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News: Health Research
5/25/12
Rewiring in the brain is life-long May 24, 2012 Despite a long-held scientific belief that much of the wiring of the brain is fixed by the time of adolescence, a new study shows that changes in sensory experience can cause massive rewiring of the brain, even as one ages. In addition, the study ...
5/25/12
Recently there is a huge demand for minimally invasive surgery methods and navigated guiding of the surgical instruments to increase precision during opening the human skull. A minimal traumatization of the patient should be achieved for ethical and economic reasons. To guarantee a careful ...
5/23/12
The fat tissue around the waist (abdominal fat) of obese persons is chronically inflamed - this is regarded as one of the major causes for the development of type 2 diabetes. In mice with normal body weight, a specific group of immune cells keeps these inflammations in check. Scientists of the ...
5/23/12
Action mechanism of one of the oldest drugs known to man elucidated May 21, 2012 Castor oil is known primarily as an effective laxative; however, it was also used in ancient times with pregnant women to induce labour. Only now have scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung ...
5/23/12
Max Planck scientists decipher the structure of bacterial injection needles at atomic resolution May 21, 2012 The plague, bacterial dysentery, and cholera have one thing in common: These dangerous diseases are caused by bacteria which infect their host using a sophisticated injection apparatus. ...
5/22/12
The 2012 Innovation Award of the biotechnology regions in Germany was presented to Prof. Ulrich Schraermeyer on 9 May 2012 in Frankfurt am Main. The Tübingen-based researcher received the award in recognition of his idea to use an active substance to treat the dry form of age-related macular ...
5/21/12
For years now, cancer researchers have obtained evidence suggesting that beta blockers, which are prescribed for millions of patients to treat high blood pressure, may impact cancer risk. On this year´;s World Hypertension Day on May 17, a detailed study from the German Cancer Research Center ...
5/18/12
15.05.2012 Ray of hope for millions of patients The 2012 Innovation Award of the biotechnology regions in Germany was presented to Prof. Ulrich Schraermeyer on 9 May 2012 in Frankfurt am Main. The Tübingen-based researcher received the award in recognition of his idea to use an active substance ...
5/16/12
Scientists of KIT and the University of Birmingham have identified relevant new functions of a gene that plays a crucial role in Fanconi anemia, a life-threatening disease. The FANCM gene is known to be important for the stability of the genome. Now, the researchers found that FANCM also plays a ...
5/15/12
Long term medical studies of chronic diseases planned 02.05.12 - The new premises of the HZI study center in Hannover have been opened with an official ceremony today. In the future, long-term population studies with voluntary probands will be conducted in the new centre. The results are ...
5/15/12
tudy of natural compounds made simpler: Bacterial researchers develop improved DNA technique Targeted exchange of DNA segments instead of tedious search: German and Chinese scientists have developed a technique for the direct isolation of genetic information from complex mixtures of different ...
5/14/12
Urgent appointments, tight work timetables and hectic social schedules structure modern life, and they very often clash with our intrinsic biological rhythms. The discrepancy results in so-called social jetlag, which can damage one’s health. Among other effects, it can contribute to the ...
5/14/12
In order to reactivate silenced genes, a cell needs to remove certain "off" markers called methyl groups from the DNA. Scientists working with Frank Lyko and Achim Breiling of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) in Heidelberg have shown that this process ...
5/14/12
Neuherberg, May 3, 2012. In a joint endeavor with the two elite universities in Munich, Helmholtz Zentrum München is establishing the Helmholtz Research School of Radiation Sciences. The Helmholtz Association has allocated EUR 300 000 in funds over a six-year period for the graduate school, ...
5/11/12
Scientists at Kiel University are following a new approach to treat diabetes The cone snails are predators of the sea. They capture fish by injecting a venom into the prey that consists of a cocktail of different substances. The single components of the snails´ venom, so-called conopeptides, are ...
5/10/12
Topics from Ultrafast Data Transfer to Climate Engineering to Novel Materials / All Programmes Interdisciplinary What is the role of phosphorus resources for trees and forests – and what do they mean for the nutrition and balance of a forest ecosystem? How can ultrafast wireless transmission ...
5/8/12
The Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch has long standing collaborative relations with two top Israeli universities: Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI). Now the MDC and its Israeli partners have succeeded in ...
5/8/12
DFG to Establish Seven New Research Units / Over 16 Million Euros in Total for the First Funding Period The establishment of six new Research Units and one Clinical Research Unit has been decided by the Joint Committee of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation). ...
5/7/12
Neuherberg, 04.05.2012. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) not only causes various infectious diseases in man, it can also induce certain types of cancer. Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München and the LMU have now identified the molecular components that allow EBV to efficiently establish its genome in ...
5/7/12
Malfunctioning single proteins can cause disruptions in neuronal junctions leading to autistic forms of behavior. A current study, published in the scientific journal Nature, comes to this conclusion after examining genetically altered mice. The study, in which scientists from Charité – ...
5/4/12
Resistances to drugs are the main reason why breast cancer cannot effectively be fought in many patients. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now succeeded in restoring the sensitivity of resistant breast cancer cells to tamoxifen using ...
5/4/12
The Helmholtz Association will fund the PIER Graduate School with a total of 2.4 million euros in the coming six years. This was announced today by the Helmholtz Association in Berlin. The PIER Graduate School offers an excellent training for doctoral students in a unique environment, thus ...
5/4/12
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a malignant tumor that is difficult to control at an advanced stage. An international study now shows for the first time which chemotherapy is best suited to treat this tumor. The study was coordinated at the University Hospital of Würzburg. Adrenocortical carcinoma ...
5/3/12
People with good hearing also have a keen sense of touch; people with impaired hearing generally have an impaired sense of touch. Extensive data supporting this hypothesis was presented by Dr. Henning Frenzel and Professor Gary R. Lewin of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) ...
