Cassian Afting, AG Wittbrodt
Controlling organoid development with the help of DNA microspheres
27.09.2024
A research team from Heidelberg University and the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research has developed a new method of molecular engineering. This makes it possible to precisely control organoids and improve their complexity. With the help of DNA microspheres, growth factors can be released in a targeted manner to recreate tissue structures more realistically.
Molly M Bechtel, University of California, Davis
Two-photon microscope enables faster, less harmful brain imaging
26.09.2024
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed a new two-photon fluorescence microscope capable of capturing high-speed images of neural activity with cellular resolution.
Gustavo Raskosky
Superhydrophobic device to model tumor progression
20.09.2024
Rice University bioengineers have harnessed the lotus leaf's unique properties to create a cutting-edge platform for culturing cancer cell clusters. This system offers a new approach to studying tumor progression and metastasis, providing essential insights into cancer biology and treatment.
University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster
Ultrasound promotes blood vessel growth in damaged tissue
19.09.2024
A team of researchers at the University of Rochester has developed a new approach using ultrasound technology to promote the growth of blood vessels in damaged tissue. The method could have significant applications in reconstructive and plastic surgeries, as well as wound healing.
Casey Cass/CU Boulder
3D printed custom implants for the heart
05.09.2024
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, have developed an advanced 3D printing method to create materials that support human tissue effectively. This new approach could lead to significant improvements in personalized medical implants and tissue repair.
S. Rieck/University Hospital Bonn (UKB)
Cardiovascular research: Generation of endothelial cells from stem cells
23.08.2024
Researchers at the University of Bonn and the University Hospital Bonn have developed a cost-effective and efficient method to generate functional endothelial cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).
From lab to market: How vessel-chips are changing drug testing
20.08.2024
As the medical field seeks more ethical and accurate alternatives to traditional drug testing, vessel-chip technology is a prospective solution. This technology promises greater accuracy and a reduced need for animal trials.
Dr Norbert Radasci, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh
3D-printed blood vessels offer new hope for heart bypass surgery
15.08.2024
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed 3D-printed blood vessels that mimic the properties of human veins. These artificial vessels could significantly improve the outcomes of heart bypass surgeries by reducing complications such as scarring, pain, and infection.
University of Notre Dame
LED Implant: A new approach to deep-seated cancer treatment
08.08.2024
A team of engineers and scientists at the University of Notre Dame has developed a wireless LED device that can be implanted to treat deep-seated cancers. This device, when combined with a light-sensitive dye, not only destroys cancer cells but also activates the immune system to target the cancer. The research findings were published in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy.
Alessandro Winkler University Hospital Bonn (UKB)
First successful birth after vitrification of ovarian tissue in Europe
12.06.2024
A team at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) has established a modern method for the cryopreservation of ovarian tissue known as vitrification. This technique is used to preserve fertility before cancer therapies.
Karin Kaiser/MHH
Heart health: New tool developed to investigate telomere length
10.06.2024
A research team from Hannover Medical School (MHH) has developed a new molecular tool to investigate the influence of telomerase on the development of heart muscle cells. This study could have significant implications for the treatment and prevention of heart diseases.
New findings on short-term cultivated CAR T cells in cancer treatment
28.05.2024
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR T) cells are a breakthrough in immunotherapy, offering hope for blood cancer patients who have exhausted other options. These genetically modified cells are designed to attack cancer cells by recognizing specific antigens. The therapy has shown promise, particularly in treating B-cell leukemias and lymphomas.
Plasmids in the human intestine: new findings on their use as biomarkers
27.05.2024
The Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg has published a study in which an international research team reports on the discovery of a potential biomarker from the human intestine. This plasmid could be used in the future to detect fecal contamination or monitor inflammatory bowel diseases. The results were published in the journal Cell.
MPIKG
Harnessing light to control cellular dynamics
23.05.2024
Researchers led by Rumiana Dimova at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces have developed a technique that uses light to understand and control the inner dynamics of cells. By employing lights of different colors, they can alter the interactions within cellular components, offering a precise and non-invasive method to administer drugs directly into the cells.
Hannes Woidich/DWI – Leibniz-Institut für Interaktive Materialien
Sonopharmacology research: Andreas Herrmann awarded ERC Advanced Grant
14.05.2024
Professor Andreas Herrmann, a leading researcher at the DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, has been granted an ERC Advanced Grant totaling €2.5 million by the European Research Council (ERC). This funding will support his research into the use of biocompatible ultrasound for medical applications over the next five years.
Mikaël M. Martino
Unveiling the role of sensory neurons in tissue repair
10.05.2024
Research from Monash and Osaka Universities highlights the key role sensory neurons play in tissue repair and regeneration, marking a significant advancement for regenerative medicine.
Gao et al., 10.1038/s41467-024-46636-7
Bioelectronic mesh for cardiac tissue monitoring
30.04.2024
A team of engineers, led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has developed a cutting-edge bioelectronic mesh system integrated with graphene sensors to monitor both mechanical movement and electrical signals in lab-grown human cardiac tissue.
minkus-images.de/Fraunhofer IWS
Insights into the development of metastases with miniature laboratories
22.04.2024
New developments at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS and partners enable improved research possibilities for cancer therapy using microphysiological systems.
