Article - 21/02/2011 Hope for more effective brain tumour therapy Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive type of brain tumour in humans. It has a tendency to recur and it carries a bad prognosis. Intensive research into the molecular reaction chains involved in its pathogenesis has led to promising and effective treatment strategies.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/hope-for-more-effective-brain-tumour-therapy
Article - 14/02/2011 A molecule that enables local virus defence Dr. Markus Mordstein has spent the last four years as a doctoral student at the University of Freiburg investigating the previously relatively unknown interferon lambda. He has been able to show that this molecule has similar protective functions to type I interferons and he has also found that it is far more selective in terms of the site where it exerts its effect.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-molecule-that-enables-local-virus-defence
Article - 20/12/2010 Michael Reth – Immunobiological discoveries that meet resistance Dr Michael Reth professor at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and the University of Freiburg and some of his colleagues have recently uncovered the mechanism that foreign substances use to activate B cells of the immune system. The researchers were using synthetic biology methods long before this particular branch of science existed in its present form. Their results require a paradigm change and a revision of the reference books.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/michael-reth-immunobiological-discoveries-that-meet-resistance
Dossier - 20/12/2010 Environmental toxins: effect and origin Environmental toxins, also referred to as xenobiotics, are chemicals that do not occur in biological substance cycles; they are difficult to degrade and often have a toxic effect. Xenobiotic substances are becoming an increasing problem because we are constantly exposed to them and because they slowly but surely poison us. The World Health Organisation (WHO) sees xenobiotic substances as factors that contribute, along with other factors, to the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/environmental-toxins-effect-and-origin
Article - 03/12/2010 Review: Science meets Business Day 2010 (part II) How can plant physiologists and seed developers work together to achieve an understanding of the processes happening in the germinating plant embryo in order to improve the seed quality of sugar beet? How can virologists find new ways to switch off the flu virus and develop a marketable vaccine in cooperation with industrial partners?https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/review-science-meets-business-day-2010-part-ii
Dossier - 29/11/2010 Drug safety and the difficulty of making ends meet Everybody wants safe drugs – manufacturers, doctors and patients. However, many dangers, both avoidable and unavoidable, make medicinal treatment a high-risk process, despite all best efforts and assertions. Not enough information on drug-related risks is available, and the estimated number of adverse drug reactions that go unreported is quite high.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/drug-safety-and-the-difficulty-of-making-ends-meet
Article - 24/11/2010 Choosing natural drugs is not without risk Germans like natural solutions and show a marked preference for medicines made from St. John’s wort, valerian, devil’s claw or Marian Thistle. However, when taking herbal medicines people are well advised to be cautious: "herbal" does not automatically mean safe, warns Thomas Simmet, pharmacologist from the University Hospital of Ulm.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/choosing-natural-drugs-is-not-without-risk
Article - 08/11/2010 The masters of cellular circuits What can nowadays be constructed with molecular building sets? Prof. Dr. Wilfried Weber from the Centre for Biological Signalling Studies BIOSS in Freiburg is the first scientist at the University of Freiburg to receive the prestigious Starting Grant from the European Research Council ERC with a purse of 1.5 million euros. Webers team recombines cellular components and works on a broad range of different issues.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-masters-of-cellular-circuits
Press release - 04/11/2010 Death Signal for Brain Tumor Cells A protein which acts as a danger signal in the body causes an unknown form of cell death in malignant brain tumors. This process is characterized by the formation of giant mitochondria in the dying cells. This has been discovered by scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and the Institute of Pathology of Heidelberg University. Healthy brain cells, by contrast, are resistant to this form of cell…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/death-signal-for-brain-tumor-cells
Article - 17/10/2010 A high-tech strategy to become a reference laboratory The Konstanz-based Labor Dr. Brunner is the first medical laboratory in Germany to use a worldwide revolutionary instrument for liquid sample processing in bacteriological laboratories. The Walk-Away Specimen Processor (WASP) is a faster and more reliable processor that automatically identifies resistant pathogens such as MRSA or ESBL-type bacteria that have become part of the growing number of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that cause…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-high-tech-strategy-to-become-a-reference-laboratory
Article - 03/10/2010 ColepCCL: A creative hub to prepare for the company’s move into the life sciences ColepCCL Rapid-Spray a ColepCLL subsidiary based in Laupheim Germany has made a name for itself as the largest European contract filler of aerosols. However ColepCLL which employs around 3500 people in five countries is now planning to open up new fields of activity in the life sciences area.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/colepccl-a-creative-hub-to-prepare-for-the-company-s-move-into-the-life-sciences
Press release - 08/09/2010 Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C GENOVAC and Inserm co-develop a novel antibody-based approach for prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis C.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/prevention-and-treatment-of-chronic-hepatitis-c
Article - 09/08/2010 Elara Pharmaceuticals The Heidelberg-based biotech company ELARA Pharmaceuticals is focused on the development of treatments of tumours through the inhibition of the hypoxia signalling pathway (HIF) and through the induction of apoptosis. The company’s lead candidate targets multiple myeloma, a cancer that arises in the plasma cells of the immune system. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/elara-pharmaceuticals