5/2/12
The "Thinking and Experimental Laboratory" will be officially opened on May 2, 2012 as a new offering of the Heidelberg Life Science Lab. The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) provides a fully equipped laboratory room with twelve workplaces for this venture. The new experimental lab is open ...
4/30/12
New magnetoelectric sensors for deep brain stimulation Up to now, the brain´s magnetic field is measurable only under technical laboratory conditions. This technique is therefore not feasible in terms of the broader medical use, although it would be significant for diagnosing numerous conditions ...
4/27/12
Some lactic acid bacteria can alleviate inflammation and therefore prevent intestinal disorders. Scientists have now decoded the biochemical mechanism that lies behind the protective effect of the bacteria. In experiments with mice, the researchers succeeded in demonstrating that lactocepin – an ...
4/26/12
International researchers under the aegis of the University of Bonn have discovered the probable cause of not just one, but several infectious agents at the same time. Paramyxoviruses originate from ubiquitous bats, from where the pathogens have spread to humans and other mammals. In total, this ...
4/25/12
Germany’s highest valued international research award goes to five researchers from abroad. Two philosophers, a physicist, a medical scientist and a classicist are the new Alexander von Humboldt professors. The international award for research in Germany, worth up to five million EUR, is granted ...
4/25/12
Bacteria evolved way to safeguard crucial genetic material Just as banks store away only the most valuable possessions in the most secure safes, cells prioritise which genes they guard most closely, researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s European Bioinformatics Institute ...
4/25/12
Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells. Over 250,000 patients suffer from type 1 diabetes in Germany who are treated with daily insulin injections to maintain glucose metabolism. Replacement of the destroyed beta cells by transplantation of either ...
4/23/12
Studying a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, neuroscientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen have observed correlations between increases in both soluble and plaque-forming beta-amyloid – a protein implicated in the disease process – and dysfunctional developments on several levels: ...
4/20/12
Heidelberg researchers analyse proteins of stinging cells in the Hydra freshwater polyp Heidelberg researchers have succeeded in unravelling the defence mechanisms of jellyfish. Scientists working with Prof. Dr. Thomas Holstein and Dr. Suat Özbek from the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) of ...
4/18/12
Siemens is collaborating with partners to examine how the dialysis of kidney-impaired patients can be gently and safely performed at home. In an unparalleled field test, selected dialysis patients in Berlin will soon be equipped with a telemedical support system that will enable them to ...
4/18/12
Researchers discover promising anti-diabetic substance in the amorfrutin class of natural substances It provides the raw material for liquorice candy, calms the stomach and alleviates diseases of the airways: liquorice root. Chosen as the "Medicinal plant 2012", the root has been treasured in ...
4/17/12
From Reykjavik to Thessaloniki, pollen levels are on the increase. A team of researchers headed by Prof. Annette Menzel at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen reports that pollen counts have already risen across Europe in recent years. Their findings are based on an analysis of pollen time ...
4/17/12
Interreg-Project "Bones4Culture": the first analyses of 700 skeletons from the city of Schleswig The Interreg-project "Bones4Cultures" has just been started. Its aim is to analyze population, life, health and culture of the people that lived in the German-Danish border land during the Middle ...
4/16/12
Carl Zeiss Meditec to showcase award-winning microscope at the 2012 American Association of Neurological DUBLIN/California/USA, JENA/Germany, 13.04.2012. Medical technology provider Carl Zeiss Meditec announced that its OPMI PENTERO® 900 surgical microscope has won the highly-coveted red dot ...
4/13/12
There was much excitement surrounding cell reprogramming with the breakthrough of Shinya Yamanaka. In 2006, the Japanese scientist was able to reprogram skin cells for the first time with the aid of a few control factors into so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) – “multipurpose” ...
4/11/12
The immune system is a vital part of our defenses against pathogens, but it can also attack host tissues, resulting in autoimmune disease. The antigens that induce destructive immune reactions can now be identified directly – without any prior knowledge of their possible structure. Molecules ...
4/5/12
Components of the venom from marine cone snails can block the transmission of signals between nerve cells in minute quantities. This makes them potentially suitable for use as a novel analgesic. Researchers from the Universities of Bonn and Jena, the Technical University of Darmstadt and the ...
4/4/12
Teams at LMU and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin report that temporal patterns in the neuronal activity can be used for spatial navigation. Their data show that the firing patterns of so-called grid cells have the potential to affect the behavior of rats, and imply that rat brains have more ...
4/3/12
A previously unknown serine protease forms part of the antibacterial defence arsenal of neutrophil granulocytes Neutrophil granulocytes comprise important defences for the immune system. When pathogenic bacteria penetrate the body, they are the first on the scene to mobilise other immune cells ...
4/3/12
Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center have coupled the fungal toxin amanitin to an antibody which recognizes a cancer-typical target molecule. Like a guided missile, the antibody carries its poisonous load to target cancer cells. The poison-loaded antibody arrested the growth of ...
3/30/12
Four signalling substances control the transformation of T cells The thymus plays a key role in the body’s immune response. It is here where the T lymphocytes or T cells, a major type of immune defence cells, mature. Different types of T cells, designated to perform specific tasks, arise from ...
3/30/12
Max Planck researchers discover how drug resistance in tumours may be prevented Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is a complex process during which different signalling proteins interact with each other in a highly coordinated fashion. The growth factor VEGF and the Notch signalling ...
- Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Competence Center for a Sustainable University (Universität Hamburg)
3/30/12
The Postdoctoral Research Forum (PRF) “Sustainable Future” at the newly established Competence Center for a Sustainable University at the Universität Hamburg will be launched in April 2012 and aims at attracting excellent junior researchers with a clear potential to develop and realize their ...