Michelle Bixby/Penn State
3D-printed skin technique potentially enhances reconstructive surgery
15.04.2024
A breakthrough in reconstructive surgery may be on the horizon, as researchers develop a 3D-printed skin that integrates hair follicle precursors, leveraging adipose tissue for more natural results.
TERM/UKW
The potential of nasal cartilage in knee joint treatment
05.04.2024
At the University Hospital Wuerzburg, a promising new treatment for knee joint defects involves the use of nasal cartilage, and it's edging closer to approval with significant EU funding. The new method is using autologous cartilage from the nasal septum, an approach that may seem as enchanting as the term "ENCANTO" implies.
Silke Riegger, 3R-Center
Diabetes: technology enhances molecular understanding
26.03.2024
With over seven million individuals in Germany affected by diabetes, science still faces challenges in drug research. However, under the leadership of Prof. Peter Loskill from both the NMI and the University of Tübingen, scientists have devised a method that markedly enhances our understanding at the molecular and cellular levels within the pancreas.
Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany
Advanced cell sorting with laser and AI
25.03.2024
The Fraunhofer Institutes for Laser Technology ILT and for Production Technology IPT developed a new AI-assisted high-throughput process that enhances cell isolation. This presents vast implications for personalized medicine, drug development, and clinical research.
Determine stroke risk early with tear fluid, mitochondria and AI
08.03.2024
Over 100 million people globally suffer from strokes annually, with ischemic strokes being the most common. However, many strokes go undetected, leading to severe consequences like dementia or depression. Prof. Olga Golubnitschaja from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) has spearheaded a comprehensive approach to assess stroke risk early, focusing on predictive medicine.
POSTECH
Tailored medical adhesives for personalized healing
26.02.2024
POSTECH researchers led by Prof. Hyung Joon Cha, alongside colleagues, introduced groundbreaking personalized underwater bio-adhesive patches (CUBAP) derived from mussel adhesive proteins. This discovery, featured in Advanced Materials, improves biomedical adhesives, offering tailored internal healing solutions.
Universität Bayreuth
Advanced 3D printing technology improves tissue engineering
19.02.2024
Advancements in 3D printing technology are improving tissue engineering, offering promising prospects for the artificial production of biological tissues. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have developed a changing technique that combines hydrogels and fibers, opening new avenues for tissue fabrication.
Viscient Biosciences
Revolutionizing liver disease research with 3D bioprinted model
07.02.2024
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), previously known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a liver disease characterized by inflammation and scarring, reaching epidemic proportions with an estimated 1.5 percent to 6.5 percent of U.S. adults affected.
Advancing reproductive medicine: Funding opportunities
29.01.2024
Jena University Hospital and Friedrich Schiller University Jena proudly announce the establishment of the Jena Center for Early Pregnancy and Reproductive Health (CEPRE), a dynamic interdisciplinary initiative aimed at fostering innovative research in women's reproductive health and early pregnancy.
Determined
A sugar analysis could reveal different types of cancer
22.12.2023
In the future, a little saliva may be enough to detect an incipient cancer. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed an effective way to interpret the changes in sugar molecules that occur in cancer cells.
USZ
Understanding and fighting tumors better with new algorithms
21.12.2023
The University Hospital Zurich, the University of Zurich and the diagnostics company Roche are expanding their collaboration in cancer research. In the fully digitalized Morphomolecular Pathology Laboratory, they are developing algorithms that can further improve the effectiveness of immunotherapies.
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
CERTAINTY: virtual twin for improved cancer immunotherapies
20.12.2023
Together with partners from science, industry and the healthcare sector, the project team led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI aims to develop a virtual twin that will improve treatment with personalized cancer immunotherapies in the future.
privat
Chronic lung diseases: funding for precision medicine
20.12.2023
Associate Professor Dr Jonas Schupp receives funding for his research into chronic lung diseases.
manjurulhaque
Detecting side effects of new drugs on the heart more efficiently
12.12.2023
Scientists at the University Medical Center and the University of Göttingen have developed a novel method to predict the side effects of new drugs and therapeutic approaches on the heart more efficiently.
microgen
TissueGrinder: Improved cell analyses via enhanced-quality sample preparation
07.12.2023
A new method for examining tissue samples could change the way we diagnose and treat cancer. Researchers at the Max Planck and Fraunhofer IPA have developed an automated system based on the principle of enzyme-free tissue processing and the mechanical deformability of individual cells.
Universität Würzburg
PicoRuler: Molecular rulers for high-resolution microscopy
06.12.2023
A team from the Rudolf Virchow Zentrum – Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging at Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg, led by Dr Gerti Beliu and Professor Markus Sauer, presents a groundbreaking advance for the world of high-resolution fluorescence microscopy.
Singh et al. Physics of Fluids (2023) / MPI-CBG
New computer code for mechanics of tissues and cells in three dimensions
28.11.2023
Open-source supercomputer algorithm predicts patterning and dynamics of living materials and enables studying their behavior in space and time.
Vincent Hoban, University College Dublin
World’s first commercial deployment of novel soft X-ray microscope
03.11.2023
SiriusXT Ltd, an Irish technology SME, announced the world’s first commercial deployment of the SXT-100, the company’s unique table-top Soft X-ray Microscope with applications in disease research and the drug discovery process, at the UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research at University College Dublin.
