Research Field Health
Health Research in the Helmholtz Association aims to unravel the complex causes of major chronic diseases and develop novel strategies for prevention, early diagnostics and effective therapies for the benefit of patients.
Goals
The scientists involved in health research at the Helmholtz Association are studying the causes and development of cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, pulmonary illnesses, nervous system disorders and infectious diseases.
- Zoom
- .
- Helmholtz Institutes for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) Scientists in the laboratory . Image: HIPS/HZI
Their aim is to help develop efficient methods for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these major common diseases. The research on complex and often chronic illnesses requires interdisciplinary approaches, which the Helmholtz centres implement in cooperation with partners from medical schools, universities, other research organisations and industry. The Helmholtz centres active in the field of health research perform outstanding basic research and apply their expertise to the development of new methods for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. They are making this expertise available to the German Centres of Health Research, which were founded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in order to improve the translation of basic research findings into clinical applications.
Outlook
The long-term goal of health research at the Helmholtz Association is to improve medical care and quality of life for the population into old age. Individually tailored options for prevention and treatment will play a vital role in the future, but it will also be important to better understand the role of the metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for several of the major common diseases. A key contribution will be made by the Helmholtz translational centres and the German Centres of Health Research – together with the National Cohort as a resource for epidemiology and prevention research.
- .
Some 450,000 people per year in Germany develop cancer. In spite of intensive research activity and numerous fundamentally new developments in this field, more than half the number of patients still dies from the consequences of the disease.
- .
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease
Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent cause of death in Germany. People who have high blood pressure or diabetes or are overweight are at particular risk.
More details about Research Programme Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease
- .
Function and Dysfunction of the Nervous System
Being able to grow old is not just a blessing. Unfortunately, older people are more likely to suffer from neurological and psychiatric illnesses.
More details about Research Programme Function and Dysfunction of the Nervous System
- .
From the common cold to SARS and AIDS: Infectious diseases are found all over the world and in many cases present a life-threatening risk. In fact, they are the world's No. 1 cause of death.
More details about Research Programme Infection and Immunity
- .
Chronic disorders arise due to a combination of individual disposition, environmental influences and lifestyle choices. But what exactly are the molecular and cellular mechanisms which underlie these disorders?
- .
Systemic Analysis of Multifactorial Diseases
Helmholtz scientists are analysing genetic and biomolecular mechanisms to find better ways of treating chronic ailments.
More details about Research Programme Systemic Analysis of Multifactorial Diseases
The programmes in the funding period 2009-2013
Ten Helmholtz centres work together in the field of health research: the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), the Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, the Forschungszentrum Jülich, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Centre for Materials and Coastal Research (HZG), the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ. These centres gained a new partner on 1 January 2011, when the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) joined the Helmholtz Association.
In the current period of programme-oriented funding, the centres involved in health research will serve as partners for both the German Health Centres and various research consortia and will work in six programmes. A seventh programme, “Diseases of the Nervous System”, is currently under development.
- .
Some 450,000 people per year in Germany develop cancer. In spite of intensive research activity and numerous fundamentally new developments in this field, more than half the number of patients still dies from the consequences of the disease.
- .
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease
Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent cause of death in Germany. People who have high blood pressure or diabetes or are overweight are at particular risk.
More details about Research Programme Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease
- .
Function and Dysfunction of the Nervous System
Being able to grow old is not just a blessing. Unfortunately, older people are more likely to suffer from neurological and psychiatric illnesses.
More details about Research Programme Function and Dysfunction of the Nervous System
- .
From the common cold to SARS and AIDS: Infectious diseases are found all over the world and in many cases present a life-threatening risk. In fact, they are the world's No. 1 cause of death.
More details about Research Programme Infection and Immunity
- .
Chronic disorders arise due to a combination of individual disposition, environmental influences and lifestyle choices. But what exactly are the molecular and cellular mechanisms which underlie these disorders?
- .
Systemic Analysis of Multifactorial Diseases
Helmholtz scientists are analysing genetic and biomolecular mechanisms to find better ways of treating chronic ailments.
More details about Research Programme Systemic Analysis of Multifactorial Diseases
Strategic Cross-Programme
To be able to respond as quickly as possible to new developments, a flexible system of cross-cutting activities was created to contribute to the further development of important resources and technologies. Here, the fields of epidemiology and translational research are given particular significance as regards research policy and strategy.
Epidemiological research aims at identifying both the genetic and the environmental risk factors so as to prevent diseases or to detect and treat these at an early stage. In order to create a unique resource for epidemiological research, the Helmholtz Health Research has initiated the development of a major prospective national Cohort Study in Germany. The following Centres participated in the initiative alongside university partners: German Cancer Research Centre, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Max Delbrück Center (MDC) Berlin-Buch, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Forschungszentrum Jülich.
The Helmholtz Health Centres adopt a leading role in the field of translational research both nationally and internationally. With the development of local translation centres in cooperation with university hospitals, infrastructure platforms are currently beingcreated, which will decidedly accelerate the transfer of relevant findings from basic research into clinical applications. The formation of strategic alliances with partners from the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology and medical technology also considerably reinforces the expertise in this field.
The long-term collaboration of Helmholtz Health Centres with partners from university medicine and other research institutions will experience a new dimension with the impending establishment of German Centres of Health Research.
Contact
Prof. Dr. Günther Wess
Research field coordinator Health
Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health
Ingolstädter Landstraße 1
85764 Neuherberg
+49 89 3187-4409
inaumann (at) helmholtz-muenchen.de
http://www.helmholtz-muenchen....
Dr. Phillip Hahn
Research Field Health
Helmholtz Association
+49 30 206329-15
phillip.hahn (at) helmholtz.de
