Healthcare industry

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.

Article - 20/02/2008

Threadworms throughout time

Threadworms are versatile research objects and are excellent models for investigating fundamental evolutionary principles. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology use the Caenorhabditis and Pristionchus threadworm genera to study the molecular mechanisms of biodiversity.

mtm laboratories has launched the Cervatec assay for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer. The Cervatec assay will initially be commercialized as an adjunct to the Pap test for the screening of women aged 35 and younger.

As one of the people who initiated the establishment of EMBL and in his role as founding director of the ZMBH Hermann Bujard has made a considerable contribution to the transformation of Heidelberg into a leading location for molecular and biological research in Germany. As the director of EMBO Bujard is now promoting the development of molecular biosciences across Europe.

Applications written in English must be submitted to DFG by 31st March 2008.

The University of Tübingen opened its new laboratory for Preclinical Imaging and Imaging Technology of the Werner Siemens Foundation. The professorship is the only one in Europe combining preclinical imaging and the development of new imaging technologies.

Karin Bundschuh of BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg asked Dr. Jens Clausen how these developments should be viewed from an ethical perspective. The bioethicist spent many years studying the status of embryos the ethics of cloning and stem cell research.

The Theatrum Anatomicum enriches medical training at the University of Ulm. That is the unanimous verdict of the lecturers involved in medical training. The Theatrum is a fully equipped demonstration operation theatre with standing room for approximately 70 people.

Article - 05/02/2008

Protecting the liver from oxygen stress

The Emmy Noether junior research group in the Department of Surgery at the University Hospital of Heidelberg is to be funded with 1.2 million over the next five years. The group will focus on how tissue damage in donor livers can be prevented. The group headed by Dr. Martin Schneider.

According to estimates by the German Federal Minister of Research and Education Annette Schavan Germany is on the right path towards the objective of spending three per cent of the countrys gross domestic product on research and development RD by the year 2010.

Victor Sourjik received the prize for his research in the field of cellular signalling and as support for his research project on the analysis of bacterial chemotaxis. The award comes with a purse of 100000 which the beneficiary can use to carry out research projects.

Dossier - 01/02/2008

Glycobiotechnology - sugar research is picking up speed

Alongside DNA and proteins sugar structures play an important role in cellular transport and communication processes. They are also part of the molecular control and regulation machinery making them of particular interest to biotechnologists. The pharmaceutical industry as well as the food sector and material sciences have realised the potential of sugar structures.

Proposals can be submitted up until 9th April 2008.

All movements - each grip and step - have their origin in the brain. Carsten Mehring and his group at the Bernstein Centre for Computational Neuroscience and the Institute for Biology I at the University of Freiburg plan to use brain signals for the control of prostheses or for the operation of computers.

Tumours develop sophisticated strategies to escape the immune defence. One of these strategies is the modification of the cells sugar coat. Specific immune cell receptors bind to these sugars thereby preventing the tumour cell from being discovered by the immune system. Medics from the University of Tübingen are investigating the mechanisms involved and are looking for therapeutic targets.

Micro-biolytics GmbH now based in the Esslingen-based Life Science Centre develops and produces microsystems solutions for bioanalytical issues. With the support of networks micro-biolytics is hoping to considerably expand its activities.

Gender-specific differences are currently not only a subject of debate for experts but have also raised broad media interest. However there are very few specific investigations that are able to provide a clear answer said Prof. Volker Kühlkamp chief physician in the Department of CardiologyElectrophysiology at the Lake Constance Heart Centre in ConstanceKreuzlingen and specialist in cardiac arrhythmia.

New degree courses look set to complement Baden-Württembergs higher education landscape. The Council of Ministers took the decision to establish a Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences department in Tuttlingen.

A new report by European Commission scientists gives a full picture of preimplantation genetic diagnosis PGD. Parents need better information on genetic testing of IVF embryos.

What is a thought? First of all it is a firework of neuronal activity produced by the neurons which encode and transmit information as electrical impulses. However when we think or remember something there is not always an input from the environment.

In his profession age and experience are decisive advantages Dr. Mohamed Baccouche 57 consults pharmaceutical companies worldwide on the development and approval of new drug substances.

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.

The Albstadt-Sigmaringen University of Applied Sciences was the first to offer a pharmaceutical technology course back in 19871988. The course has become a great success and the graduates are sought after in both the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries.

The method is elegant and cardiologists love it heart catheter examination. The number of catheter examinations carried out has continuously increased over the last few years. In 2005 in Germany an impressive number of 772000 heart catheter examinations were carried out.

Only a few researchers combine different disciplines as effectively and with as much flair as Professor Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Planck director of the ITV Denkendorf. He combines mechanical textile and medical engineering both on the scientific and economic level at the same time as being a dedicated networker.