Stephan Spangenberg
UNFOLD research project receives prestigious ERC Synergy Grant
01.11.2023
Physicist and veterinarian Prof. Dr. Kristian Franze, Director at the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin (MPZPM) and Director of the Institute for Medical Physics and Microtissue Engineering at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), has been awarded an ERC Synergy Grant.
David Callahan
Eye implant may be used to treat diabetes
27.10.2023
Researchers in Sweden have developed a microscale device for implantation in the eye, which presents new opportunities for cell-based treatment of diabetes and other diseases.
Barth van Rossum, FMP
Microscopy and fluorescence show how synapses are formed
23.10.2023
How are synapses formed, those points of contact that allow the transmission of information from one neuron to the other? Working with an international team, researchers from the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) have now uncovered a crucial mechanism and elucidated the identity of the axonal transport vesicles that generates synapses.
DIZG
Faster return to health with bone screws made from donated tissue
16.10.2023
During fracture treatment, screws are frequently used to join bone fragments. Traditional metal screws can necessitate additional surgeries during follow-up treatment, extending the healing process. Shark Screw® bone screw, crafted from human tissue, presents significant benefits in this context.
BIPS
White paper: improving record linkage for health research
16.10.2023
In Germany, it is currently difficult to link health data from different sources. The Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS is now presenting a white paper on this topic.
Yulia_Panova
ScPoli enables multi-scale representations of cells and samples
12.10.2023
Computer scientists at Helmholtz Munich developed a generative model named ScPoli that performs data integration of high-quality large-scale datasets of single cells.
NMI
Menopause: leveraging organ-on-chip technology for new insights
09.10.2023
Addressing the impact of female menopause on dynamic resilience and exploring preventive and therapeutic strategies is the aim of an international and interdisciplinary research group led by Prof. Dr. Peter Loskill from the NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute and the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen.
Christian Wißler/UBT
EXIST funding for bacterial magnetic nanoparticles
28.09.2023
BioMagnetix uses bacterial magnetic nanoparticles as innovative materials for biomedical applications. The founding team aims to develop and continuously improve high-quality and highly functional magnetic nanoparticles for imaging techniques and therapeutic purposes, such as cancer treatment.
MPIMIS
Cellular cartography: sizes and abundance revealed
27.09.2023
An international team of scientists has created the first comprehensive index of human cells, mapping the sizes and abundance of all cell types across the entire body.
Knoblich Lab / IMBA-IMP Graphics
Autism: brain organoid shows genetic bases
21.09.2023
Technology, developed by researchers from the Knoblich group at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Treutlein group at ETH Zurich, permits the identification of vulnerable cell types and gene regulatory networks that underlie autism spectrum disorders.
wosunan
Microrobots: opportunities for cancer treatment and wound healing
18.09.2023
A group of researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has developed the world’s first microrobot (“microbot”) capable of navigating within groups of cells and stimulating individual cells.
Jonna Alanko/Science Immunology
How immune cells migrate
11.09.2023
When fighting disease, our immune cells need to reach their target quickly. Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) now discovered that immune cells actively generate their own guidance system to navigate through complex environments.
Joakim Palmqvist
Advanced biosensors to detect tumors, viruses and bacterial diseases
06.09.2023
Linnaeus University is partnering with industry and healthcare to develop advanced biosensors, investing SEK 35 million in a project aimed at faster and cost-effective diagnoses of aggressive lung cancer, viral, and bacterial diseases, potentially enabling self-testing at home.
Beate Armbruster/University Hospital of Tuebingen
Protection for cancer patients
05.09.2023
Tübingen T-cell activator offers protection against coronaviruses in immunocompromised patients
Karin Kaiser / MHH
More impact against cancer
04.09.2023
MHH molecular physician Professor Dr. Dr. Schambach wants to use genetically modified natural killer cells to find new therapeutic options against three particularly malignant cancers. The EU is funding the project with 3.8 million euros
Kateryna Maksymenko
Innovative computational approach helps design proteins for cancer treatment
31.08.2023
A joint team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen and the University Hospital Tübingen has now developed and tested a new computational method to greatly speed up the necessary energy calculations.
Anne Günther/Uni Jena
Timing is key in cortisone treatment of inflammation
30.08.2023
A special type of starch could soon be used as an excipient in medicine to improve the treatment of patients.
LMU
Immunotherapy: Antibody kit to fight tumors
25.08.2023
A new study highlights the potential of artificial DNA structures that, when fitted with antibodies, instruct the immune system to specifically target cancerous cells.
ETH Zürich / Bar-Nur Lab
Building muscle in the lab
23.08.2023
A new method allows large quantities of muscle stem cells to be safely obtained in cell culture.
Elisha Krieg und Yu-Hsuan Peng
Programmable DNA hydrogels for advanced cell culture and personalized medicine
22.08.2023
The team of Dr. Elisha Krieg at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden has developed a dynamic DNA-crosslinked matrix (DyNAtrix) by combining classical synthetic polymers with programmable DNA crosslinkers.
UBC Okanagan
Riding a wave to better medical diagnosis
18.08.2023
New UBC Okanagan research takes aim at improving diagnostic imaging
Wavebreakmedia
Study: Fluidity predicts aggressiveness of cancerous tumours
17.08.2023
Researchers discovered that the consistency of a tumor can have a decisive influence on the further course of cancer.
