A systems medicine network

e:Med has the objective of establishing systems medicine in Germany. e:Med promotes system-oriented research into diseases in order to facilitate improved prevention, more comprehensive diagnostics and individually adjusted therapy schemes in individualized medicine. The program brings together scientists with molecular-genetic, clinical, mathematical and information technology expertise, with the objective of ensuring research results quickly benefit patients. Electronic processing (e:Med), i.e. computerized archiving, analysis and integration of data, plays a particularly important role here. The nationwide research and funding concept has been funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) since mid-2014.

Highlights

Demonstrators

International collection of open reading frames now totals 80 percent of human protein-coding genes

An international collaboration of organizations, has reached a milestone in creating a library of complete genetic blueprints for the thousands of different proteins in human cells. The collection – consisting of open-reading frames (ORFs), the portions of genes that code for full-length proteins – is an essential resource for scientists studying the basic mechanics of human cells and how those processes go awry in disease. read more

Consortia

Dopamine fluctuations in alcohol addiction

In a new study, e:Med researchers at the CIMH found elevated concentrations of the neurotransmitter dopamine in brain regions of alcoholics who had been abstinent for a longer period of time. During acute withdrawal the amount of dopamine is markedly decreased. Based on the findings, new behavioral experiments can now be designed to better understand the connection between elevated dopamine and a relapse into alcohol dependence. read more

Consortia

New Computational Approach Reveals Hidden Cell Subpopulations

e:Med scientists from Helmholtz Zentrum München and colleagues from Technische Universität München and the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) have developed a computational approach which facilitates the identification of confounding factors and hidden biological processes in the analysis of single-cell RNA sequence data, enabling a more accurate picture of the different cell types. Thus, cell types can be identified that otherwise would remain undetected. read more

Consortia

Genetic causes of mental illness discovered

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are among the most common forms of mental illness in Europe. e:Med researchers from various institutions, in conjunction with international colleagues, have managed to identify new genetic areas related to these disorders. Scientists expect these results to provide starting points for the investigation of causes and the development of new therapies. read more

Awards

Consortia

m 4 Award for e:Med scientist

Among the winners of m4 Award is the project „KNOWING - Turning Big Data into Personalized Therapies” of e:Med scientist Prof. Dr. Dr. Fabian Theis and collegues. The team is working on software that links automatically different data and thereby identifies novel biomarkers and drug targets for personalized therapies. KNOWING will be funded with a sum of 500,000 Euros over the next two years. read more

Junior research alliances

Christiane Opitz awarded prize from the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences

The Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences prize - sponsored by the Monika Kutzner Foundation for the Promotion of Cancer Research - was awarded to Dr. (Med.) Christiane Opitz in 2014. The prize money is 10,000 €. read more

Demonstratoren

Johann-Georg-Zimmermann Medal goes to Peter Lichter

Professor Peter Lichter has been presented with the Johann-Georg-Zimmermann Medal 2014/2015 for his life’s work. His merits include groundbreaking findings in the areas of molecular cytogenetics and genome structure. Furthermore, he developed new technologies to explain basic mechanisms of carcinogenesis. read more

Project groups

e:Med project groups - overlapping issues in focus

Scientists discuss new technologies and latest scientific contents and launch comprehensive initiatives in four e:Med project groups (PG) regarding substantially and methodologically overlapping systems medicine issues. The objective of the PG is to promote interactions between members and handle relevant issues across the research group. read more