Helmholtz Association

Insights into Research Field Health

The Helmholtz Association aims to use ground-breaking research to tackle the great questions of our time. Here, we present projects currently being carried out by scientists at the Helmholtz Centres. The examples range from fundamental questions concerning the origin of matter to health research and the development of high performance functional materials.


Casting show in the lymph nodes

modell of immune cells in lymph nodesLymph nodes are the marketplaces of the immune system: it is here that cells exchange information about pathogens that have entered the body and prepare their immune defence.

weiterlesen "Casting show in the lymph nodes"


Quantifying avoidable risk factors for breast cancer

Photo daily exerciseNearly one in three cases of postmenopausal breast cancer is caused by a lack of exercise and a hormone replacement therapy to ease the discomforts of menopause.

weiterlesen "Quantifying avoidable risk factors for breast cancer"


Blood pressure regulator discovered in the liver

Photo microscope nerve cellsPeople with orthostatic hypotension experience a sudden drop in their blood pressure that causes them to faint when standing up.

weiterlesen "Blood pressure regulator discovered in the liver"


New genetiv factor discovered for high cholesterol levels

Photo Scientists at the Max Delbrück CenterWorking with scientists from the University of Aarhus in Denmark, MDC researchers have uncovered a new genetic basis for high cholesterol levels.

weiterlesen "New genetiv factor discovered for high cholesterol levels"


Tracking down prions

Picture prion proteinNeurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are characterised by the misfolding of host-encoded proteins, which causes brain cells to die.

weiterlesen "Tracking down prions"


A diabetes drug for Alzheimer's

Photo Dr. KraußThe diabetes drug metformin may be suitable for treating Alzheimer’s disease – this is one of the conclusions that researchers under Dr. Sybille Krauß at the DZNE laboratory in Bonn have drawn from the findings of their experiments.

weiterlesen "A diabetes drug for Alzheimer's"


Taking the tension out of cancer

Picture of a malformed multipolar spindleWhen a cell divides, it forms polar bodies from which spindle-shaped protein fibres emanate to distribute chromosomes to the newly generated cells.

weiterlesen "Taking the tension out of cancer"


Gene variants influence the concentration of a diabetes marker

Photo eating cakesType 2 diabetes is characterised by a disruption of glucose metabolism: the hormone insulin is no longer produced in sufficient quantities or loses its effect.

weiterlesen "Gene variants influence the concentration of a diabetes marker"


Self-reparing lung tissue

Photo mouse lungChronic lung disease is often accompanied by the loss of lung tissue, which leaves patients with a diminished surface for gas exchange between the lungs and the environment.

weiterlesen "Self-reparing lung tissue"


Wide variations in the allergen content of birch pollen

under an electron microscopeUp to now, allergy forecasts have been based solely on the levels of pollen in the air.

weiterlesen "Wide variations in the allergen content of birch pollen"

09.01.2013

Contact

Dr. Phillip Hahn

Research Field Health

Helmholtz Association

Phone: +49 30 206329-15
phillip.hahn (at) helmholtz.de


Communications and Media

Helmholtz Association

Phone: +49 30 206329-57
presse (at) helmholtz.de