Cell Press | ©Kolabas et al.
A new ally in fighting brain diseases: our very own skull
16.08.2023
Alzheimer's, stroke, multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases cause severe damage due to neuroinflammation mediated by immune cells.
TU Graz
Light as on-off switch for enzymes
10.08.2023
Researchers at TU Graz have gained new insights into the functioning of a protein found in bacteria, whose enzymatic activity is activated by blue light.
Eijiro Miyako from JAIST
Cancer photoimmunotherapy: novel liquid metal nanoparticles
10.08.2023
JAIST researchers create liquid metal nanoparticles (PEG-IMIQ-LM) for cancer treatment, merging photothermal therapy and immunotherapy. Disintegration delivers immunomodulants and tracks cancer cells in real-time. Immune checkpoint inhibitor enhances cancer removal. Promising for future cancer theranostics, with clinical trials anticipated in a decade.
University of Nottingham
PeptiMatrix: Platform could replace use of animals in research
09.08.2023
PeptiMatrix is the latest spin-out company from the University of Nottingham, providing access to an innovative 3D cell culture platform that aims to replace the use of animals in research.
Hannezo Group | ISTA
Cell dynamics: how cells talk to each other
26.07.2023
Like us, cells communicate. Well, in their own special way. Using waves as their common language, cells tell one another where and when to move.
KIMM
3D bioprinting technology to be used for removing cancer cells
14.07.2023
KIMM develops the world’s first 3D bioprinting technology that enhances the function of NK immune cells. The new technology is expected to improve effectiveness of cancer treatment.
Prostock-studio
Molecular tumor profiling: blood test to determine the optimal cancer therapy
11.07.2023
If a tumor is diagnosed, tissue samples are usually investigated to determine the molecular tumor profile for personalized cancer treatment. However, tissue biopsy cannot be performed in all affected individuals. Therefore, the University Hospital Zurich has licensed a liquid biopsy for the analysis of more than 300 genes and offers this test as a modern diagnostic method to tumor patients.
rawf8
Improved cancer therapy: TimeTeller shows what makes the body tick
06.07.2023
Using the internal clock to optimize chemotherapies in cancer treatment - that is the goal of the start-up TimeTeller. If the drugs are administered at the ideal time of day for chemotherapy, it can reduce side effects and improve the effect. TimeTeller has developed a method for determining the internal clock to make this possible.
Leipzig University
Multiple sclerosis: Myelin may be detrimental to nerve fibres
05.07.2023
Researchers at Leipzig University and Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen have discovered that myelin, which was previously thought to be solely protective, can actually threaten the survival of the axons.
Alex Dolce, Florida Atlantic University
Sickle cell disease: portable tool for diagnosis, monitoring receives U.S. patent
30.06.2023
Using microfluidics, flow cytometry and electrical impedance, Sarah Du recently received a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a novel invention that will offer patients a better way to manage their disease.
Universidad de Barcelona
New biomarkers of non-small cell lung cancer discovered
27.06.2023
Researchers of the University of Barcelona and the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) have identified new biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer, the most common lung cancer.
Buntan2019
Biofilms: Infection model from the 3D printer
21.06.2023
Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) have developed a novel method to place biofilms on lung cells in the laboratory. The model system produced by means of "bioprinting" should help to better understand infection processes and assist in the development of new active substances.
HZDR/Sahneweiß
Magnetic stimulation: potential therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases
19.06.2023
Motor neurons in healthy individuals send signals to the skeletal muscles. ALS, however, is currently an incurable, neurodegenerative disease in which motor neurons are severely damaged and can therefore no longer transmit these signals. An interdisciplinary team at HZDR has proven in cell experiments that magnetic fields can restore impaired motor neurons.
yavdat
AI enables first integrated single-cell atlas of the lung
15.06.2023
Can a human organ be mapped on a single-cell level to learn more about each individual cell? And can we learn how different these cells are from person to person? Helmholtz Munich researchers and their collaborators have taken up this challenge and developed the Human Lung Cell Atlas using artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques.
maxxyustas
Corona: The virus needs only a single door opener
15.06.2023
Why is the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus able to spread so efficiently? Various hypotheses are still circulating in the scientific community. A group of researchers from Würzburg has now found groundbreaking answers.
MPI für Multidisziplinäre Naturwissenschaften
Dementia: poorly insulated nerve cells promote Alzheimer's disease in old age
08.06.2023
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen have shown that defective myelin actively promotes disease-related changes in Alzheimer’s. Slowing down age-related myelin damage could open up new ways to prevent the disease or delay its progression in the future.
Benjamin Mosch
Imaging: MRI shows how fibromyalgia changes the brain
05.06.2023
A team from the LWL Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, has investigated the brain changes that are related to the disorder.
Fotogenia - Renate Trummer
Tissue Engineering: TU Graz revolutionises production of biocompatible microfibres
02.06.2023
Using a newly developed method for the efficient and cost-effective production of biocompatible microfibres, the production of autologous skin and organs can be significantly accelerated. Responsible for the development are Carole Planchette and her team from TU Graz.
Swen Pförtner MPI
Multiple Sclerosis: structural changes in brain tissue promote inflammatory processes
31.05.2023
A German-Dutch research team has shown that ultrastructural changes in healthy areas in the white matter of MS patients make the tissue more susceptible to inflammation and the formation of lesions
NTU Singapore
Why wavy wounds heal faster than straight wounds
19.05.2023
Wavy wounds heal faster than straight wounds because shapes influence cell movements, a team of researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has found.
