Medicine

Stem cell researchers discover proteins with uneven distribution to daughter cells
Dr. Bernd Giebel, a specialist in stem cell research and new member of the Institute for Transfusion Medicine at University Hospital Essen, recently proved with his research team from Düsseldorf that haematopoietic (blood building) stem cells can divide asymmetrically. The group identified four proteins with uneven distribution to daughter cells. These findings are the starting point for the research work he is now taking up in Essen, supported by 460,000 of funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG).
Breakthrough in lung disease research
Researcher Dr. Bernhard B. Singer from the Institute of Anatomy has made a breakthrough in the research of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) together with colleagues from Berlin and Malmö in Sweden. The findings were published in the November issue of Nature Immunology. The research shows that in around 50% of patients, moraxellae activate the CEACAM receptor in the respiratory tract. CEACAM in return inhibits the receptor TLR 2, whose function is to identify and combat bacteria.
124,000 E for leukaemia research toimprove prognosis for leukaemia patients
Prof. Dietrich Beelen and Dr. Dr. Lambros Kordelas from the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation are launching a new research project with PD Dr. Vera Rebmann from the Institute for Transfusion Medicine. Their aim is to minimise the risk of leukaemia relapse after stem cell transplantation. The two-year research project is receiving 124,000 in funding from the German affiliate of the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation (Deutsche José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung e.V.).
500,000 for sarcoma research
Dr. Sebastian Bauer was granted 400,000 under German Cancer Aids excellence programme, plus a further 16,000 $ from “Pathway to a Cure. He and his team research and develop therapies targeting soft tissue sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumours.
New genetic test for the efficacy of Reductil
Three researchers from University Hospital Essen – Dr. Ulrich Frey, Prof. Karl-Heinz Jöckel and Prof. Winfried Siffert – were first to discover a frequent GNAS gene modification. GNAS regulates the production of the so-called “stimulating G-protein, which is also involved in fat burning mechanisms and heart rate regulation. People with a GG-variant produce a lot of stimulating G-protein, while those with an A-variant produce significantly less.