3/28/12
Beijing, March 27, 2012 - Bayer HealthCare Company Ltd and Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, are expanding their joint research partnership relating to the Bayer-Tsinghua Joint Research Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (BTC). This week, both partners signed a new strategic agreement to ...
3/27/12
Under the brand “Research in Germany - Land of Ideas”, the BMBF, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, is hosting issue- and country-specific campaigns abroad to promote innovation and research in Germany. Now also in Russia, under the slogan “Russia and Germany - Partnerships ...
3/27/12
Researchers at the University of Bonn artificially derive brain stem cells directly from the connective tissue of mice Scientists at the Life & Brain Research Center at the University of Bonn, Germany, have succeeded in directly generating brain stem cells from the connective tissue cells of ...
3/27/12
Skipping pluripotency 'detour,' Max Planck researcher Prof. Schöler again takes lead in stem cell research Breaking new ground, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine in Münster, Germany, have succeeded in obtaining somatic stem cells from fully differentiated somatic ...
3/27/12
Neural networks of the brain can easily influence each other One cup or two faces? What we believe we see in one of the most famous optical illusions changes in a split second; and so does the path that the information takes in the brain. In a new theoretical study, scientists of the Max Planck ...
3/23/12
A conversation about disorders affecting skin and hair featuring Prof. Thomas Krieg (University of Cologne), Dr. Angela Christiano (Columbia University Medical Center), and Dr. David Bickers (Columbia University Medical Center) at the German Center for Research and Innovation on March 26, 2012. ...
3/18/12
Molecular ticket determines RNA’s destination and speed inside egg cell Like any law-abiding train passenger, a molecule called oskar RNA carries a stamped ticket detailing its destination and form of transport, scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, ...
3/9/12
Neurologists investigate stress in pregnancy on brain ageing 08.03.2012 Maternal stress during pregnancy influences brain ageing and age-associated diseases such as dementia and stroke. In this 3 million Euro EU-funded project, neurologists at the Jena University Hospital (Germany), ...
3/9/12
T cells are crucial for protective immunity Many modern vaccines use genetically altered viruses to induce protective immune responses to pathogenic viral strains. A recently published study throws new light on the elements that determine the immunogenic efficacy of antiviral vaccines. The ...
3/8/12
A German-Swedish study shows that internet-based self-help training for tinnitus is as successful as group therapy 07.03.2012 Those suffering from nagging tinnitus can benefit from internet-based therapy just as much as patients who take part in group therapy sessions. These are the findings of ...
3/8/12
In the cell nucleus, DNA wraps around what are called histone proteins, forming regularly spaced spherical bodies called nucleosomes. Thus, large portions of the genetic material are inaccessible to the gene reading machinery. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches ...
3/7/12
LMU researchers developed a new strategy for the treatment of stroke, which could help to improve blood flow to ischemic brain. Strokes are due to a localized reduction in the blood supply to the brain, mainly due to the blockage of a vessel by a blood clot. This can lead to the death and ...
3/7/12
Blocking of receptor protein prevents the development of breast cancer metastases in mice In particularly aggressive forms of breast cancer, cancer cells can settle in other organs and form metastases there. Once such metastases form, complete recovery is rare. Consequently, it is enormously ...
3/7/12
In February and March of this year, three new research consortia have started work at DKFZ. They are funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of its program "Systems Biology in Cancer Research - CancerSys" and will receive funds amounting to nine million euros over ...
3/7/12
In science, refuting a hypothesis can be as significant as proving one, all the more so in research aimed at elucidating how diseases proceed with a view toward preventing, treating, or curing them. Such a discovery can save scientists from spending precious years of effort exploring a dead end. ...
3/7/12
In science, refuting a hypothesis can be as significant as proving one, all the more so in research aimed at elucidating how diseases proceed with a view toward preventing, treating, or curing them. Such a discovery can save scientists from spending precious years of effort exploring a dead end. ...
3/6/12
Many people view spiders with fear or disgust. The eight-legged creatures are generally thought to be ugly, and tarnished with a poisonous image. This bad PR could well be set for a boost, however. Today, researchers are busy making spider’s silk suitable for application in medicine. ...
3/6/12
TU Berlin, Science and Technology Park Berlin Adlershof and Campus Berlin-Buch sign letters of intentNew chapter in long-lasting academic relations between both countriesScientific network of the Skolkovo Foundation continues to grow Today marked a new milestone in cooperation between Russian ...
3/5/12
Missing Gene Causes the Development of TAR Syndrome Scientists at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin in collaboration with the Sanger Institute in Cambridge and other cooperation partners in Belgium, the Netherlands and France, were able to identify a genetic defect that is responsible for the ...
3/5/12
Current study on mice documents the anxiety-reducing effect of intranasally administered neuropeptide S Max Planck researchers have succeeded in showing in experiments on mice that the anxiolytic substance neuropeptide S (NPS) can be absorbed through the nasal mucosa and unfold its effect in the ...
3/5/12
Adjusting breast cancer therapy to individual patients to avoid ineffective treatment: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin and eleven partner institutions from six countries have set this as their goal. They have launched the EU research project RESPONSIFY. Prof. Carsten Denkert, project director ...
2/29/12
Research consortium set on developing new drugs that target bacterial biofilms Slime-like and near impenetrable are biofilms built by a number of bacterial cells during the course of an infection. Typically, they are composed of long molecular strands called polymers. Many different species of ...
2/29/12
A team of scientists from the Charité and German Rheumatism Research Center Berlin and the University of Geneva has found a fundamentally new mechanism how our defense system is ramped up when facing a viral intruder. Exploitation of this mechanism in vaccines sparks new hope for better ...