University of Surrey
UK AI world leader in identifying location and expression of proteins
18.05.2023
A new advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system has shown world-leading accuracy and speed in identifying protein patterns within individual cells.
WFIRM
Bioprinting research makes history when it soars to the ISS
17.05.2023
The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) will make history this month when the first bioprinted solid tissue constructs soar to the International Space Station (ISS) on board the next all private astronaut mission by commercial space leader Axiom Space.
UBT / Chr. Wißler.
Regenerative medicine: cell-specific properties of novel spider silk materials
12.05.2023
Materials made of spider silk can be specifically modified or processed in such a way that living cells of a certain type adhere to them, grow and proliferate. This has been discovered by researchers at the University of Bayreuth under the direction of Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel.
DZNE/AG Milovanovic
Tuning brain cells with light
11.05.2023
An international research team, comprising scientists from University Hospital Bonn, DZNE, the Netherlands, and the US has been awarded a US$ 1.3 million grant by the “Human Frontier Science Program” to investigate brain immune cells and manipulate them via light irradiation.
Messe Düsseldorf
With stem cell model on the trail of congenital diaphragmatic hernia
09.05.2023
Researchers have designed a new stem cell model to study congenital diaphragmatic hernia in newborns with underdeveloped lungs. They were able to isolate stem cells from the fluid that is suctioned from the baby’s lungs and normally gets discarded and use them as a foundation for the model.
Berend Snijder Lab / ETH Zurich
How to fight blood cancer more effectively
05.05.2023
Despite approved treatments being available, multiple myeloma remains incurable. But researchers at ETH Zurich and University Hospital Zurich set out to improve treatment outcomes by testing hundreds of existing therapeutics outside the body to predict their effectiveness.
nd3000
Atrial fibrillation: Targeted drug therapy approach discovered for the first time
04.05.2023
When the heart gets out of rhythm, characteristic processes occur in the heart muscle cells. Among other things, the currents of electrically charged particles (ions) change. In chronic atrial fibrillation, one of these currents is reduced.
RUB, Marquard
Effects of brain stimulation amenable to conditioning
28.04.2023
Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have successfully implemented a special form of classical conditioning. They showed on a group of 75 people that effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be triggered solely by listening to a tone.
Magnus Johansson
Wound dressing reveals infection
26.04.2023
A nanocellulose wound dressing that can reveal early signs of infection without interfering with the healing process has been developed by researchers at Linköping University, Sweden.
INP
Plasma against precancerous skin lesions: EU funds international doctoral candidates network
24.04.2023
Under the leadership of the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), the international doctoral candidates network PlasmACT is investigating the use of medical gas plasma technology as a treatment method.
Pekka Ruusuvuori
AI-based method to replace chemical staining of tissue
21.04.2023
Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence-based method for virtual staining of histopathological tissue samples as a part of the Nordic ABCAP consortium.
Science Brush | Hassan A. Tahini
How electricity can heal wounds three times as fast
21.04.2023
Using electric stimulation, researchers in a project at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and the University of Freiburg, Germany, have developed a method that speeds up the healing process, making wounds heal three times faster.
Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine
Microelectrode array: hammock for brain organoids
20.04.2023
Novel microelectrode array system enables long-term cultivation and electrophysiological analyses of brain organoids.
Cyborg and Bionic Systems
Bioprinting technology and AI enable high quality in vitro models
19.04.2023
In the process of organoid manufacturing, bioprinting technology not only facilitates the creation and maintenance of complex biological 3D shapes and structures, but also allows for standardization and quality control during production.
Daniel Kokotek
New method makes rare cell types visible
13.04.2023
In cooperation with Helmholtz Munich, Professor Matthias Meier from the Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine at Leipzig University and his research group have developed a new, effective and comparatively inexpensive method to make rare cell types, cell communication types and disease patterns visible in tissue.
Fraunhofer-Translationszentrum/Fraunhofer ISC
SAPs4Tissue: human tissue models with customized biomaterials
12.04.2023
In a joint project of the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, and the Translational Center for Regenerative Therapies at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, Würzburg, scientific principles and biomaterials for the standardized production of valid tissue models are to be developed.
Daniel Delang / TUM
Mini-heart in a Petri dish: organoid emulates development of the human heart
11.04.2023
The team working with Alessandra Moretti, Professor of Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease, has developed a method for making a sort of "mini-heart" using pluripotent stem cells.
ONWARD Medical NV
PANDORA test could pave the way for better oral cancer detection
06.04.2023
Surrey scientists have developed a proof-of-concept test called PANDORA that was shown to be over 92% accurate at identifying patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The test was also shown to be more than 80% accurate at identifying patients with pre-cancer or oral epithelial dysplasia (OED).
Universidad de Barcelona
Microfluidics physics-based device to predict cancer therapy response
06.04.2023
A team of experts has designed a microfluidic device called microfluidic dynamic BH3 profiling (μDBP) that predicts the effectiveness of cancer treatment quickly and automatically.
