Press release - 24/02/2021 Disease progression in childhood cancer: Lengthening of telomeres promotes relapse Neuroblastoma can spread relentlessly or shrink spontaneously. Scientists from the Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the University of Heidelberg and the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg have shown that some malignant neuroblastomas employ a trick to avoid cell death: they use a special mechanism to lengthen the telomeres at the end of their chromosomes. https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/disease-progression-childhood-cancer-lengthening-telomeres-promotes-relapse
Innovations in the field of endoscopy - 08/06/2020 Gastroscopies with pill cameras A pill camera to examine the gastrointestinal tract that can be swallowed without major difficulty, controlled intuitively from the outside and deliver images in real time - why would any doctor or patient say no? To non-experts, it sounds more like science fiction but such a device is actually already in development: since 2019, Tübingen-based Ovesco Endoscopy AG and three partners have been working together on this in a project called nuEndo.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/magenspiegelung-kamerapille
Press release - 08/04/2020 New Alliance in the Fight Against Coronavirus and COVID-19 Scientists from Heidelberg and Mannheim launch research and development task forcehttps:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/allianz-im-kampf-gegen-coronavirus-und-covid-19
Press release - 29/11/2018 Hattrick in Freiburg Three researchers at the MPI for Immunobiology and Epigenetics receive millions in funding from the European Research Council. Dominic Grün, Nicola Iovino and Ritwick Sawarkar from the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg will each be awareded one of the prestigious Consolidator Grants of the European Research Council. This means that 6 million euros in funding will go to fundamental research in Freiburg over the next…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/hattrick-in-freiburg
Article - 10/10/2018 BABYBE GmbH: Premature babies in contact with mum around the clock It used to be believed that premature babies needed as much rest as possible. However, studies have since shown that this is not the case at all. According to these studies, the brains of premature babies need to be stimulated 24 hours a day, ideally close to the mother, to ensure healthy development. The Stuttgart-based start-up BABYBE GmbH has developed a special gel mattress that enables babies to perceive their mother’s heartbeat and voice…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/babybe-gmbh-premature-babies-in-contact-with-mum-around-the-clock
Press release - 27/09/2018 Three new Clusters of Excellence for Tübingen University takes next hurdle in the German government’s Excellence Strategy funding program. The University of Tübingen is to have three new Clusters of Excellence.As part of the German government’s Excellence Strategy funding forhigher education research, Tübingen will host new outstanding research networks starting in January 2019. Representatives of Germany’s higher education policymakers announced the decision in Bonn on Thursday.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/three-new-clusters-of-excellence-for-tuebingen
Stem cell research - 12/07/2018 The role of stem cell dormancy in regeneration and cancer Scientists at the HI-STEM stem cell institute in Heidelberg have shown that the stem cells responsible for replenishing blood cells have the greatest potential of self-renewal of any other stem cells. However, they are normally in a dormant state, and only become active upon exposure to certain stress factors. An oncogene called MYC controls the stem cells' transition from dormancy to active self-renewal.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-role-of-stem-cell-dormancy-in-regeneration-and-cancer
Press release - 12/12/2017 BRAIN AG and Mannheim University develop 3D skin models for health care and cosmetics Research collaboration in project M2Aind for new real-time and high-resolution screening technologies of 3D skin spheroids. Mannheim University of Applied Sciences builds on expertise in 3D cell culture and advanced live cell imaging. BRAIN contributes unique skin reporter cells, screening compound libraries and market knowledge. Review article in Journal of Cellular Biotechnology. https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/brain-ag-and-mannheim-university-develop-3d-skin-models-for-health-care-and-cosmetics
Press release - 05/09/2017 Cell marking opens up a window into the body A new and particularly reliable method for marking cells can simplify research into diseases such as myocardial infarction, diabetes or Alzheimer's and reduce the use of test animals: Scientists from the University of Tübingen have developed a method by which they can target specific cell types in mice and monitor their behavior using positron emission tomography (PET). PET-based cell tracking allows scientists to observe complex life…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/cell-marking-opens-up-a-window-into-the-body
Prenatal diagnosis - 23/03/2017 Microdroplets for safe and rapid prenatal diagnoses Although the methods used to carry out amniocentesis are quite sophisticated, there is still a 0.5 percent risk of miscarriage following the intervention. Therefore, an EU-funded project called AngeLab is developing a rapid test that only requires a blood sample of the mother rather than amniotic fluid. The test yields information on the genetic health of the foetus within only a few hours. As part of the project, researchers from the…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/microdroplets-for-safe-and-rapid-prenatal-diagnoses
Article - 22/02/2017 Review: New European directives will impact the medical technology industry The new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and the first In Vitro Diagnostic Devices Regulation (IVDR) are likely to become European law in the second half of 2017, with transitional periods of three and five years, respectively. https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/review-new-european-directives-will-impact-the-medical-technology-industry
Article - 22/11/2016 Research on the durability and longevity of artificial joints In Germany alone, several hundred thousand patients are given an artificial hip, knee or shoulder joint every year. Prof. Dr. Jan Philippe Kretzer and his team of researchers in the Laboratory of Biomechanics and Implant Research at the University Hospital in Heidelberg are studying what limits the longevity of implants and how durability can be improved. https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/research-on-the-durability-and-longevity-of-artificial-joints
