A systems medicine network

Junior research alliances

Telltales of depression in our blood

Depression is a major cause of disability worldwide. Due to its complex nature, it is difficult to explain the molecular pathways associated with depression by examining the genetic factors. e:Med junior research alliance CKDNapp chose a metabolomics approach to tackle this problem. The results of their population-wide screen for metabolites revealed laurylcarnitine to be associated with depression. This metabolite is involved in the fatty acid oxidation pathway and may provide new therapy options against depression.

Demonstrators

Hungry for glutamine – Understanding the metabolism of breast cancer

What to do when a cancer subtype can’t be targeted with drugs or hormones? Researchers of e:Med Her2low alliance focused their attention on understanding the metabolic needs of cancer cells. Their study revealed that cancer cells operate with altered metabolic and nutrient-sensing pathways to sustain tumorigenesis and these alterations might be targeted as a therapy approach

e:Med

virtual e:Med Meeting on Systems Medicine 2021

The e: Med Meeting 2021 took place virtually from September 20-22, 2021 and covered a wide range of cutting-edge research topics in systems medicine. More than 300 participants took the opportunity to discuss their latest research results with their fellow scientists from the systems medicine community.

Junior Research Alliance

Analysis of Cancer Stem Cells with MutaSeq Open up New Research Possibilities

Scientists from the e:Med junior alliance LeukoSyStem have developed the method MutaSeq, that can distinguish cancer stem cells, mature cancer cells, and healthy stem cells based on their genetics. The method enables researchers to create highly detailed profiles of cancer cells, helping them understand every individual cell from a cancer. The result of this study opens up new possibilities in cancer research.

Junior Research Alliance

A novel mechanism protects against cancer cell migration and neuron hyperexcitability

G3BP proteins inhibit the metabolic driver MTOR, a signaling protein that plays a central role in tumor diseases and developmental disorders of the brain. This is reported this week in the journal Cell by scientists of the BMBF-funded e:Med junior network GlioPATH together with a Europe-wide research network. G3BP proteins may serve as molecular markers to personalize therapies.

Consortia

TreaT Urine Assay indicates transplant success

Success of a kidney transplant depends on how strongly the patient’s immune system reacts to the foreign cells. Scientists from the e:Med consortium e:Kid coordinated by Dr. Nina Babel have now developed the TreaT test, which uses cells from the patient's urine after a kidney transplantation to predict how well the recipient will tolerate the donor kidney. As a result, the accompanying immunosuppressive therapy can be adapted to each individual and over-medication can be prevented.

Junior Research Alliances

A Metabolic Enzyme as a New Target for Cancer Immunotheraphy

Scientists from e:Med junior alliance GlioPATH discovered that the metabolic enzyme IL4I1 promotes the spread of tumour cells and suppresses the immune system.  IL4I1 is produced to a greater extent in tumours and activates the dioxin receptor. Agents that inhibit IL4I1 could open up new opportunities for cancer therapy in the future. The scientists have now published their results in the journal Cell.

Junior Research Groups

Heterogeneous Tumors: Why one drug is often not enough

Tumors can behave differently in patients. This has already been well investigated and is a part of personalized-therapy concepts. The differences of a tumor within a patient are, however, less well known. These differences are called intratumoral heterogeneity. Heterogeneity can also influence the effectiveness of the therapy. In this project, e:Med scientists have inspected intratumoral differences and investigated transcription (scRNA-Seq), genetics and drug response in the different cells of B-cell lymphoma. The Heidelberg team could identify up to four different subpopulations within the same tumor, each of which reacted differently to specific drugs. These results show that intratumoral heterogeneity may be an important component of personalized therapy in the future.

Junior Research Group

Hamid Noori receives animal welfare award

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft awarded the Ursula M. Händel Animal Welfare Prize of to PD Dr. Dr. Hamid Noori. The e: Med Junior Research Group Leader is a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen, where he and his team have developed a database and computer models that can predict the effects of novel substances on the rat brain. As a result, new studies can be designed more purposefully, avoiding unnecessary animal experiments.

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.