Under the slogan “Research for health”, the German Centers for Health Research (DZG) report on the current research highlights of their members in their magazine SYNERGIE (in German only). This edition’s cover story looks at clinical research. While basic research is focused solely on obtaining knowledge, preclinical translational research works on further developing knowledge for application in the clinical setting. The efficacy and tolerability of drugs or vaccines are tested under strictly defined conditions. (https://dzg-magazin.de)
Other topics include:
#DIABETES RESEARCH
Losing Liver Fat
People with type 2 diabetes often also suffer from fatty liver. Weight loss alone is usually not enough to relieve the organ. Previously, no drug-based therapy was available – but that may be about to change: Two active substances that have proven effective in the treatment of diabetes have been shown to also help with fatty liver.
#CANCER RESEARCH
Not Too Much and Not Too Little
The radio-oncology group (ROG) at the German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK) researches how radiotherapy for the treatment of head and neck tumors can be tailored as precisely as possible for individual patients using biomarkers. Annett Linge has been involved from the start and explains how clinical research is making a decisive difference to patient quality of life.
#CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
Support for the Heart from the Petri Dish
800 million cells in one go: Researchers in Göttingen attach tissue patches to the wall of the heart of patients with severe cardiac insufficiency to restore pump function. The stem cell-based process will be applied to humans for the first time during the BioVAT-HF trial.
#LUNG RESEARCH
Stopping the Reduction in Respiratory Volume
Some forms of pulmonary fibrosis cause death faster than most types of cancer. Although they are becoming more frequent, they remain rare diseases. This makes the clinical research of new drugs a special challenge – and also a challenge for Professor Andreas Günther at the German Center for Lung Research (DZL).
#NEURONAL RESEARCH
Watching the Brain Think
In a unique large-scale study, researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases are unlocking the secrets of the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease. The latest findings: They have discovered that two well-known proteins play a key role – but only when they appear together.
#INFECTION RESEARCH
Combating Parasitic Worms
In cooperation with partner institutions in Africa, scientists at the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) are developing new therapies for diseases triggered by parasitic worms – including loiasis, the African eyeworm disease.
#PARTICIPATION
Committed to One’s Own Cause
Patients can provide important impetus to research. The DZG offers many possibilities to get involved. This benefits both science and people suffering from diseases.
#ANNIVERSARY
The DZG Celebrate their Birthday
On the occasion of the anniversary of four German Centers for Health Research, congratulations were offered and strengths and further potential were openly discussed.
DZG Magazine SYNERGIE
Research for health – under this motto, the German Centers for Health Research (DZG) report twice a year on projects and achievements in translational research in the DZG magazine SYNERGIE. The magazine for health research shows how interdisciplinary and networked research can help people achieve better health. The magazine is published in a print and an online version (https://dzg-magazin.de).
The German Centers for Health Research (DZG)
The goal of the German Centers for Health Research is translational research: the accelerated development of medical innovations. On the initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, six centers were founded between 2009 and 2011 to better understand the causes of widespread diseases and to transfer research results from the laboratory to practice more quickly. The centers are dedicated to the following diseases: Cancer (DKTK), neurodegenerative diseases (DZNE), infectious diseases (DZIF), diabetes (DZD), lung diseases (DZL) and cardiovascular diseases (DZHK).
To this end, a total of 36 medical faculties and university hospitals work together with around 90 non-university institutes of the Helmholtz Association, the Leibniz Association, the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Society and departmental research institutes of the federal government. Furthermore, there are collaborations with scientists in Germany and internationally.