Medicine

Atherosclerosis researchers devel medication
Prof. Bodo Levkau, atherosclerosis researcher at the Institute of Pathophysiology, has received the Forßmann Prize 2008 of the Medical Faculty of the Ruhr-University Bochum. The prize isendowed with 5,000 and was awarded for his research into medicinal treatment of arterialcalcification. A new agent, which he and other scientists have developed, inhibits the release of immune system messengers and opens up new therapy options.
Dissertation prize for Mandy Mader
Mandy Mader was awarded the 2008 dissertation prize worth 500 during the Medical Facultys popular “Forschungstag 2008 Research Day. In her work, the doctoral candidate of the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology investigates why many motor vehicle accidents occur on familiar routes. With the help of functional MRI, she recorded specific brain activity in 16 police officers under simulated driving conditions. She showed that unfamiliar routes triggered brain activity that is responsible for conscious perception, whereas well-known routes caused much less activity.
Prof. Westendorf receives Robert KochPost-Doctoral Prize for young scientists
In Berlin Prof. Astrid Westendorf was awarded the prestigious Robert Koch Post-Doctoral Prize for Immunology, endowed with 5,000 . The assistant professor at the Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, received the prizefor her research on T-lymphocytes in intestinal mucosa. She was able to show how immunedefence mechanisms work in the intestine, which has helped to explain the origins of chronic inflammatory intestinal disease.
Cardiologist from Essen receives 25,000 E Max Schaldach Prize
Dr. Heinrich Wieneke, assistant medical director of the Cardiology Clinic, received the Max Schaldach Prize, which is endowed with 25,000 , during the annual conference of the German Cardiac Society. The award was granted for the development of the first leadless cardiac pacemaker. This innovative concept originates from cooperation between the Cardiology Clinic and the Institute of Applied Physics at the Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf. However, it will still be some time before the first patients can benefit from the new development.