Bioeconomy

At the end of the year Alessandro Banchi 62 Chairman of the Board of Directors at Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH and head of Marketing and Sales is to be succeeded by the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors Dr. Andreas Barner 55.

Plants are unable to survive without sulphur. Sulphur is an important constituent of many proteins but also of glutathione a central molecule in plants response to stress. The metabolism of sulphur is an important field of research of Prof. Dr. Heinz Rennenberg at the University of Freiburg.

Results obtained by scientists at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University Hospital of Heidelberg show that in contrast to previous assumptions the tumour necrosis factor alpha TNF-alpha has no influence on pain and mobility.

Integrated concepts are the recipe for success for the new director of the Fraunhofer Institute of Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart. Hirth himself is a chemist but during his long Fraunhofer career he has always managed to successfully integrate neighbouring fields into his projects.

Dr. Frank Brändle and Dr. Marco Thines managing directors of PathoScan GbR in Hohenheim have developed a PCR-based test system which allows the detection of fungi and bacteria in seed at very early stages. The test system will be patented in the near future.

Dr. Frank Brändle and Dr. Marco Thines managing directors of PathoScan GbR in Hohenheim have developed a PCR-based test system which allows the detection of fungi and bacteria in seed at very early stages. The test system will be patented in the near future.

Eight projects in the preclinical and first clinical stage will be transferred to 4SC. Nycomed decided not to further invest in oncology RD activities. 4SC develops drug candidates for inflammatory diseases cancer and infectious diseases.

Dr. Gerhard Leubner from the University of Freiburg is investigating the regulation of seed dormancy and the onset of germination. The scientists insights are extremely valuable for companies that are working on the optimisation of seeds for agricultural purposes.

In Germany one couple in ten is unable to conceive naturally. There are a number of different in vitro fertilisation methods available for those who wish to have children. However the potential risks to the child are still unknown.

The Hartmann Group based in Heidenheim continues to grow in the first quarter of 2008. Sales increased 6.3 over the last year sales volume increased 7.1. The company expects further growth in sales and volume for the year 2008.

Cells with irreparable DNA damage normally induce programmed cell death, or apoptosis. However, this mechanism often fails in tumor cells so that transformed cells are able to multiply and spread throughout the body. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center have now discovered a possible cause of this failure.

The optics and electronics specialist Carl Zeiss AG Oberkochen is optimistic about the first six months of 20072008 30th September despite decreasing investment activity in the semiconductor industry. For the second six months the company expects a slight slowdown in the revenues the company generates in this business group. In the first half of the fiscal year the Semiconductor Technology Group recorded further strong growth up 16 and generated…

Press release - 20/06/2008

Tick-free forest playground

Sweating on a keep-fit track grilling sausages in a BBQ area these innocent activities always have an element of danger involved namely the fear of ticks. Researchers at the University of Hohenheim are developing biological methods to eradicate tick.

Article - 20/06/2008

No unanimous feedback possible

At the beginning of the year 2009 the first bachelors degree students will graduate from Furtwangen University of Applied Science in disciplines including bio- and process technology BPT and medical technology MEB. What does the first generation of bachelors students think about their life sciences courses? Karin Bundschuh from the Freiburg BioRegion talked with the Universitys academic dean Professor Anton Karle and some students.

Article - 17/06/2008

"Study and work abroad!”"

Quick practically oriented and above all international The new bachelor and masters degrees in the natural sciences have been introduced to bring German university qualifications into line with the requirements of the international job market as well as to facilitate the uncomplicated exchange of scientists across the globe. However not everything always works out as planned. Research abroad is often limited by time and money.

Among the 20 winners in the first round of the BMBF contest Health Regions of the Future were five concepts from Baden-Württemberg. In the coming nine months the chosen health regions will turn their concepts into full proposals.

Apogenix GmbH a biopharmaceutical company announced the closing of its second financing round. dievini Hopp BioTech holding GmbH Co. KG the investment company of SAP co-founder Dietmar Hopp was the main investor.

Cerebral haemorrhage accounts for about 15 per cent of all incidences of stroke. About 80 per cent of survivors are left with a severe disability. An international trial has shown that the Factor VIIa protein might reduce the extent of cerebral haemorrhage.

Layers of plastic much thinner than a strand of hair are of enormous interest to scientists and engineers. A team of researchers led by Prof. Stefan Mecking from Constance University has now developed a new method to produce wafer-thin layers.

The interdisciplinary team in the Clinical Pharmacy Cooperation Unit at the University Hospital of Heidelberg has developed a tool for preventing errors when medication is changed.

ResearchGATE which was launched at the end of May 2008 is a free web-based science environment for scientists. Registered users can set up their personal profiles and present their scientific work as well as exchange information with other scientists.

Many cancer patients lose a lot of weight Free fatty acids accumulate in the liver and this eventually leads to fatty liver in affected patients. What is called tumor cachexia appears to be caused by signals emitted by the tumor itself.

In the Centre of Applied Photonics CAP at the University of Constance interdisciplinary teams of researchers are working on new optical technologies with a special focus on laser technology.

Professor Heiko Möller teaches chemistry at the University of Constance and is a specialist in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. He enjoys working with other people including colleagues from the field of chemistry and also biologists and tropical disease specialists. Möller returned from the USA to accept a junior professor position at Constance University.

Article - 09/06/2008

Moderate growth

In 2007 the German biotechnology sector was marked by moderate growth. Turnover climbed over two billion euros and research and development expenditure reached one billion euros. These are the central findings of the latest company survey carried out by biotechnologie.de.