Article - 01/08/2010 Manfred Kist – 25 years of fascination for a stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori is a genus of bacteria that inhabits the human stomach. The bacteria can cause duodenal and gastric ulcers and are also linked to the development of gastric cancer. Prof. Dr. Manfred Kist from the Freiburg University Medical Centre has spent around 25 years of his scientific career on investigating H. pylori a bent rod-shaped bacterium.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/manfred-kist-25-years-of-fascination-for-a-stomach-bacterium
Article - 12/07/2010 TET Systems: Controlled gene expression in eukaryotes The most common and most successful system used for the experimental regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes is based on a gene switch that regulates the resistance of bacteria to tetracycline. The Tet technology also provides researchers with a tool that enables them to specifically, quantitatively and reversibly control the activity of individual genes in vivo and in vitro. The Heidelberg-based company TET Systems sells licences for the Tet…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/tet-systems-controlled-gene-expression-in-eukaryotes
Press release - 14/06/2010 Substance in broccoli supports pancreatic cancer therapy The new cancer medication sorafenib inhibits resistant tumour stem cells in pancreatic cancer and is especially effective when combined with sulforaphane, an organic compound found in broccoli and cauliflower.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/substance-in-broccoli-supports-pancreatic-cancer-therapy
Press release - 07/06/2010 Addition of renowned experts to Medical Advisory Board and achievement of international quality standards generate added optimism With a € 1.5 Mio Second Closing, Curetis has now increased its Series A financing round to € 20 Mio. This additional financing will enable Curetis to complete the development of its innovative diagnostic products through to market entry. Quality Certification for its diagnostic product development represents an additional milestone in Curetis' commercial strategy. At the same time, Curetis has added internationally recognized expertise in…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/addition-of-renowned-experts-to-medical-advisory-board-and-achievement-of-international-quality-stan
Dossier - 24/05/2010 Animal experiments: alternatives need to be found urgently In Baden-Württemberg alone up to 600000 animals are used for scientific purposes every year. In order to reduce their pain and suffering as much as possible researchers all over the world are working on the development of innovative methods to replace animal experiments including cell culture methods for drug analysis artificial blood vessel systems for testing chemicals and rapid computer simulations used in diabetes research.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/animal-experiments-alternatives-need-to-be-found-urgently
Press release - 24/05/2010 University of Stuttgart – biopolymers as construction material of the future? The Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart is investigating whether it is possible to replace traditional plastics in the building industry with natural fibre-reinforced biopolymers. As part of the project, which is being funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, the ITKE researchers are working with the Nimbus Group to develop transparent lightweight building boards from biopolymers with…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/university-of-stuttgart-biopolymers-as-construction-material-of-the-future
Press release - 21/05/2010 The molecular network of “death receptors” on trial The international ApoNET research project, which is part of a European-wide systems biology initiative, is coordinated by the Mannheim Medical Faculty at the University of Heidelberg. ApoNET researchers use modern genome sequencing methods and computer models to gain a better understanding of apoptosis networks in liver cells. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Union with 1.7 million…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/the-molecular-network-of-death-receptors-on-trial
Article - 19/04/2010 Trying to get a virus to reveal its tricks The Thogoto virus is an exotic virus that presents virtually no danger to humans. A group of virologists led by Prof. Dr. Georg Kochs at the Freiburg University Medical Centre are using the virus as model system for its particular suitability in certain experiments. The group is investigating how the virus evades the antiviral defence of the infected host.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/trying-to-get-a-virus-to-reveal-its-tricks
Article - 15/03/2010 Borna disease virus and cell death in the brain A research group led by Prof. Dr. Bernd Heimrich at the University of Freiburg is investigating how the Borna disease virus can alter characteristic neuronal circuits and destroy the hippocampal nerve cells. The scientists have developed an extremely practical petri dish test system. Their results show which cell types sustain the most damage following infection and also give indications as to how apoptosis cell death can be prevented.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/borna-disease-virus-and-cell-death-in-the-brain
Article - 25/02/2010 Focus on new antimycotics targets Yeast infections are becoming a growing threat in intensive care medicine and only a small number of effective drugs – so-called antimycotics – are available. The scientist Dr. Steffen Rupp from Stuttgart is investigating the individual steps of the infection process in order to find key mechanisms in the fungus that can be targeted. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/focus-on-new-antimycotics-targets
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
Dossier - 22/02/2010 Respiratory disease - congestion in the respiratory system Lung diseases are by far the most frequent cause of death worldwide. Every year three million people die from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases 2.3 million die from lung cancer and 1.5 die from tuberculosis WHO World Health Organisation. There is no improvement in sight and experts believe that the number of deaths will continue to rise particularly in the case of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases COPD lung cancer and tuberculosis TB.…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/respiratory-disease-congestion-in-the-respiratory-system