Research

EMBL researchers showed for the first time that adding a sugar to proteins inside cells is crucial for embryo development and for shutting down completely harmful parts of the genome in vivo Protein modifications are key to cell survival because they ensure they do what they are supposed to do in a healthy system. One […]

Study identifies a novel mechanism driving osteosarcoma and provides insights to help predict patient outcomes Summary Osteosarcoma is a type of aggressive bone cancer that most commonly affects children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 20, during times of rapid bone growth. Although rare, it has a significant impact on young people […]

If the development of blood vessels in the placenta is impaired, fetal growth retardation may result. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University discovered that the correct development of functioning blood vessels in the mouse placenta is controlled epigenetically: One of the enzymes that modify gene […]

Tumor cells circulating in the blood are the “germ cells” of breast cancer metastases. They are very rare and could not be propagated in the culture dish until now, which made research into therapy resistance difficult. A team from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the Heidelberg Stem Cell Institute HI-STEM* and the NCT Heidelberg** […]

EMBL scientists discover that an FDA-approved, over-the-counter cough syrup ingredient has potential to treat fibrotic lung disease. Summary A common over-the-counter ingredient in many cough syrups may have a greater purpose for people suffering from lung fibrosis that is related to any number of serious health conditions.  Scientists from EMBL Heidelberg were part of a […]

Antibodies can improve the rehabilitation of people with acute spinal cord injury. Researchers at 13 clinics in Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Spain have investigated this with promising results. For the first time, it was possible to identify patient groups that displayed a clinically relevant treatment effect. A follow-up study will start in December […]

Being overweight increases the risk of bowel cancer. The extent of this preventable risk factor has been significantly underestimated to date. Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now reanalyzed a large pool of data and come to the conclusion that obesity is responsible for over 20 percent of bowel cancer cases. More […]

Researchers developed a microscope made to travel – miniature in scale, fast in imaging samples, and giant in resolution. Microscopy allows us to see the unknown, solve mysteries, and advance knowledge. When EMBL scientists were looking to take the organisation’s world-class advanced microscopy from the lab to the field, as part of the Traversing European Coastlines […]

Is it enough to treat the symptoms, or would we rather get to the causes of the illness? Up to now, schizophrenia has mainly been treated symptomatically, as little is known about the exact underlying processes. Researchers at the NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute in Reutlingen have succeeded in gaining a better understanding of […]