Robotics in medicine: initial trials of HASEL technology - 04/11/2026

Using artificial muscles to reduce uncontrolled tremors

For people with tremors, even simple everyday tasks can become a challenge. Researchers from Stuttgart and Tübingen are developing a novel assistive system designed to actively suppress these involuntary movements. Initial tests using artificial muscles based on HASEL technology have shown promising results – but there is still a long way to go before the technology is ready for everyday use.

Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine – University of Freiburg have developed a new approach to specifically target an aggressive form of blood cancer while better sparing healthy immune cells. In what is known as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), cancer cells develop from the body’s own immune defense cells. This complicates treatment, as immunotherapies studied to date can also destroy healthy immune cells.

VUSE XR today announced the closing of a €1.2 million pre-seed financing round led by IACD, a Düsseldorf-based business angel network. The company develops the VUSE XR Hub, an enterprise software solution for creating and deploying mixed reality training for industrial and life sciences companies.

A new treatment could improve care for people with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). In two international studies involving a total of 2,007 patients, remibrutinib reduced the annualized relapse rate by 31% to 35% compared with an established MS therapy. New inflammatory brain lesions were also significantly less frequent. In addition, there are indications that the treatment may slow the progression of physical disability.

Humans are usually remarkably good at recognising objects, even under poor viewing conditions. Artificial vision systems, by contrast, reach their limits more quickly when images are distorted or unfamiliar. Researchers at the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH) have now investigated what artificial vision systems can learn from the brain.