2/29/12
Helmholtz scientists disarm plague pathogen's next of kin In medieval Europe, the Black Death once decimated large parts of the population. Although in Europe no longer a genuine cause for concern, in Africa, South America, and India the Bubonic plague still to this day poses a viable threat to ...
2/28/12
Instruct formally launched Breakthroughs in biomedical science are a step closer today, with the launch of a new distributed research infrastructure for the science of structural biology: Instruct. The launch of Instruct will give academic and commercial scientists across Europe access to a full ...
2/28/12
In the future, a surgeon will need only a hand movement to browse through a patient's x-ray images during an operation. Until now it has been much harder to operate the monitors because surgical team members are not allowed to touch any objects other than surgical instruments, due to the risk of ...
2/24/12
HZI scientists investigate new approach to targeted activation and inhibition of defender cells Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, Germany, are currently investigating Alpha-GalCerPEG, a substance capable of activating target groups of cells that are ...
2/24/12
International cluster conference in Berlin / Schavan: "Top clusters create the prosperity of tomorrow” / EU Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn: "High-tech strategy is exemplary” Outstanding achievements in research and innovation are frequently generated by high-tech clusters in cooperation with ...
2/24/12
New Alliance “Instruct” connects cutting edge technologies across the borders Abbildung einer Protein Sample Production Facility Making the most advanced technologies available to researchers all over Europe is the goal of the initiative “Instruct”. Fifteen research institutes from eight ...
2/23/12
What do Germany’s oldest university and New York City’s highly visible Tech Campus competition have in common? Find out how the symbiotic relationship between universities and their surrounding areas can influence a region on February 29, 2012, at the German Center for Research and Innovation ...
2/23/12
Neuherberg, 14.02.2012. The incidence of autoantibodies against antigens of the insulin-producing beta cells has a peak between the age of nine months and two years. In turn, children who develop autoantibodies at this early age have a very high risk of developing type 1 diabetes by the age of ...
2/22/12
The intermediary report on "10 Years of Research: Risk Assessment, Human and Environmental Toxicology of Nanomaterials" by the joint DECHEMA/VCI Working Group "Responsible Production and Use of Nanomaterials" is now available in English. Experts from industry and research institutions have ...
2/16/12
The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving grand challenges which face society, science and industry by performing top-rate research in six research fields. With a total of 31,745 staff work in its 18 research centres the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific research ...
2/16/12
Medico, a computer-based assistance system, could help doctors perform diagnoses and identify the right treatment. That's an important step on the path to personalized medicine. Medico is one of six application scenarios of the research program Theseus of the German Federal Ministry of ...
2/15/12
An international team of scientists discovered a new mechanism which provides elasticity to our muscles. Using X-ray light of DESY's accelerator DORIS, the team of Matthias Wilmanns from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL investigated a specific protein that links muscular filaments. ...
2/14/12
Substances which suppress the immune system while simultaneously keeping viral infections in check would be an ideal drug for organ transplant recipients. Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now demonstrated that specific substances with ...
2/9/12
An upcoming panel discussion at the German Center for Research and Innovation (GCRI) will address how increased demand for diminishing natural resources will shape strategic international relationships in the 21st century. The event will take place on February 15, 2012. NEW YORK (February 8, ...
2/7/12
immatics biotechnologies GmbH, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing advanced therapeutic vaccines that are active against cancer, announced positive results from its Phase II clinical trial with IMA910 in patients with advanced colorectal cell carcinoma (CRC) which were ...
2/6/12
More than €80 mio. in funding for the development of individualized forms of immunotherapy and diagnostics 06.02.2012The independent jury of the third round of the Leading-Edge Cluster competition organized by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has selected the winners of this ...
2/6/12
Dr. Anton Meinhart and Prof. Michael Platten receive the 2011 Chica and Heinz Schaller Research Awards The Heidelberg scientists Dr. Anton Meinhart and Prof. Michael Platten will receive the Chica and Heinz Schaller Research Award for their pioneering work in biomedical basic research. The ...
2/6/12
Neuherberg, 27.01.12. Disturbances in the lipid balance of mitochondria* and the related functional impairment of the mitochondrial membrane proteins are possible causes of cardiomyopathy*. This has been demonstrated by a study currently being conducted by scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum ...
2/3/12
Scientists at the University Medical Center in Mainz prove multiple DNA repair defect in monocytes 02.02.2012 Scientists working with Professor Bernd Kaina of the Institute of Toxicology at the Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have demonstrated for the first time that ...
2/2/12
In future it should be possible to produce the best anti-malaria drug, artemisinin, more economically and in sufficient volumes for all patients The most effective anti-malaria drug can now be produced inexpensively and in large quantities. This means that it will be possible to provide ...
2/2/12
DFG Provides No-Cost Access to MAK Collection / Milestone in Establishment of Free Access to Research Data / Transparent Policy Consultancy The DFG’s Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has evaluated the state of research and provided ...
1/31/12
Glioblastomas are regarded as particularly aggressive brain tumors. In children with glioblastoma, Heidelberg scientists have now discovered genetic alterations that affect the function of DNA packaging proteins known as histones. In a cell, histones serve as coils around which the DNA wraps. At ...
1/31/12
Free-electron lasers open new routes for structural biology An international team of scientists has for the first time crystallised a key enzyme of the pathogen for African sleeping sickness in a living cell and investigated it with the world’s strongest X-ray laser. This new method will open ...
1/31/12
HIV uses macrophages of the immune system as a hideout, where viral particles can persist without being attacked by antibodies. From these reservoirs, viruses can be directly transferred to non-infected cells. These are the results of a study carried out by scientists from Hamburg and München ...
1/30/12
The German Leading-Edge Cluster Competition in 2012 has now finished and five winners have been awarded. The Leading-Edge Cluster competition is intended to take Germany to the top of the league of technologically advanced nations. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research launched the ...
