many patients. Their research shows that the drugs interact with the hormonal system, resulting in undesired side effects. Meyer and his team of…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/more-targeted-treatment-of-the-brain-network
Press release - 24/06/2009 Artificial liver for drug testing The liver is one of the most important metabolic organs in humans. Johanna Schanz and Heike Mertsching, two scientists from Fraunhofer have developed a model of the liver that is both viable outside the body and suitable for testing drugs. For their work, the two researchers have been awarded the Technology for People award, along with a cheque for 10,000 euros. https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/artificial-liver-for-drug-testing
Article - 23/06/2009 Hepatitis B and the Münchhausen enzyme Virologists in Prof. Dr. Michael Nassals group at the University Medical Centre in Freiburg are investigating the molecular mechanisms used by the hepatitis B virus to reproduce. The researchers work might in future be able to help the three to four hundred million people worldwide who suffer from chronic hepatitis B infections. https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/hepatitis-b-and-the-muenchhausen-enzyme
Article - 12/05/2009 Fatal relatives: adiposity and diabetes Martin Wabitsch was the first German pediatrician to investigate adiposity back when it was seen as a strange subject to study. Nowadays, in Germany the attitude towards adiposity has completely changed. More and more people are suffering from adiposity and diabetes and are consequently at risk of contracting other severe diseases as a result. In children and young adults the situation is alarming; many children are at risk of contracting…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/fatal-relatives-adiposity-and-diabetes
Article - 12/05/2009 Islet cell transplantation gives new hope to diabetics Establishing a medical therapy requires a great deal of patience. An interdisciplinary group of researchers at the University Hospital Tübingen knows this from experience. It took more than three years before researchers succeeded in transplanting insulin-producing cells. However, the huge effort has paid off two-fold: the diabetes sufferer feels well after the intervention and secondly, Tübingen became the first German centre to receive the…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/islet-cell-transplantation-gives-new-hope-to-diabetics
Article - 11/05/2009 Metastasis-inducing cancer stem cells Just a small subpopulation of cancer cells namely metastasis-inducing cancer stem cells MICs is potentially responsible for the formation of distant malignant tumour metastases. The characterisation of MICs and the clarification of mechanisms that lead to their reactivation from a dormant state opens up new strategies for the development of new effective therapies against metastasising tumours.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/metastasis-inducing-cancer-stem-cells