Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections remain a major global health problem – according to the World Health Organization (WHO) there are around 300 million HBV carriers worldwide. Current treatments rarely succeed in curing the infection. At present,…

In the perspective article "In preprints: improving and interrogating embryo models", Antonio Scialdone from the Institute for Epigenetics and Stem Cells, the Institute of Functional Epigenetics, and the Institute of Computational Biology at…

The Review Board for Medicine of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) has appointed Helmholtz Munich scientist Dr. Marcus Conrad as a new member of the DFG’s Hinterzarten Circle on Cancer Research. Marcus Conrad succeeds Prof. Greten from…

When a cell divides, the correct distribution of cellular content, such as RNAs, to daughter cells is essential. By tagging RNAs with the new diSpinach aptamer in combination with a self-made microfluidics device, researchers at the Institute of…

More than three percent of the world’s population (around 300 million people) are living with a chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Having chronic hepatitis B increases the risk for patients to develop liver failure, liver cancer or cirrhosis…

Since 2016, the annual Summer Internship Program in Epigenetics, Stem Cells, and Artificial Intelligence gives international students the opportunity to work alongside world-leading scientists on original research. Under the supervision of Kurt…

Helmholtz Munich researcher Kristian Unger, head of Translational Bioinformatics at the Department of Radiation Cytogenetics (ZYTO), together with scientists from the LMU Radiation Clinic and the LMU Medical Physics, has developed the AI method…

What exactly are the molecular interactions between the virus causing COVID-19 and its human host? How might our genetic differences cause different disease courses? And how do still-emerging virus variants differ in their host-virus interactions? To…

Surface molecules EGFR and Integrin beta 4 play a key role in this process

Frequently, cancer patients do not die because of their “initial tumor” in a specific organ. Only when individual cells of the primary tumor transform, migrate or colonize…

Relaunch of our new TOXI Webpage

At the 9th Immunotherapy of Cancer Conference (ITOC), held September 22 to 24, 2022 in Munich, Helmholtz Munich presented preclinical data showing that PH-762, an INTASYL compound targeting PD-1, increases the frequency of a T cell population…

Even though deep learning has led to improvements, the downstream analysis of live-cell microscopy images remains a bottleneck. Recently, researchers from the Institute of Functional Epigenetics published their open-source and user-friendly software…

A team of researchers located at Helmholtz Munich reports on a novel function of vitamin K, which is generally known for its importance in blood clotting. The researchers discovered that the fully reduced form of vitamin K acts as an antioxidant…

As part of the book series ‘Methods in Molecular Biology’, Springer Nature has released the methods and protocols collection ‘Histone Methyltransferases’. The chapter contributed by Till Bartke and colleagues from the Institute of Functional…

Researchers gain a fundamental insight for epitranscriptomics and immune response. The research group around Vigo Heissmeyer and Taku Ito-Kureha of Helmholtz Munich and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München has revealed the essential function of m6A…

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding research of new treatment strategies for preventing tissue ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) as part of the FERROPath consortium. Starting in July 2022, the consortium receives…

The EU grant “PerForM-REACT” supports an infrastructure in the greater Munich area for pandemic management and prevention. Helmholtz Munich will receive new equipment for a biosafety level 3 laboratory where researchers can conduct important studies…

Experts from academia and the pharmaceutical industry came together at “The Biological Methylation Conference: Fundamental Mechanism in Human Health and Disease” in Catania to share new exciting results about protein and RNA methylations as well as…

Every year, millions of people fall ill with Chagas or sleeping sickness. Both diseases are caused by parasites that are spreading from tropical countries to Europe. Researchers have discovered a weak spot in those parasites, which may be a key to a…

Over the last 60 years, research has shed light on histone PTMs and their role in all DNA-templated processes. In the last decade, novel methodologies, such as genome-wide sequencing approaches, have paved the way toward understanding how their…

Just as we use Google Maps, cells rely on gradient sensing of signal molecules to reach their destination. However, in their case, the destination is the source of the attractant and not the restaurant of choice. Using mathematical models,…

The sense of smell is essential for almost all animals. It helps find food, detect dangers, and distinguish between friends and enemies. As the saying goes: You really get up my nose.

