Press release - 07/02/2023 Hertie Foundation establishes new institute combining artificial intelligence and neuroscience This month marks the launch of an outstanding project integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and neuromedicine – the Hertie Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Brain Health (Hertie AI). Founded on February 1 at the Medical Faculty of the University of Tübingen, it will be the first institute in Germany to research the prevention and early diagnosis of diseases of the nervous system using artificial intelligence methods.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/hertie-stiftung-gruendet-neues-institut-das-kuenstliche-intelligenz-und-neurowissenschaften-verbindet
Press release - 03/02/2023 Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim officially founded Non-profit limited liability company creates institutional framework for interdisciplinary research collaboration, innovative technology development and outstanding healthcare in the Rhine-Neckar region.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/offizielle-gruendung-der-health-life-science-alliance-heidelberg-mannheim
Press release - 06/02/2023 Fewer side effects thanks to personalised medicine Patients have 30 percent fewer serious side effects when medication doses are tailored to their genetic profile. This is what an international research consortium has found out, including the Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology at the Bosch Health Campus. With an individual DNA medication pass, as used in the study, treatments can be made more effective and safer in the future.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/weniger-nebenwirkungen-dank-personalisierter-medizin
Inovedis GmbH’s innovative implant - 28/03/2023 Next-generation minimally invasive shoulder surgery The treatment of shoulder injuries such as rotator cuff tears is one of the most common orthopaedic interventions. It is therefore quite surprising that the surgical procedure has not changed much for decades - although it is relatively complicated. The start-up Inovedis has now developed a completely new surgical technique based on an implant that can be performed simply, safely, quickly and cost-effectively with minimal stress for patients.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/next-generation-minimally-invasive-shoulder-surgery
Expert interview - 08/03/2023 How do new active substances from university research reach patients? Access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges in the life sciences sector. Over the last two years, the Baden-Württemberg Center for Academic Drug Discovery (BWCAD2) has successfully implemented a model of cooperation between academic drug research and industry for the development and validation of therapeutic concepts. Dr. Barbara Jonischkeit spoke with the initiator and leading figure behind the BWCAD2 project, Prof. Dr. Stefan Lauferhttps://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/how-do-new-active-substances-university-research-reach-patients
Press release - 13/03/2023 AI and multispectral imaging facilitate keyhole surgery How can camera images be used during minimally invasive surgeries to assess whether the operated organ is sufficiently perfused with blood? Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe have now succeeded in automatic monitoring of ischemia during a kidney surgery using only the optical properties of the tissue and not relying on injection of contrast agent. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/ki-und-moderne-bildgebung-erleichtern-schluesselloch-chirurgie
Press release - 01/03/2023 Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteria produce a molecule that paralyzes immune system cells Bacteria of the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa are antibiotic-resistant hospital germs that can enter blood, lungs and other tissues through wounds and cause life-threatening infections. In a joint project, researchers from the Universities of Freiburg and Strasbourg in France have discovered a mechanism that likely contributes to the severity of P. aeruginosa infections.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/pseudomonas-aeruginosa-bakterien-stellen-ein-molekuel-her-das-zellen-des-immunsystems-laehmt
Press release - 23/03/2023 Targeted computer modelling to accelerate antiviral drug development Effective drugs against viral diseases like COVID-19 are urgently needed now and in the future. The emergence of viral mutants and yet unknown viruses could push vaccines to their limits. The DZIF scientist and bioinformatician Andreas Dräger from the University of Tübingen is working on a computer-based method that can help to accelerate the time-consuming identification and development of antiviral agents. Using a novel analysis technique that…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/computermodellierung-zur-schnelleren-entwicklung-antiviraler-medikamente
Press release - 06/04/2023 Alternative glucose breakdown ensures the survival of cancer cells A key enzyme in sugar metabolism is inactivated particularly easily and efficiently by oxidative stress. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now shown that with this oxidation, cells switch to an alternative sugar breakdown pathway and can thus escape oxidative stress. Cancer cells in particular benefit from this mechanism, which can also protect them from therapy-related damage.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/alternative-glucose-breakdown-ensures-survival-cancer-cells
"Programmable" polymer materials - 24/04/2023 Medicine of the future: intelligent 4D polymers from the printer It is impossible to imagine medicine without 3D printing, which can be used to make implants or for culturing cells and tissues. It is now possible for 3D objects to be given an added dimension, namely an ability to make simple autonomous movements, by changing their size. Researchers at Heidelberg University have been able to produce microscopically small 4D structures from intelligent polymers that can be tailored to individual requirements.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/medicine-future-intelligent-4d-polymers-printer
Tablet-based diagnostics - 12/04/2023 TuCAN - innovative diagnostic procedure for neuropsychiatric disorders Neuropsychiatric disorders are often diagnosed late and have a negative impact on quality of life. Diagnosing the disease at an early stage is vital to be able to help those affected by offering them treatment adapted to their specific requirements. This is what the TuCAN project in Tübingen aims to achieve through the early and differential diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/tucan-innovative-diagnostic-procedure-neuropsychiatric-disorders
Press release - 09/05/2023 New strategy for clinically relevant protein sequencing Proteins have characteristic amino acid sequences, the analysis of which is fundamental for research and medicine. These can be decoded; however, so-called protein sequencing is expensive and time-consuming. A large-scale research project led by Prof. Dr. Jan Behrends from the Institute of Physiology at the University of Freiburg now aims to establish a new technology for protein sequencing using nanopores, which will be rapid and cost-effective.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-strategy-clinically-relevant-protein-sequencing
