... Healthcare industry BW

Innovative cell-based test to detect pyrogens in drugs

Drug safety testing for microbial contaminants and fever-inducing substances (pyrogens) still frequently uses animal experiments. InnoZell, a start-up that will soon be spun off from the University of Konstanz, has developed a compelling alternative: an animal-free, human cell-based assay that is faster, more sensitive and more reliable than traditional methods – and can be customised to meet user-specific needs.

... Healthcare industry BW

Do smartphone-based first responder alerting systems increase the chances of survival in the event of cardiac arrest?

Every minute counts when the heart suddenly stops beating or pumps so weakly that the brain is no longer receiving enough oxygen. The HEROES trial, coordinated in Freiburg, is investigating whether the survival rate of patients requiring out-of-hospital resuscitation improves when qualified first responders are alerted via the ‘Region of Lifesavers’ (Region der Lebensretter) app - enabling them to begin high-quality resuscitation measures as early as possible.

... Healthcare industry BW

Human reporter skin for visualsing skin reactions

Before new cosmetics can be placed on the market, all ingredients must undergo rigorous testing for safety and efficacy. However, the European Union no longer permits the sale of cosmetic products tested on animals. Dr. Anke Burger-Kentischer of the Fraunhofer IGB in Stuttgart has long been at the forefront of animal-free research and has developed an innovative method to quickly and reliably test cosmetics and other chemicals without using animals. She was awarded the 2024 Hamburg Research Prize for the Promotion of the Development of Replacement and Supplementary Methods to Animal Testing for her groundbreaking ‘reporter skin’ in vitro model alongside the cosmetics company Beiersdorf.

... Healthcare industry BW

Bottom-up synthetic immunology for novel therapeutic approaches

Modern therapies for combating cancer and infectious diseases increasingly leverage the body’s own immune system. Several research groups at Heidelberg University are using innovative bottom-up approaches in synthetic immunology to develop new treatment methods that can control the immune response more precisely than previously possible.

... Healthcare industry BW

Achieving widespread use of AI

Artificial intelligence presents both opportunities and risks. The Baden-Württemberg AI Alliance is dedicated to fostering collaboration among AI stakeholders to ensure that AI solutions deliver tangible benefits to citizens and businesses across the state. The alliance will also place greater emphasis on advancing AI applications within the healthcare sector.