1/30/12
Siemens is marketing the first rapid, automated biomarker test for diagnosing and assessing liver fibrosis. The ELF test (Enhanced Liver Fibrosis test) takes approximately one hour to complete and requires only a blood sample. The process is therefore less invasive but just as reliable as the ...
1/30/12
Max Planck scientists use silk from the tasar silkworm as a scaffold for heart tissue Damaged human heart muscle cannot be regenerated. Scar tissue grows in place of the damaged muscle cells. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim are seeking to ...
1/30/12
Jointly developed solutions will reduce zinc deficiency among 100 million peoplePartnership aims to contribute to fulfill the UN Millennium Development Goals Davos, Switzerland, - January 27, 2012 - BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Teck Resources Limited, Vancouver, Canada, announced at the ...
1/27/12
Students develop internet portal enabling users to gain information on the results of DNA analyses Münster (upm), Do, 26 Jan 2012 - If people could look into the future they would discover which illnesses they will suffer from - as well as when they will die. Although no one is clairvoyant, ...
1/27/12
If people could look into the future they would discover which illnesses they will suffer from – as well as when they will die. Although no one is clairvoyant, today experts can already predict for a range of illnesses – for example Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and various types of cancer – how ...
1/25/12
At Compamed 2011, ROFIN showcased the latest developments in laser material processing. The focus was on manual laser welding and high-precision cutting with ultra short pulse femto / fiber laser sources for medical device manufacturing. Within a few months, ROFIN's newly designed manual welding ...
1/24/12
Neuherberg, January 16, 2012. The activity of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in brain cells of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorders may be increased by treatment with antipsychotic medication. Scientists of the Helmholtz Zentrum München show in the current issue of PLoS ONE ...
1/24/12
DFG approves second funding stage for integrated research venture involving Heidelberg and Karlsruhe The integrated research venture "Mechanisms, Functions and Evolution of Wnt Signaling Pathways" involving 11 teams of scientists from Heidelberg and Karlsruhe will be receiving funding to the ...
1/23/12
The new ACUSON S3000* ultrasound system from Siemens will be able to display pictures from different imaging technologies at the same time. It includes advanced automated ultrasound fusion imaging. This feature provides radiologists additional clinical and spatial information in the analysis of ...
1/23/12
On January 31, 2012, David Fitzpatrick (Max Planck Florida Institute) and Joshua Sanes (Harvard University) will discuss how identifying motion-sensitive neurons in the visual system aids in understanding brain function and development. The event will take place at the German Center for Research ...
1/23/12
Inherited mutation links exploding chromosomes to cancer An inherited mutation in a gene known as the guardian of the genome is likely the link between exploding chromosomes and some particularly aggressive types of cancer, scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the ...
1/23/12
Dr. Kathleen Anders and Professor Thomas Blankenstein of the Max Delbrück Center (MDC) Berlin-Buch and researchers of the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, California, USA showed that drug-based cancer treatment and adoptive T cell therapy are both highly ...
1/20/12
Max Planck researchers have proven something scientifically for the first time that laypeople have always known: the mere sight of delicious food stimulates the appetite. A study on healthy young men has documented that the amount of the neurosecretory protein hormone ghrelin in the blood ...
1/19/12
Dirk Jancke (Bernstein Group Bochum, Ruhr Universität Bochum) is German coordinator of the new German-Israeli project "Decoding visual content and perception from neuronal population activity in visual cortex: VSDI, fMRI and computational modelling" (January 2012). How does our brain construct a ...
1/19/12
New approach helps to alleviate acute lung injury Acute lung injury results from bacterial infections, sepsis – commonly known as blood poisoning – or to the aspiration of gastric juice. Other noxious agents may also induce or contribute to acute lung injury, and in about 40% of cases the ...
1/18/12
In future it should be possible to produce the best anti-malaria drug, artemisinin, more economically and in sufficient volumes for all patients The most effective anti-malaria drug can now be produced inexpensively and in large quantities. This means that it will be possible to provide ...
1/16/12
Research team from Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center lays foundations for investigation of molecular chaperones Heidelberg molecular biologists have achieved new insights into the synthesis of proteins with a newly developed innovative technique. A team of scientists headed ...
1/12/12
Early changes to the inferior frontal junction observed in early dementias A key misplaced yet again? Unable to recall a name? Forgetfulness frequently leads to anxiety: is it just a sign of age, or are these the first symptoms of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease? It has never been easy to ...
1/12/12
The plague is believed to have been eradicated in Europe. But it continues to reappear in other parts of the world, such as Madagascar, the Congo, and Peru. Since the pathogens are becoming resistant to the usual antibiotics, new agents are urgently needed. Progress has now been made in this ...
1/10/12
Researchers at the Centre for Nutritional Medicine (ZEM), a joint institution of the Universities of Hohenheim and Tübingen, are investigating whether and to what extent certain food components can support the treatment of cancer and are hoping to derive scientifically founded dietary ...
1/10/12
Dedicated lab space-model at Bayer HealthCare U.S. Innovation Center to be called CoLaborator™ / Shared lab space will help promising life science companies get their start San Francisco, January 9, 2012 - One year after the opening of its U.S. Innovation Center, Bayer HealthCare is expanding ...
1/9/12
New method for observing enhancer activity during development As an embryo develops, different genes are turned on in different cells, to form muscles, neurons and other bodily parts. Inside each cell’s nucleus, genetic sequences known as enhancers act like remote controls, switching genes on ...
1/6/12
Is obesity in infants “programmed” in the womb? Previously, researchers assumed that consumption of “bad” fats during pregnancy contribute to excessive infant adipose tissue growth and that “good” Omega 3 fatty acids prevent expansive adipose tissue development. An intervention study run by the ...