Gustavo Raskosky/Rice University
Upgraded tumor model optimizes search for cancer therapies
27.03.2023
Rice University researchers developed an upgraded tumor model that houses osteosarcoma cells beside immune cells known as macrophages inside a three-dimensional structure engineered to mimic bone. Using the model, bioengineer Antonios Mikos and collaborators found that the body’s immune response can make tumor cells more resistant to chemotherapy.
University of the West of Scotland
Radiology: Research could improve cancer treatment
22.03.2023
UWS School of Computing Engineering and Physical Sciences are developing breakthrough investigations into advanced radiation treatment technique, after receiving funding from Cancer Research UK RadNet – the charity's radiation research network.
JoPanwatD
AI finds targets for CAR-T cell therapy against acute myeloid leukemia
20.03.2023
Unlike other forms of blood cancer, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cannot currently be treated with CAR-T cell immunotherapy. The reason is that specific molecular targets with which certain immune cells could specifically target AML cells are lacking, which would permit the immune system to attack cancer.
ckstockphoto
Smart microscopy works out where to take the picture
16.03.2023
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now developed a software solution for smart, data-driven microscopy, which makes this possible.
Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung
Further advance in super-resolution fluorescence microscopy
16.03.2023
Scientists led by Nobel Laureate Stefan Hell at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg have developed a super-resolution microscope with a spatio-temporal precision of one nanometer per millisecond.
Colourbox
Stem cell model: research into malformation of the newborn lung
15.03.2023
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is one of the deadliest birth defects. To better understand and treat this condition in the future, an international team of researchers involving Leipzig University Hospital designed a new cell model in the laboratory and tested a drug therapy on it.
Carlos Marques / ENS Lyon
Standard model of electroporation refuted
15.03.2023
Technology developed at the University of Freiburg enables experimental test. The new findings could help to improve the transport of active substances into cells
manjurulhaque
RIANA: Viennese start-up develops novel, precise anti-cancer drugs
14.03.2023
The technological basis is a proprietary platform technology for the discovery of drugs that target cancer-causing protein-protein interactions (PPIs).
Fraunhofer ISC
Innovative in vitro eye irritation test to replace standard animal testing
10.03.2023
Researchers at the Translational Center for Regenerative Therapies TLC-RT of the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC want to work with partners to replace animal testing.
AG Hoelzel/UKB
Artificial intelligence to help tumor immunology
09.03.2023
Developing methods to predict the nature of the tumor microenvironment is the goal of researchers from the Clusters of Excellence ImmunoSensation2 and the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics (HCM) led by Prof. Kevin Thurley at the University of Bonn.
FBH/P. Immerz
Entangled photon pairs to help fighting cancer
06.03.2023
The recently launched QEED project aims to significantly reduce measurement time in clinical cancer diagnostics by developing a spectrally resolved imaging technique based on entangled photon pairs. FBH scientists will develop the required diode lasers and quantum light modules.
DC_Studio
New artificial model validates antibodies ability to reach the brain
03.03.2023
A research group at Uppsala University has developed a simple and effective artificial blood-brain barrier model that can be used to determine how well antibody-based therapies can enter the brain.
Satoshi Tanikawa, et al. 2023
Healing the brain: hydrogels enable neuronal tissue growth
03.03.2023
Synthetic hydrogels were shown to provide an effective scaffold for neuronal tissue growth in areas of brain damage, providing a possible approach for brain tissue reconstruction.
imagesourcecurated
Electrodes grown in the brain – paving the way for future therapies for neurological disorders
02.03.2023
The boundaries between biology and technology are becoming blurred. Researchers at Linköping, Lund, and Gothenburg universities in Sweden have successfully grown electrodes in living tissue using the body’s molecules as triggers. The result, published in the journal Science, paves the way for the formation of fully integrated electronic circuits in living organisms.
Karin Kaiser / MHH
What leads to severe COVID-19 diseases?
01.03.2023
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 leads to severe disease in some people, while others do not get ill or only experience mild disease. But why is this the case? Unfortunately, we do not know exactly. We do know that an overactive innate immune system is causing severe COVID-19 disease, but it is unclear how this is regulated.
RUB, Marquard
AI with infrared imaging enables precise colon cancer diagnostics
23.02.2023
Researchers at the Centre for Protein Diagnostics PRODI at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, are using artificial intelligence in combination with infrared imaging to optimally tailor colon cancer therapy to individual patients.
Pressmaster
AI analyses cell movement under the microscope
22.02.2023
The enormous amount of data obtained by filming biological processes using a microscope has previously been an obstacle for analyses.
HAWK
Imaging: role of immune cells in early diabetic cataract development
22.02.2023
The team of researchers, led by Prof. Dr. Ali Hafezi-Moghadam, Director of the Molecular Biomarkers Nano-Imaging Laboratory (MBNI), in collaboration with Professor Dr. Christoph Rußmann, Dean of the Health Campus and a Visiting Professor at MBNI, found early signs of damage in the eye before the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Kai Melde, MPI für medizinische Forschung
Creating 3D objects with sound
17.02.2023
Scientists from the Micro, Nano and Molecular Systems Lab at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research and the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials at Heidelberg University have created a new technology to assemble matter in 3D.
HIPS/Boese
New cell model for the human lung
16.02.2023
A team led by Prof Claus-Michael Lehr of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) has developed a novel human lung cell line that should enable much more accurate predictions of the behavior of active substances or dosage forms in humans than previous systems.