Research carried out at Helmholtz Munich has shown that…

Article in Nature Communications: Reduction of PRMT7 protein could stop tissue damage

We are delighted to announce the launch of the "1st Helmholtz Summer School on Chromatin Biology: A hands-on expedition", which will take place at the Neuherberg Campus of Helmholtz Munich, from August 15-26, 2022.

According to a new study led by Ulrike Protzer, a breakthrough infection after two vaccinations achieves the same protective effect as an additional booster vaccination. According to the study by Helmholtz Munich, LMU and TUM, the decisive factor for…

Therapy-resistant head and neck tumors and their relapses exhibit molecular profiles that, as now discovered, indicate marked tumor heterogeneity and molecular dynamics within one patient. The composition of tumor subpopulations influenced by therapy…

Vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been made possible by an unprecedented worldwide partnership. However, medications against Covid-19 have yet seen only partial success. With the support of the Bavarian Research Foundation, a Munich research…

For the first time, scientists based at Helmholtz Munich and the University of Oxford were able to shed light on one of the most critical stages of human embryonic development (gastrulation). The finding, published in the journal Nature, will…

For the first time, scientists based at Helmholtz Zentrum München and the University of Oxford were able to shed light on one of the most critical stages of human embryonic development (gastrulation). Their findings will drive future studies to…

Horst Zitzelsberger and Daniel Samaga from the Research Unit Radiation Cytogenetics, together with researchers from the LMU Hospital and the former Clinical Cooperation Group "Personalized Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Tumors", succeeded in renewing…

Researchers have designed antibodies as novel therapeutic candidates for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma. Their study in human cell cultures and in living mice showed the elimination of antigen-positive cells and…

For safety reasons, the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) in Germany recommends that anyone under the age of 60 who initially received a vaccine from AstraZeneca should be given an mRNA vaccine at their second appointment. Up until now, there…

After a rigorous peer review process, the board of trustees of Academia Europeae, the pan-European academy of science, humanities and letters, has elected our Epigenetics expert Prof. Robert Schneider and the Stem Cell expert Prof. Maria-Elena…

The work of the Scialdone Lab at the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Rodriguez at the Imperial College elucidates that differences in mitochondrial activity are key determinants for cellular fitness in various contexts, where endogenous cell…

Cellular competition is a crucial quality control process that ensures that the development of an organism relies on healthy cells. Researchers revealed the secrets underlying cell competition and what features can pre-determine whether a cell will…

After a rigorous peer review process, the board of trustees of Academia Europeae, the pan-European academy of science, humanities and letters, has elected the Stem Cell expert Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla as well as the Epigenetics expert Robert…

Researchers have been able to prove for the first time that activation of distinct human endogenous retroviruses, which are part of our genome, impair brain development dramatically. This finding could help to advance research into therapies for…

A small molecule has entered a novel clinical trial for cancer immunotherapy. The molecule inhibits an enzyme called MALT1 that plays a critical role in suppressing immune reactions against tumor cells. Preclinical studies showed that blocking MALT1…

Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München and the University of Bochum received this year's Erwin Schrödinger Prize in recognition of their efforts to develop a cure for parasitic diseases such as Chagas disease with a new compound. The prize is…

Helmholtz Zentrum München is coordinating a European network to train the next generation of researchers in drug development.

Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München and Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) mapped the signaling network in plants and discovered novel insights about how plants process information about their environment. This gives new potential to strategies…

Wanted: Established, leading principal investigator with a track-record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years. Found: At Helmholtz Zentrum München. Magdalena Götz and Marcus Conrad both receive an ERC Advanced Grant for their…

Gut bacteria are central to human health. They are a key player in contributing to immune regulation, pathogen protection, food and drug metabolism, and vitamin synthesis. Another supporting actor in the gut, however, are bacteriophages or short…

Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München, Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) have developed a novel therapeutic approach to cure chronic hepatitis B. The scientists found that the large amount of…