1/5/12
EU funds research on Actinomycetes with 1.5 million Euro A research project aimed at finding new medical compounds in bacteria has now been granted financial support from Brussels. The European Research Council (ERC) will fund the work of Dr. Andriy Luzhetskyy, a junior scientist investigating ...
1/3/12
In the event of the spinal cord injury, the long nerve cell filaments, the axons, may become severed. For quite some time now, scientists have been investigating whether these axons can be stimulated to regenerate. Such growth takes place on a scale of only a few millimetres. To date, changes ...
1/2/12
RWTH Researchers are Developing a Bandage from Spider Silk In relation to the diameter of its threads, a spider web is five times stronger than steel. To describe the thread's resilience, biochemist Artem Davidenko from DWI Interactive Materials Research at RWTH says, "A thread with a diameter ...
12/29/11
Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation funds a new program for 30 outstanding doctoral students from all over the world 21.12.2011 The Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) establishes a new international PhD program in the Life Sciences with the support of the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation. The ...
12/29/11
Cancer cells are essentially immortal. The acquisition of an unlimited capacity to divide – the process of immortalization - is a central event in the genesis of tumors. Normally, cells are subject to stringent mechanisms which control their proliferation. Together these ensure that ...
12/29/11
Regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are part of the body´;s immune system, downregulate the activity of other immune cells, thus preventing the development of autoimmune diseases or allergies. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now found the activation steps that are ...
12/27/11
Topics Range from European Socialization Processes to the Optimisation of Hearing Aids The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) has approved the establishment of seven new Research Units. This follows a decision by the Joint Committee of Germany's central research ...
12/23/11
Computer model reveals that spatial structure delays tumour formation Cancer growth normally follows a lengthy period of development. Over the course of time, genetic mutations often accumulate in cells, leading first to pre-cancerous conditions and ultimately to tumour growth. Using a ...
12/21/11
Joint Press Release from the Alliance of German Science Organisations The Alliance of German Science Organisations has expressed concern about possible negative implications for research resulting from the ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the interpretation of the term “embryo". ...
12/20/11
The University of Tübingen is to establish a new DFG-funded research training group in which doctoral students from twelve research groups will investigate bacterial survival strategies. The results will contribute to the development of new antimicrobial drugs and also be put to good use in the ...
12/20/11
Jülich, Norge, 19 December 2011 - Researchers at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) and Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany have developed a new method for detailed analyses of electrical activity in the brain. The method, recently published in Neuron, can help doctors and ...
12/19/11
Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have discovered a tiny RNA molecule, called miR-520, which at once blocks two important pathways in the development of cancer in cells. In estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer, the production of this microRNA is often reduced and this is ...
12/16/11
IMPRS – a 10-year success story December 12, 2011 For ten years International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) have been successfully tempting young talented students from all over the world to come to Germany. The IMPRS cooperate with their German partner universities to provide a structured ...
12/15/11
Most Important Research Award Goes to Two Women and Nine Men / Fundamental Insights from Arabic Studies to Oceanography to Cellular Neuroscience Next year’s winners of the most important research award in Germany have been announced: The Joint Committee of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft ...
12/15/11
For the first time it was clearly demonstrated that the forebrain is causally involved in human decision-making. Researchers at the Bernstein Center Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin have for the first time clearly demonstrated that the forebrain is ...
12/15/11
A stroke can affect the learning ability even in remote brain areas. This holds true even if the regions have no known impact on each other. By use of anti-inflammatory drugs, the neuronal networks can regain some of their learning ability. Stroke patients often have difficulties with ...
12/14/11
Münster researchers demonstrate long-term consequences of child abuse by means of magnetic resonance tomography Münster (upm), Mo, 12 Dez 2011 People who were abused as children mostly suffer their whole life long from the psychological consequences. As a result, adults who were exposed to ...
12/13/11
How astrocytes, certain cells of the nervous system, are generated was largely unknown up to now. Bochum’s researchers have now investigated what influence the cell environment, known as the extracellular matrix, has on this process. They found out that the matrix protein tenascin C has to be ...
12/12/11
Freiburger research team isolates food molecules that improve the immune system A group of food molecules, the so called glucosinolates, play animportant role in the function and sustainment of the intestinal immunecells. The team around Prof. Dr. Andreas Diefenbach and Elina Kiss,Institute for ...
12/9/11
Two DKFZ researchers at a time are awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant this year. One of the grants is awarded to a project of Prof. Michael Boutros, who endeavors to show, for the first time, the interaction of all genes in cells of a higher organism. Prof. ...
12/9/11
Biocompatible graphene transistor array reads cellular signals NIM researchers have demonstrated, for the first time, a graphene-based transistor array that is compatible with living biological cells and capable of recording the electrical signals they generate. This proof-of-concept platform ...
12/7/11
Oxidative stress is considered to be involved in a multitude of pathogenic processes and is also implicated in the proces of aging. For the first time, scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have been able to directly observe oxidative changes in ...
12/6/11
Cellzome announces today that Dr. Gitte Neubauer, one of the scientific founders of Cellzome, has received the highly esteemed EU Women Innovators Award. The award recognizes her outstanding contribution in translating academic research into a commercial venture through the foundation of ...
12/6/11
Topics Range from Sustainable Manufacturing to the Preservation of Tropical Rainforests The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) will establish eight Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) as of 1 January 2012. This was agreed by the responsible Grants Committee at its ...
12/5/11
Brussels, 1 December 2011The EU-funded project Pharma-Planta has succeeded in producing an anti-HIV antibody in plants and has tested it in humans, with a positive result. This antibody could one day become an inexpensive component used to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. The "Phase I" clinical ...