Fraunhofer ISC
Bioresorbable membrane for healing internal and external wounds
10.02.2023
Fraunhofer researchers have succeeded in using the bioresorbable silica gel Renacer to produce an electrospun membrane that is neither cytotoxic to cells nor genotoxic.
POSTECH
Treating cornea ulcers with diagnostic light instead of corneal transplantation
08.02.2023
Recently, a Korean joint research team from POSTECH-KKU has developed a new tissue adhesive that restores the damaged cornea by simply filling it and exposing it to light.
PeterHermesFurian
"Spleen-on-a-chip" yields insight into sickle cell disease
06.02.2023
With this microfluidic device, researchers modeled how sickled blood cells clog the spleen’s filters, leading to a potentially life-threatening condition.
MPI-P
New insights into the utilization of nanotechnology-based drugs
01.02.2023
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have now followed the path of such a particle into a cell using a combination of several microscopy methods. They were able to observe a cell-internal process that effectively separates blood components and nanoparticles.
iLexx
The architecture of shattered genomes
27.01.2023
Hunting for disease clues in the dark matter of our DNA. Scientists have reconstructed the chromosomes of patients with an extremely high number of aberrations in their genome that could alter the expression of nearby genes and potentially cause disease. Their results were published in Nature Communications in October 2022.
Universitätsmedizin Halle
Long COVID: blood values indicate reprogramming of immune cells
26.01.2023
The underlying mechanisms of long COVID are not yet fully understood. Molecular clues to different subgroups of long COVID have now been provided by a research group at University Medicine Halle.
Beachbumledford
Controlled manufacture, storage and freezing of artificial retinal cells
25.01.2023
Fraunhofer researchers have now developed a new method for the production and clinical application of stem-cell-based retinal implants, which could contribute towards the successful treatment of AMD.
manjurulhaque
Analyzing disease progression and cell processes with TIGER: in vivo and non-invasively
18.01.2023
Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) and the Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) in Würzburg have developed a technology they call TIGER. It allows complex processes in individual cells to be deciphered in vivo by recording past RNA transcripts.
Amac Garbe/Fraunhofer IWS
Radioactive substances fight cancer in the mini-lab
13.01.2023
Two Dresden research institutes want to reduce the number of animal experiments in radiopharmaceutical research with a new idea.
Aalto University
Gaining unprecedented view of small molecules by machine learning
06.01.2023
A new tool to identify small molecules offers benefits for diagnostics, drug discovery and fundamental research. A new machine learning model will help scientists identify small molecules, with applications in medicine, drug discovery and environmental chemistry.
Messe Düsseldorf/C. Tillmann
RNA technologies make targeted immune activation possible
03.11.2022
MEDICA 2022 is right around the corner, ready to deliver insights into the advancements and innovations in laboratory medicine. One of the key topics of the MEDICA LABMED Forum is RNA technologies and the wide range of applications that involve cell biology. RNA technologies not only enable Covid-19 vaccines but promise an array of treatment options for genetic diseases, in and beyond oncology.
DC_Studio
Diagnosing breast cancer through liquid biopsy
22.09.2022
Breast cancer diagnosis usually includes invasive testing with tissue biopsies. The samples have to be extracted from the cancerous tissue or cells. To make the process easier on the patients, the project LIBIMEDOTS is currently developing a different approach with liquid biopsy technology.
Susanne Vondenbusch-Teetz, MPI for Biochemistry
Deep Visual Proteomics: tracking down cancer
08.09.2022
Proteins are frequently called the building blocks of life because they are found everywhere, including in our cells. This makes them an important factor when it comes to diseases. As a result, mapping the protein landscape can be a crucial ally in the fight against diseases. Now, a German-Danish team has developed a method that provides researchers with unprecedented insights into cancer.
DC_Studio
Why some people get a more severe COVID-19 progression than others
22.08.2022
A team of scientists from the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) together with colleagues from the United Kingdom and Canada have found genes and proteins that contribute to a higher risk of severe COVID-19.
MICROGEN@GMAIL.COM
Molecular markers: predicting the most effective treatment for IBD
09.08.2022
Early effective treatment can help manage this condition and improve the quality of life of patients. A research project aims to identify molecular markers to better assess the chances of success of certain biological therapies and subsequently determine the best individualized treatment plan.
Felix Petermann | MDC
Project "ikarus" provides new insights for cancer research
01.08.2022
Artificial intelligence (AI) is about to become a game changer, especially in diagnostics. However, there are still limits to the use of AI. Dr. Altuna Akalin had to recognize this as well. The head of the Max Delbrück Center's (MDC) technology platform for "Bioinformatics and Omics Data Science" developed "ikarus" with his team.
Berthold Steinhilber
Ex vivo obesity research thanks to the adipose-on-chip system
08.07.2022
Ex vivo studies of human obesity without animal testing? The Adipose-on-Chip system offers a solution that allows scientists to gain better insights into various obesity-linked secondary diseases and comorbidities in the future.
Karin Kaiser/MHH
Prevention of cervical cancer with HPV self-testing
28.10.2021
Cervical cancer is one of the most common diseases of the female reproductive organs. Human papilloma viruses are almost always responsible for cervical cancer and the corresponding precancerous lesions. As part of the statutory preventive medical check-up, women from the age of 20 can have a cell smear taken from the cervix once a year, the so-called Pap test, to detect cell changes.
