Press Releases
Twelve sicentists ranking in the top 1%
© dkfz.de
Twelve scientists who conduct research at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) or head joint bridge departments with the DKFZ have made it to the top in 2024: they are among the leading one percent of the world's most cited researchers in their respective fields. Scientists whose work is particularly frequently cited by peers are considered to have above-average recognition in their field. Therefore, citation frequency is one of the important metrics for measuring the influence and performance of individual researchers.
Selenium proteins as a possible new target for cancer research
Metastasis of a neuroblastoma in a mouse model
© dkfz.de
An important enzyme helps the body produce selenium proteins – this discovery could open up new strategies for treating cancer in children. This has been published by scientists from the University of Würzburg, the University Sao Paolo, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Heidelberg Stem Cell Institute HI-STEM*.
New vaccines offer hope for brain tumor patients
Michael Platten
© J. Jung/DKFZ
Michael Platten is the winner of the "Breakthrough of the Year 2024" in the Life Sciences category of the Falling Walls Foundation.
Language model "UroBot“ surpasses the accuracy of experienced urologists
© Fotolia
Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), together with doctors from the Urological Clinic of the Mannheim University Hospital, have developed and successfully tested a chatbot based on artificial intelligence. "UroBot" was able to answer questions from the urology specialist examination with a high degree of accuracy, surpassing both other language models and the accuracy of experienced urologists. The model justifies its answers in detail based on the guidelines.
Critical Pathway for rare brain tumor discovered
Crystal Structure of Wnt8
© Kevinmjude/Wikipedia
Choroid plexus tumors mainly affect toddlers under one year of age. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now been able to show that a permanently activated important signaling pathway of intracellular communication is responsible for the development of these rare brain tumors.
Stronger together: miniature robots in convoy for endoscopic surgery
© dkfz.de
Miniature robots on the millimeter scale often lack the strength to transport instruments for endoscopic microsurgery through the body. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) are now combining several millimeter-sized TrainBots into one unit and equipping them with improved "feet". For the first time, the DKFZ team was able to perform an electric surgical procedure on a bile duct obstruction experimentally with a robotic convoy.
How do rare genetic variants affect health? AI provides more accurate predictions
© dkfz.de
Whether we are predisposed to particular diseases depends to a large extent on the countless variants in our genome. However, particularly in the case of genetic variants that only rarely occur in the population, the influence on the presentation of certain pathological traits has so far been difficult to determine. Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the Technical University of Munich have introduced an algorithm based on deep learning that can predict the effects of rare genetic variants. The method allows persons with high risk of disease to be distinguished more precisely and facilitates the identification of genes that are involved in the development of diseases.
Helmholtz High Impact Award 2024 presented
Ferdi Schüth, Juryvorsitzender, Direktor am Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenf...
© Helmholtz/Phil Dera
The Helmholtz Association and the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft have awarded the biochemist Oliver Bruns (NCT/UCC Dresden and DKFZ) and the chemist Ellen Sletten (UCLA) with the Helmholtz High Impact Award 2024. Both are honored for their research on a new medical imaging technology in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range, which has the potential to significantly improve the surgical removal of tumors. The scientific prize, endowed with €50,000, recognizes interdisciplinary research that addresses major challenges in science, industry, or society.
ERC Starting Grant for DKFZ researcher Jens Puschhof
Jens Puschhof
© J. Jung/DKFZ
Funding from the European Research Council (ERC) is regarded as an accolade for scientists at all career stages. With its "Starting Grants", the ERC aims to pave the way to an independent career for excellent young researchers. This year, Jens Puschhof from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) has been awarded the prestigious grant. The funding will enable Puschhof to investigate the role played by bacteria that colonize cancer metastases in the spread of the tumour in the body. The results could reveal new ways of containing or preventing dangerous cancer metastases.
Epigenetic changes reprogram astrocytes into brain stem cells
An astrocyte cell grown in tissue culture stained with antibodies to GFAP a...
© GerryShaw / Wikipedia
Resting brain stem cells hardly differ from normal astrocytes, which support the nerve cells in the brain. How can almost identical cells perform such different functions? The key lies in the methylation of their genetic material, which gives these special astrocytes stem cell properties. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University have published their findings in the journal Nature. In mice, the researchers showed that experimentally induced lack of blood flow in the brain epigenetically reprograms astrocytes into brain stem cells, which in turn can give rise to nerve progenitor cells. This discovery shows that astrocytes could potentially be used in regenerative medicine to replace damaged nerve cells.