12/2/11
Up to now, scientists have assumed that mast cells, a certain type of immune cells, play a central role in the development of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Current studies conducted at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, ...
11/30/11
Despite its side-effects cortisone gets used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis since 1948. Researcher of the Leibniz Institute for Research Age in Jena discovered important details in the mechanism of action that are useful for the separation of the desired therapy and its side-effects. ...
11/29/11
The Minister-President of Bavaria, Horst Seehofer, opens the Diabetes Research Department at the Helmholtz Zentrum München – Leading role in German diabetes research – Strategic alliance with Munich’s Technical University Neuherberg, 16.11.2010. The Minister-President of Bavaria, Horst Seehofer, ...
11/29/11
The first mobile safety laboratory to operate under Biosafety Level 3 has been in use in South Africa since May 2011. As development of the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering in St. Ingbert, this special truck is used for testing and advising patients with AIDS and tuberculosis. The ...
11/29/11
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of sunlight can result in skin damage and may even induce skin cancers. Irradiation with UV light causes mutations in the DNA, which can interfere with or even inhibit the read-out of genetic information and hence affect the cell function. The ...
11/29/11
Dogs can reliably sniff out lung cancer, according to a study carried out by a group of doctors from Stuttgart. The study shows that a dog can accurately detect cancer-specific components by sniffing human breath. The project was started on the initiative of Dr. Rainer Ehmann, a lung specialist ...
11/28/11
The team working with Prof. Oliver Brüstle extracts nerve cells from skin cells to study the cause of the disease Neurodegenerative diseases represent one of the greatest challenges of our aging society. However, investigation into these diseases is made particularly difficult due to the limited ...
11/28/11
Scientists from Max Planck identify gene responsible for hypertension Hypertension is an endemic condition with far-reaching consequences. For instance, high blood pressure is the main cause of heart attacks and strokes. Other organs are also damaged by the chronic condition. Hypertension is ...
11/25/11
Coordinated by the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), a European research consortium is searching for ways to use brown fat tissue for combating widespread diseases such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Gross overweight or obesity is spreading like a pandemic. In 2006, WHO ...
11/25/11
Legend has it that Napoleon never needed more than four hours of sleep at a stretch. Others only feel fully rested after 10 hours between the sheets. Clearly, individuals vary with respect to how much sleep they need. Indeed, sleep duration is influenced by many factors. Apart from seasonal and ...
11/25/11
DFG Establishes 16 New Research Training Groups / Strong Competition between Groups from All Scientific Disciplines / Four International Research Training Groups Represent Increasing Cross-Border Cooperation To further enhance the promotion of early-career researchers in Germany, the Deutsche ...
11/24/11
In the framework of this year’s round of the European Research Council’s (ERC) competition for outstanding researchers, Heidelberg University has totted up a remarkable score. In the field of project-related research funding, three young researchers have been awarded one of the coveted Starting ...
11/24/11
Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospitals have tested a combination of radiation treatment and a substance that blocks the transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β) for treating glioblastoma. In the mouse model, this combination therapy was found ...
11/24/11
As the “recycling plant” of the cell, the proteasome regulates vitally important functions. When it is inhibited, the cell chokes on its own waste. Cancer cells, in particular, are very sensitive because they need the proteasome for their uncontrolled growth. Biochemists at the Technische ...
11/23/11
Robots should become “more intelligent” and more adaptable so that they can be of even greater assistance to humans. To achieve this aim, the University of Würzburg has founded the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Adaptive Robotics. Whether in industrial manufacturing, tumor radiation ...
11/23/11
15.11.11.- CureVac GmbH today announced the signing of several agreements with Sanofi Pasteur S.A., the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY). Under these agreements, CureVac and Sanofi Pasteur will further develop and apply CureVac’s proprietary RNActive® technology platform ...
11/22/11
Recovery depends on the exchange of information between the brain hemispheres The structure of the corpus callosum, a thick band of nerve fibres that connects the two halves of the brain with each other and in this way enables the rapid exchange of information between the left and right ...
11/21/11
Successful conclusion of the first German-Chinese project in manned space flight On 17 November at 19:38 local time (12:38 CET), the Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou-8, carrying the German SIMBOX experiment, landed on schedule in the Gobi desert in Inner Mongolia, completing a successful 17-day ...
11/18/11
Highly endowed award for Professor Dieter Braun LMU-biophysicist Professor Dieter Braun was awarded the Klung-Wilhelmy-Weberbank prize for the year 2011. Worth a total of 100.000 Euro, it is the highest endowed award for junior chemists and physicists in Germany. The foundation board awards the ...
11/18/11
Four researchers of the Max Delbrück Center (MDC) Berlin-Buch will receive a total of eight million euros in research funding from the European Research Council (ERC) in Strasbourg. The two neurobiologists Professor Gary Lewin (MDC) and Professor Thomas Jentsch (MDC/Leibniz-Institut für ...
11/18/11
The German Center for Research and Innovation (GCRI) is proud to announce the launch of its new webpage, Technology Parks & Centers, on http://germaninnovation.org/research-and-innovation/technology-parks-and-centers The GCRI’s web presence is an information platform for North Americans who are ...
11/18/11
Personalized medicine against cancer / Creating new active crop protection ingredients with biotechnology / Electric mobility: materials for the cars of the future Leverkusen, November 2011 - The battle against cancer, safeguarding the food supply and enhanced energy efficiency in daily life are ...
11/15/11
Oncostatin M regulates the reversion of heart muscle cells into precursor cells and is vitally important for the self-healing powers of the heart Cellular reversion processes arise in diseases of the heart muscle, for example myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathy, which limit the fatal ...
11/15/11
The Interdisciplinary Breast Center at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen’s Klinikum rechts der Isar is now offering its patients a new genetic test: it divides patients having hormone-sensitive breast cancer into high and low risk groups. Low risk means that the probability of metastasis ...