PantherMedia/Wavebreakmedia Ltd
Controlling insulin production with a smartwatch
15.06.2021
Many modern fitness trackers and smartwatches feature integrated LEDs. The green light emitted, whether continuous or pulsed, penetrates the skin and can be used to measure the wearer's heart rate during physical activity or while at rest.
Tissue Engineering and Bioprinting – From artificial heart valves and printed humans
27.01.2021
Drug research and artificial skin replacement - these are the areas in which tissue engineering and bioprinting are already used today. What else could be possible in the future? We asked Dr. Nadine Nottrodt from Fraunhofer ILT and Prof. Sabine Neuß-Stein from RWTH Aachen University Hospital!
RUDN University
Wound-healing gel with metabolic products of trichoderma
07.12.2020
Researchers from the Department of Biochemistry of RUDN University developed a wound-healing gel based on a substance that is produced by Trichoderma fungi. The results of the study were published in the Nov.-Dec. 2020 issue Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy journal.
Bioprinting: life from the printer
01.12.2020
It aims at the production of test systems for drug research and gives patients on the waiting lists for donor organs hope: bioprinting. Thereby biologically functional tissues are printed. But how does that actually work? What are the different bioprinting methods? And can entire organs be printed with it? These and other questions are examined in our Topic of the Month.
Multi-photon lithography: printing cells with micrometer accuracy
01.12.2020
How do cells react to certain drugs? And how exactly is new tissue created? This can be analyzed by using bioprinting to embed cells in fine frameworks. However, current methods are often imprecise or too slow to process cells before they are damaged. At the TU Vienna, a high-resolution bioprinting process has now been developed using a new bio-ink.
"Cells are highly sensitive" – material development for bioprinting
01.12.2020
The big hope of bioprinting is to someday be able to print whole human organs. So far, the process has been limited to testing platforms such as organs-on-a-chip. That's because the actual printing process already poses challenges. Scientists need suitable printing materials that ensure the cell's survival as it undergoes the procedure. The Fraunhofer IGB is researching and analyzing this aspect.
Printed life – possibilities and limits of bioprinting
01.12.2020
Implants, prostheses and various other components made of plastic, metal or ceramics are already being produced by additive manufacturing. But skin, blood vessels or entire organs from the printer – is that possible? For years now, intensive research has been underway into the production of biologically functional tissue using printing processes. Some things are already possible with bioprinting.
Smartlab – Robotics and automation in the laboratory
15.09.2020
Some tasks in the laboratory are repetitive, need to be done extremely precise and require a lot of time. Such tasks are very tedious for humans, but they are tailor-made for robots. Such is the case with the "AutoCRAT" project at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in Aachen. Here, a robotic platform is developed to produce stem cells for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Medical products made of collagen - Biocompatible, elastic, stable
19.03.2020
Regenerative medicine often relies on implants and materials that support healing in our body. Collagen has a special significance here. It is compatible to the body and offers an excellent environment for the growing of new cells. In our video, we took a look on where collagen and collagen products for medicine come from.
Angiogenesis: light shows blood vessels the way
03.02.2020
Regenerative medicine aims to replace damage in the body with functional tissue and restore normal function. The first defense for large defects are implants made of hydrogels, designed to promote cell growth. They need their own blood supply, which is a problem when it comes to larger implants because you cannot regulate where and how the blood vessels grow - until now.
Regenerative medicine: helps the body healing
03.02.2020
Severe wounds heal slowly and leave scars. This is why we have been using regenerative therapies for some time now to accelerate and improve healing. They also help to avoid permanent damage. Still, complex applications like replacing organs or limbs will rather remain vision than become reality for a long time.
Fraunhofer ISS
AI software: "iSTIX opens your world to the possibilities of digital pathology"
08.10.2019
The healthcare market offers a multitude of microscopes that make cells visible to the human eye. The same applies to AI-based software for image analysis. After taking the microscopic images, scientist are faced with large volumes of scans with usually low resolution. Yet when all aspects merge together, they open up a the world of digital pathology.
Multi-organ chips: Drug research without animal testing at vasQlab
15.05.2019
New active substances that are suitable for drugs are initially tested in animal experiments. However, the results cannot always be transferred to the human organism. At the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Prof. Ute Schepers from vasQlab explains how active substances can be tested in human tissue without endangering human health.
Multi-Organ Chips – The Patients of Tomorrow?
01.02.2019
The liver, nervous tissue or the intestines: all are important human organs that have in the past been tested for their function and compatibility using animal or in vitro test methods. In recent years, TissUse GmbH, a spin-off of the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin), has launched multi-organ chip platforms. But that’s not all.
Organ-on-a-chip – Organs in miniature format
01.02.2019
In vitro processes and animal tests are used to develop new medications and novel therapeutic approaches. However, animal testing raises important ethical concerns. Organ-on-a-chip models promise to be a feasible alternative. In a system the size of a smartphone, organs are connected using artificial circulation.
Organ-on-a-chip systems: limited validity?
01.02.2019
Organ-on-a-chip systems are technically a great enhancement of medical research because they facilitate testing of active ingredients on cell cultures in the chambers of a plastic chip. This replaces animal testing and improves patient safety. That being said, they are not a true-to-life replication of the human body and can only simulate a few functions and activities.