Research

A new single-cell map reveals how human reproductive organs form and respond to environmental influences New research has mapped the cell types that specialise to form reproductive organs in both sexes, identifying key genes and signals that drive this process. The findings offer important insights into conditions affecting the reproductive organs and how environmental chemicals […]

Can the weakened immune systems of older individuals be rejuvenated? Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), HI-STEM*, and the Broad Institute have demonstrated that this is possible with an innovative approach. In a study now published in Nature, the team showed that mRNA technology can be used to transform the liver in mice […]

S. A. Iakab, J. Cordes, T. Enzlein, et al. “ From Sample to Mixed Reality: A Translational 3D MALDI Imaging Platform for Advanced 3D Spatial Omics Analysis of 3D Cell Culture Disease Models.” Adv. Sci. (2025): e16098. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202516098 Abstract Human 3D cell cultures, including spheroids and organoids, are essential biological models for translational pharmaceutical and biomedical research. However, their 3D analysis […]

Role of neural cells in tumor progression is becoming ever more evident. HI-STEM scientists published a landmark study in Nature elucidating the role of neural innervation in promoting the tumor progression in pancreatic cancer and how this cross-talk works. Now this study has been featured in an Outlook article in Nature Magazine. Full article can be […]

Full text in German below. Eine Studie stellt die molekulare Verbindung zwischen Tumorstoffwechsel und Wirkstoffbindung in Krebszellen her Madison, WI USA. (09. Dezember 2025) Eine neue Studie, veröffentlicht in Nature Communications, zeigt technologische Vorteile, die Durchbrüche in der Präzisionsmedizin beschleunigen. Durchgeführt wurde sie als Zusammenarbeit zwischen Promega, dem Center for Advanced Study of Drug Action an der […]

Revealing a new layer in lung cancer diagnostics using direct RNA sequencing HEIDELBERG, Germany, December 16, 2025 – Hummingbird Diagnostics GmbH, a pioneer in harnessing blood-based small RNAs for early disease detection and characterization, today announced the publication of a new study in Nature Communications Medicine introducing an Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT)-based method for detecting small RNA […]

Tenderness can literally get under your skin: An international research group led by Heidelberg University’s Medical Faculty and Heidelberg University Hospital has found that small skin wounds heal significantly faster in couples who are particularly affectionate with each other in everyday life and who also receive the hormone oxytocin. At the same time, they had […]

Persistent inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, chronic rhinosinusitis, is a common comorbidity in cystic fibrosis and significantly impairs quality of life. The working group led by Dr. Niclas Hagen, Institute for Medical Informatics at Heidelberg University’s Faculty of Medicine and Heidelberg University Hospital, is currently developing a method that uses AI to contribute to the […]

Researchers at the Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the Heidelberg Medical Faculty (MFHD) of Heidelberg University, and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) have taken a decisive step toward more precise diagnosis of brain tumors. The latest version of the internationally used AI-based Heidelberg CNS Tumor Methylation Classifier can identify […]