11/14/11
First the genome, and now the human epigenome is being placed under the microscope. Researchers from all over the world working under the umbrella of the 2010-founded International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC) are investigating the small chemical markings on genetic material and surrounding ...
11/14/11
Early stage tumor suppression through immune surveillance: HZI researchers describe a new mechanism Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) cell carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. In the majority of cases hepatocellular carcinoma develops after chronic liver damage due ...
11/14/11
Neuherberg, 08.11.11. Scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Ludwig Maximilian University Hospital in Munich have developed a vaccine against the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). If the clinical trial of the vaccine proves successful, immuno-compromised patients at an increased risk of ...
11/11/11
New approaches to the treatment of early-stage liver cancer Neuherberg, 10.11.2011. Scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München have played a major role in two studies that could fundamentally change the medical treatment of liver cancer. Doctors are now able to determine the degree of ...
11/10/11
Many tumors cause chronic inflammations, which, in their turn, suppress specific attacks against the tumor by the immune system. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Medical Faculty Mannheim at Heidelberg University have now shown in mice with melanoma that sildenafil - the ...
11/7/11
Research News Nov 02, 2011 Using plasmas, sealed plastic bags can be modified at atmospheric pressure so that human cells can adhere to and reproduce on their walls. Cell culture bags of this kind are an important aid for research and clinical purposes and may eventually replace the Petri dishes ...
11/2/11
While Prof. Kandel presented his research regarding the nature and mechanical processes of learning and memory, Prof. Staudinger spoke about the interrelationship between humans’ biological make-up and the socio-cultural context of society. Both experts agreed that physical fitness is essential ...
10/24/11
As part of sub-measure 1.4 of the Lüneburg Innovation Incubator, Leuphana Graduate School will grant 10 doctoral scholarships to extraordinarily qualified candidates to promote young academics.
10/21/11
Neuherberg, 11 October 2011. Scientists have developed a new treatment approach for chronic hepatitis-B infections that is set to improve the prospects of eliminating the infection and curing the disease. With the aid of modified short RNAs, researchers participating in a collaborative venture ...
10/21/11
Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht coordinates new EU project In the course of the next four years, the first prototypes of biocompatible magnesium bone implants are to be tested and developed in the scope of the new EU project, “Tailored Biodegradable Magnesium Implant Materials”(MagnIM). This major ...
10/20/11
The TUM has succeeded again in garnering one of the coveted and top-endowed Alexander von Humboldt Professorships. With Professor Matthias Tschöp from Cincinnati, the University gains an internationally renowned expert in metabolic diseases who will carry out research on insulin resistance at ...
10/19/11
In a recently published study, scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have calculated the interrelations between autoimmune diseases and cancer of the digestive tract. They discovered that many autoimmune diseases increase the cancer risk, while ...
10/18/11
Germany’s highest valued international research award goes to four researchers from abroad. A biophysicist, a communications engineer, a medical scientist and a mathematician are the new Alexander von Humboldt professors. The International Award for Research in Germany, worth up to five million ...
10/17/11
No. 53a | 06/10/2011 Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital have discovered a new metabolic pathway / Successful research alliance publishes results in Nature Joint Press Release of the German Cancer Research Center and Heidelberg University ...
10/14/11
How a molecular switch activates the anti-viral innate immune response When a thief breaks into a bank vault, sensors are activated and the alarm is raised. Cells have their own early-warning system for intruders, and scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble, ...
10/12/11
RWTH Mechanical Engineers Develop a New Strategy for Cardiopulmonary Support Custom made artificial lungs and a "seamless" exchange between a cardiopulmonary machine and a lung support system- this is the goal for three young RWTH Aachen biomedical engineers. The engineers, Jutta Arens, Peter ...
10/12/11
"Time is brain" – that is the rule of conduct for a stroke. The faster the blood flow, and thus the oxygen supply in the brain, return to normal, the lesser the damages. According to German Stroke Foundation estimates, about 250,000 citizens are affected every year. In addition to partial ...
10/10/11
Henning Sprekeler, scientist at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, receives one of the world’s best endowed prizes for his research on learning and memory. The Bernstein Award 2011 goes to Dr. Henning Sprekeler, scientist at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU). He was able to convince an ...
10/6/11
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is pleased to learn that Bruce Beutler from the United States, Jules Hoffman from Luxembourg and Canadian Ralph Steinman have won the Nobel Prize for Medicine 2011. It is with great sadness that the Foundation has received news of the death of Ralph ...
10/5/11
Cell cultures form the basis of day-to-day research work in applications that range from the development of drugs and vaccines to the decoding of functions of individual genes. Up until now, cell cultures have been sown, tended, observed and transferred to vessels – all by hand. A new device ...
10/5/11
An evening with Eric Kandel and Ursula Staudinger about the nature of learning, brain plasticity, age-related memory loss, and the impact on cognition of biology and culture, on Thursday, October 13, 2011, at the German Center for Research and Innovation (GCRI) New York. NEW YORK (September 29, ...
10/5/11
Neuherberg, 30.09. 2011. Scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München have shown that people with a good vitamin D supply are at lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study, which was conducted in cooperation with the German Diabetes Center and the University of Ulm, will be ...
10/5/11
Neuherberg, September 26, 2011. Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in understanding lung function and lung health – a first step toward new preventive and therapeutic approaches. The SpiroMeta and CHARGE consortia, in which scientists from Helmholtz Zentrum München are also involved, have ...
10/5/11
Modern endoscopic techniques enable doctors to perform surgery without major incisions. Certain interventions require instruments with special 3-D optics. Researchers have developed an image sensor that transmits perfect 3-D images from inside the human body thanks to the use of microlenses. The ...
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