Press release - 21/04/2023 New research building for engineering life-inspired molecular systems Heidelberg University is to acquire a research building to develop innovative engineering science strategies and technologies on the basis of life-inspired molecular systems. The German Science and Humanities Council has now expressed its backing for the idea with an outstanding rating. This recommendation is the crucial precondition for a new building on the university campus Im Neuenheimer Feld. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-research-building-engineering-life-inspired-molecular-systems
Press release - 08/05/2023 Automated detection of embryonic developmental defects Researchers at the University of Konstanz publish image analysis software that automatically detects and classifies defects of animal development. Thanks to artificial intelligence, "EmbryoNet" outperforms human experts in terms of speed, accuracy and sensitivity.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/automated-detection-embryonic-developmental-defects
Press release - 24/04/2023 Hidden RNA repair mechanism discovered in humans Konstanz researchers discover the function of a previously unexplored protein: In three characteristic steps, "C12orf29" links the ends of RNA strands. Proteins that perform this kind of RNA ligation were previously unknown in humans. The results of the study suggest that it is important for RNA repair during cellular stress.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/hidden-rna-repair-mechanism-discovered-humans
Detecting drug resistance of tumour cells - 25/05/2023 AI-assisted diagnostics declares war on lung cancer Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and has a particularly high mortality rate. A significant challenge in treating this disease lies in the resistance of lung tumours to conventional drug therapies, rendering chemotherapy ineffective. There is hope on the horizon as a team of experts from Baden-Württemberg has joined forces to develop an innovative AI-supported test procedure that paves the way for individualised therapy approaches.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/ai-assisted-diagnostics-declares-war-lung-cancer
Press release - 04/05/2023 Gamma delta T cells can fight aggressive breast cancer Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and deadly form of breast cancer with limited treatment options. Tumor growth and relapse of TNBC are driven by breast cancer stem cells, and improved therapies that can eliminate those hardy cells are urgently needed. Researchers from the University of Frieburg discovered that coordinated differentiation and changes in the metabolism of breast cancer stem cells make them invisible for…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/gamma-delta-t-cells-can-fight-aggressive-breast-cancer
Press release - 08/05/2023 CureVac Announces Dosing of First Participant in Combined Phase 1/2 Study of Multivalent, Modified Influenza Vaccine Candidates Developed in Collaboration with GSK Initial Phase 1 part started with multivalent modified mRNA influenza vaccine candidates. Candidates developed in collaboration with GSK within broad infectious disease vaccine program encode for antigens covering four WHO-recommended flu strains.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/curevac-announces-dosing-first-participant-combined-phase-12-study-multivalent-modified-influenza-vaccine-candidates-developed-c
Reduced immunosuppression possible in transplantations - 05/06/2023 Modified immune cells produce donor-specific tolerance Traditionally, transplant recipients have had to take immunosuppressive medication for life to prevent organ rejection. However, there are considerable side effects involved. Using modified immune cells (MICs), TolerogenixX GmbH from Heidelberg has now managed to generate donor-specific tolerance in recipients of living kidney transplants without suppressing the overall immune system.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/modified-immune-cells-produce-donor-specific-tolerance
Optogenetic cell analysis - 15/05/2023 opto biolabs: how frustration and inventiveness led to the establishment of a company When she found she had no suitable illumination devices for her doctoral thesis, Dr. Kathrin Brenker simply created her own customised adapters and founded a company called opto biolabs. Now, Brenker and company co-founder Luis Köbele sell two different types of devices. The main goal is to equip laboratories with illumination technologies that allow optogenetics methods to be used to accelerate development of optogenetic therapeutics.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/opto-biolabs-how-frustration-and-inventiveness-led-establishment-company
Press release - 17/05/2023 Playing hide and seek in the centromere Centromeres, the DNA sections often found at the center of the chromosomes, display enormous interspecies diversity, despite having the same vital role during cell division across almost the entire tree of life. An international team of researchers has discovered that the variation in centromere DNA regions can be strikingly large even within a single species. The findings, now published in the journal Nature, shed light on the molecular…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/playing-hide-and-seek-centromere
Press release - 25/05/2023 Oops, did I do that – or is there someone else in my head? Tübingen researchers describe connection between action and feeling of authorship - finding sheds light on delusions of external control in schizophreniahttps://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/oops-did-i-do-or-there-someone-else-my-head
Press release - 22/05/2023 Prevention of pandemics Volkswagen Foundation to fund international research project with around 1.5 million euros. Interdisciplinary team led by the Institute for Global Health at Heidelberg University Hospital to research the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans in Thailand and Laos. Long-term goal is to develop sustainable preventive measures against future pandemics.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/prevention-pandemics
Press release - 24/05/2023 Epigenetic profiling identifies potential COPD treatment targets Impaired function of lung fibroblast is considered causative for symptoms of the incurable lung disease COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Using high-resolution epigenetic profiling, German and British scientists have now identified potential targets for COPD treatment. The team detected early epigenetic changes in the genome of COPD fibroblasts, providing new insights into the disease pathogenesis and potential therapeutic avenues.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/epigenetic-profiling-identifies-potential-copd-treatment-targets
Press release - 23/05/2023 B cells promote liver cancer with dangerous dual strategy Inflammatory fatty liver disease (NASH, non alcoholic steatohepatitis ) and the resulting liver cancer are driven by autoaggressive T cells. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) now show what ist behind this destructive behavior. In both mice and humans with NASH, they found increased numbers of activated B cells in the gastrointestinal tract.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/b-cells-promote-liver-cancer-dangerous-dual-strategy