Research

Researchers have built a 3D human blood-brain barrier in the lab and discovered a key role of brain pericytes in cerebral malaria disease Cerebral malaria is a deadly complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Despite cutting-edge research, effective anti-malarial drugs, and the promise of a vaccine, it still claims over half a million lives every year. Many survivors […]

With a closer look at genomic variation, scientists now have a faster, more precise way to uncover new links to disease Summary Scientists have long suspected connections between heredity and disease, dating back to Hippocrates, who observed certain diseases ‘ran in families’. However, through the years, scientists have kept getting better at finding ways to […]

Tumors are not a comfortable place to live: oxygen deficiency, nutrient scarcity, and the accumulation of sometimes harmful metabolic products constantly stress cancer cells. A research team from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna has now discovered that the acidic pH value in tumor tissue—known as […]

Until today, the aggressiveness of prostate cancer has been assessed primarily using the Gleason grading system—an analysis of cancer tissue in a pathology laboratory that is highly subjective. An international research team led by the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) has now developed a novel, explainable AI model that aims to make the diagnosis of […]

Innovative imaging technique reveals hidden electrical connections in diseased hearts and provides new therapeutic approaches Cardiac fibrosis can be life-threatening: the formation of connective tissue in the heart muscle causes it to become stiffer, impairs electrical signal transmission, and weakens pumping capacity, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. However, the effects of cardiac fibrosis on […]

Since their discovery in 2004, the grid cells in the brain, which are important for our orientation, have been regarded as a kind of “GPS in the head.” However, scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital have now shown that grid cells work much more flexibly than previously assumed. In […]

A phase 3 clinical trial published in the journal Nature Medicine investigates the benefits of cannabis extract for chronic lower back pain. In the study, which involved over 800 participants and researchers from Heidelberg University’s Medical Faculty, pain was significantly reduced without any serious side effects being observed. Full Text in German below. Cannabisextrakt zur […]

Vilnius, 18 September 2025 The PRECISEU consortium proudly announced the winners of the first PRECISEU Best Practice Recognition during Life Sciences Baltics 2025, the leading international event for biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices in the Baltic region. Launched under the Personalised Medicine Empowerment Connecting Innovation ecoSystems across EUROPE (PRECISEU) programme, this initiative honours outstanding practices […]

New EMBL research discovers an unexpected relationship between metabolism and cell communication during embryonic development Summary Pregnant women rely on a balanced diet and supplements to deliver proper nutrients to their babies, to ensure they grow healthfully. Such nutrients contribute to fueling development and providing cellular building blocks that lead to healthy brains, bones, organs, […]