Today is International Women's Heart Day! To mark the occasion, the Women’s Heart Center at the University Hospital Frankfurt is hosting a campaign day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of women's heart health. Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death among women. "Heart prevention with early detection and treatment can help prevent cardiovascular disease." explains Director of the Women's Heart Center Dr. Lena Seegers.
7. Februar 2025
The Von Behring-Röntgen-Stiftung awarded Dr. Cheng-Yu Wu with a funding of 116,600 € for his research on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the most serious lung diseases worldwide.
COPD-patients suffer from a strong inflammatory reaction in the lungs, enhanced by oxidative stress and the body's own protective mechanisms no longer work. The main causes of COPD are air pollution and smoking.
In his work, Dr. Wu investigates how the weakened antioxidative defense mechanisms contribute to the progression of the disease. He combines basic research, preclinical models and clinical data to understand the connections between oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions. These insights will help to develop new therapeutic approaches and target the needs of individual patients.
Since 18 years, the Von Behring-Röntgen-Stiftung has been supporting medical research of the Justus-Liebig-University Gießen and Philipps-University Marburg. In this year, ten projects were honored with funding of 1,6 million Euro in total. The awards were handed out at the award ceremony on Wednesday, January 15, in the Landgrave's Castle Marburg.
15. Januar 2025
Von Behring Röntgen Stiftung: 1,6 Millionen Euro für medizinische Spitzenforschung
Highlights from the Science Day at Justus-Liebig-University Gießen’s Medial Department.
19 early-career scientists from the CPI presented their research in poster sessions and lightning talks. From regenerative medicine to the future of AI in diagnostics, the day was packed with innovative research and inspiring networking!
🏆 A special shoutout to Stefan Ahlgrimm for winning the poster prize on clinical/patient-oriented research with his work on therapeutic strategies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis!
22. November 2024
Congratulations to Professor Mauro Giacca on receiving an honorary doctorate at the University Frankfurt’s “Dies Academicus” ceremony, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Molecular Biology. His groundbreaking work has significantly advanced the fields of gene therapy, stem cell research, cardiovascular disorders, and infectious diseases.
Throughout his career, Professor Giacca has held numerous prestigious leadership roles. He has served as Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Trieste, Italy, Professor of Cardiovascular Sciences at the King’s College London, UK and Director-General of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB).
Among his most remarkable achievements is the identification of a crucial microRNA promoting heart regeneration, along with the discovery of unexpected novel targets for cardiac repair (Ruozi et al, Science Translational Med 2022; Eulalio et al, Nature 2012; Lesizza et al Circ Res. 2017; Gabisonia et al, Nature. 2019).
We look forward to welcome Simon Carlile at the Herold Lab, where he joins as a EU researcher supported by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie initiative. His project will focus on pneumonia-induced trained immunity as a driver of pathogenic inflammation within the lung (Trained_Lung).
Welcome to Simon Carlile, New EU Researcher at Herold Lab! - Pulmonary Infections
04. November 2024
We had a fantastic day at the 1st Science Festival Frankfurt of the Goethe University Frankfurt hosted by the Frankfurt Alliance!! Together with our partner booth from the Max Planck Institute für Heart and Lung Research we showed fascinating insights into our heart and lung research 💝 The highlight of our booth was a walkable heart model funded by the Kassel-Stiftung.
On the main stage Prof. Stefanie Dimmeler was invited to join the panel discussion on the topic "Basic research" in which she explained the importance of basic research for medical progress.
It was a pleasure to be part of this event!
28. September 2024
Excited 3rd to 6th graders filled the lecture hall at the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Westend Campus last wednesday, eager to learn. CPI researcher Guillermo Luxàn brought science to life, when he interactively explained the biology of Heart and Lung ❤ 🌬 Their enthusiasm and curiosity made the event truly special!
25. September 2024
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and Europe. Despite available treatments, more than 70% of patients experience relapse and eventually succumb to the disease, often due to its spread to other parts of the body. While targeted therapies offer some hope, they benefit only a small percentage of patients, and resistance to these treatments is a common issue. Many patients rely on chemotherapy and radiation, but these approaches often fail, leading to aggressive cancer progression. Although immune therapies show promise, they are limited by their success rates and potential side effects. Early detection and a deeper understanding of lung cancer’s underlying mechanisms are essential for improving prevention and treatment outcomes.
An official research statement from the American Thoracic Society (ATS), co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Rajkumar Savai, DZL-PI and scientific coordinator of the DZL Lung Cancer Disease Area, alongside Prof. Seyed Javad Moghaddam from MD Anderson and Prof. Robert L. Keith from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, addresses the urgent need for further research into lung cancer. The statement, titled “Premalignant Progression in the Lung: Knowledge Gaps and Novel Opportunities for Interception of Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer,” was developed by an international, multidisciplinary team of basic, translational, and clinical scientists who carefully reviewed existing data to refine research questions aimed at understanding the transformation of premalignant lung lesions into advanced lung cancer.
The statement identifies significant gaps in current knowledge and proposes critical research questions designed to expand our understanding of the mechanisms behind the progression of premalignant lung lesions to full-blown cancer. The goal is to explore innovative strategies to intercept lung cancer at its earliest stages.
The report underscores the urgent need to prioritize research on the biological mechanisms of premalignant progression in the lung. It also highlights the ongoing challenges in screening, detection, and early intervention, emphasizing the importance of focused investigations. Such efforts are essential to developing effective preventive strategies that could ultimately reduce lung cancer incidence and improve patient outcomes.
Prof. Rajkumar Savai is a leading figure in lung cancer research, serving as a professor at the Institute for Lung Research (ILH) at Justus Liebig University in Giessen. He leads the research group "Lung Microenvironmental Niche in Cancerogenesis" and heads the Oncology Basic Research Unit at Medical Clinic V of the University Hospital Giessen and Marburg. Additionally, he is a group leader at the Department of Lung Development and Remodeling at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research (MPI-HLR) in Bad Nauheim. His research primarily focuses on unraveling the mechanisms of lung cancer development and progression, with a particular emphasis on the tumor microenvironment.
Original publication: Moghaddam SJ, Savai R, Salehi-Rad R, Sengupta S, Kammer MN, Massion P, Beane JE, Ostrin EJ, Priolo C, Tennis MA, Stabile LP, Bauer AK, Sears CR, Szabo E, Rivera MP, Powell CA, Kadara H, Jenkins BJ, Dubinett SM, Houghton AM, Kim CF, Keith RL. Premalignant Progression in the Lung: Knowledge Gaps and Novel Opportunities for Interception of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2024 Aug 8. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202406-1168ST. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39115548.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39115548/