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From disease to healing: Exploring the roles of pericytes
They are multipotent, interact closely with endothelial cells, and are involved in immunosurveillance: the heterogeneous group of pericytes. These cells build the wall of blood vessels, and play a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of the vasculature. Due to their involvement in various pathophysiologies such as tumor angiogenesis, scientists are beginning to exploit their potential for therapeutic approaches…. -
Obtain Pure Malignant Cells with the New Cancer Cell Culture Toolkit
The new cancer cell culture toolkit from PromoCell aids the growth of both primary tumors as well as established cells lines, explains Dr. Hagen Wieland during the AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) Annual Meeting in Chicago…. -
A young scientist seeks a method to knock out fibrosis
Lab work is exciting, says Bastian Fischer. Even experiments that just yield their expected results inspire the young German scientist. Fischer is currently working on his PhD, and is investigating how fibrosis develops, so that effective therapies for this medical condition can be found. A scar is often all that remains of a deep cut – if anything remains at all…. -
Using 3D Skin Models to Test Cosmetics
Skin is the primary focus of cosmetic research. Since the European Union banned animal testing of cosmetics completely in 2013, three-dimensional skin models have been used to evaluate epidermal and dermal responses to cosmetic formulations. Such models provide a reliable tool to assess the functionality and safety of new cosmetic products…. -
Stem cell therapy scientist: Finding inspiration outside his comfort zone
Crossing the border between medical and biomechanical research fuels the research of stem cell specialist Dr. Diego Correa. We talked to the Colombian-born stem cell scientist, a former clinician with training in mechanical engineering, about his studies with mesenchymal stem cells and their potential clinical applications in cell-based therapy. Soon Correa is going to publish what he believes will be his most important contribution to this field…. -
Super-resolution microscopy: Zooming in on the eorld of the influenza A virus
It adapts quickly to the cellular defense mechanisms of the host and develops resistance against antiviral drugs: The influenza A virus is a major human pathogen with high variability. New super-resolution microscopy methods, as well as the use of human primary cells, currently allow better insights into the interactions between viruses and host cells…. -
Teaching the body to fight tumors using cancer immunotherapy
Selected as the 2013 “Breakthrough of the Year” by Science magazine, cancer immunotherapy shows a completely new way to treat malignancies by using the body’s own immune system, and not by targeting the tumor itself. This cutting-edge area of research and therapy has shown very promising results. However, further investigation is needed to turn immunotherapy into a cancer therapy that can be broadly applied…. -
Five Steps to Writing a Great Scientific Article
Thousands of scientific articles are published each year. It’s a basic series of steps in biomedical research: do experiments, analyze data, publish your results, and repeat. It seems straightforward, but one question remains. How do you write a paper for publication if it’s your first one? A blank white page, and a silently blinking cursor: How can an empty document be so intimidating?… -
A Home for Cancer Stem Cells: 3D Tumorspheres
Many scientists working in oncology focus on cancer stem cells (CSCs). Targeting these cells specifically could improve cancer therapy significantly. Because CSCs rely heavily on their environment, three-dimensional cultivation offers the unique opportunity to better understand this interaction. We talked to two scientists working in this field of cancer research. In the human body,… -
Mimicking the body’s largest organ in vitro with 3D skin models
Researchers are increasingly using 3D cell cultures to study the skin’s features. Three-dimensional skin models offer the potential to study various diseases and test compounds in vitro. Dr. Florian Groeber-Becker from the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Wurzburg has developed a highly sophisticated skin model. It is the first thing people see when they look at us…. -
Macrophage plasticity is more than black and white
Many rules in biology exist, and even more exceptions to these rules. For years, immunologists have tried to classify macrophages into two subtypes, classically activated M1, and alternatively activated M2 macrophages. However, with the growing number of activated macrophage subtypes needing description, established nomenclature falls short. Researchers are seeking an alternative to the traditional black-and-white principle….
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