Article - 11/07/2016 Endogenous oxidants: biosensor monitoring of metabolic conditions in living organisms The oxidation state of the cells in our body is very important for us: if the normal balance of the distribution of endogenous oxidants is disturbed or if they attack cellular structures, cells are either unable or only partially able to fulfil their functions, and diseases develop. Dr. Tobias Dick and his team of researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg have now developed a biosensor that facilitates real-time…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/endogenous-oxidants-biosensor-monitoring-of-metabolic-conditions-in-living-organisms
Dossier - 18/04/2016 Epigenetics – heritable traits without changing the DNA sequence Epigenetics, i.e. the inheritance of traits that does not involve a change in the DNA sequence, was once a controversial subject that has since become a central focus of biological research. Epigenetic inheritance is now studied by numerous national and international research programmes. Many cellular regulatory and differentiation processes are controlled by epigenetic mechanisms that take place on different levels, including the DNA, histone,…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/epigenetics-heritable-traits-without-changing-the-dna-sequence
Article - 13/01/2016 New approach for treating depression Depression is the most common mental health condition; it must be taken seriously and requires treatment. Exactly how and where therapies work is still unclear. Prof. Dr. Dietrich van Calker and Prof. Dr. Knut Biber from Freiburg University Medical Center have been looking into mechanisms of action and have discovered a molecule that appears to be implicated in numerous neuropsychiatric disorders and the effect of various anti-depression…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-approach-for-treating-depression
Article - 14/12/2015 Cathepsin L: overcoming stress in tumours Cathepsins are proteases, i.e. enzymes that break down proteins into smaller fragments. They are also involved in the formation of new blood vessels and wound healing. Another thing that cathepsins do is help tumours spread and form metastases in the body. Prof. Dr. Thomas Reinheckel and his team from the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research at the University of Freiburg are studying how this happens. Insights into the role of…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/cathepsin-l-den-stress-im-tumor-ueberwinden
Article - 28/09/2015 Breast cancer: a few millilitres of urine to diagnose the disease early It would be phenomenal news if it turned out that breast cancer could be detected by way of urine samples. Treating physicians would be able to use conspicuous test results to begin further examinations as quickly as possible along with therapy if necessary. Prof. Dr. Elmar Stickeler and his team from the Freiburg University Medical Centre have developed a method that identifies the composition of microRNAs in urine. They were able to predict…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/breast-cancer-a-few-millilitres-of-urine-to-diagnose-the-disease-early
Article - 01/06/2015 A protein complex that maintains order in the cell Researchers believe that the defective transport of proteins can be linked with diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Prof. Dr. Elke Deuerling and Dr. Martin Gamerdinger, molecular biologists from the University of Konstanz, have now discovered what is necessary to prevent erroneous protein transport.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/a-protein-complex-that-maintains-order-in-the-cell
Article - 26/05/2015 Does too much beef and cow’s milk cause cancer? The large number of breast and colon cancer cases might be due to viruses that are taken up with beef and dairy products. This is the provocative thesis of Nobel Laureate Harald zur Hausen who previously linked HPV with cervical cancer. In addition to epidemiological evidence, zur Hausen and his team have also provided experimental evidence to substantiate his thesis.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/does-too-much-beef-and-cows-milk-cause-cancer
Article - 30/03/2015 How psychological stress weakens the immune system Too much stress makes you sick – this is the widely held opinion. But exactly how chronic psychological stress affects our body is not yet fully understood. This is the question Dr. Annette Sommershof and her team from the University of Konstanz are trying to answer. The scientists are exploring stress-related changes in the immune system and have found evidence for the observation that long-term stress weakens the immune system, resulting in…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/how-psychological-stress-weakens-the-immune-system
Article - 22/12/2014 Large-scale urology project: cell therapy for the treatment of stress incontinence The first and so far only clinical DFG research group on urology is being coordinated by a team from Tübingen. The team is developing a cell-based therapy for the regeneration of the urethral sphincter. Clinicians, life scientists and engineers are working together to try and find a causal therapy of stress incontinence. https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/large-scale-urology-project-cell-therapy-for-the-treatment-of-stress-incontinence
Article - 08/09/2014 Molecular effects of traumatic stress After a traumatic experience, people often suffer not only mental, but also physical effects. Dr. María Moreno-Villanueva from the University of Konstanz has investigated the molecular effects of traumatic stress in people and has found a higher than normal number of DNA strand breaks. In the worst cases this can lead to diseases such as cancer. However, her study also shows that successful psychotherapy can reverse DNA damage. Her findings will…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/molecular-effects-of-traumatic-stress
Article - 30/06/2014 The German National Cohort: collecting data for a healthier future A large-scale long-term cohort study will be carried out to explain the causes of widespread diseases, in particular cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and to identify the risk factors that lead to or favour the development of a certain disease. The principal objective of the German National Cohort (GNC) is to create the conditions that enable the development of new strategies for the prevention, risk assessment and early…https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-german-national-cohort-collecting-data-for-a-healthier-future
Article - 19/05/2014 Alcoholism: the molecular basis of addiction and deprivation Scientists at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim use rats and mice to study the genetic basis and neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol addiction, the changes that occur during alcohol deprivation and the factors that favour a relapse. In translational research, the results from animal experiments are reviewed using alcohol-dependent patients in order to turn them quickly into preventive strategies and therapies.https:////www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/alcoholism-the-molecular-basis-of-addiction-and-deprivation
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