In Germany’s National Genome Research Networkresearchers from a variety of disciplines are working closely together to discover the causes of diseases and to develop new possibilities for therapies.
News and Highlights:
Therapeutic Molecule Tricks Cancer Cells into "Committing Suicide"
Researchers of the National Genome Research Network have produced a small protein that can trigger a suicide program in cancer cells. The protein disrupts a signal chain that many cancer cells absolutely need to survive.
You are lying in bed feeling extremely tired. What you really want is some well-deserved sleep. But then you feel a pulling, pins-and-needles sensation in your legs: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. NGFN findings show that there are genetic risk factors for this disease.
One in five Germans die of myocardial infarction, more commonly known as heart attack. NGFN scientists have played a decisive role in uncovering the genetic risk factors that lead to heart attack. Due to this discovery, doctors in the future will be able to better recognize and more quickly diagnose a heightened heart attack risk.
Scientists Find Genetic Cause of Asthma in Children
Today, nearly one in ten children suffer from asthma. NGFN researchers have now discovered genetic mutations that increase the risk for asthma by 50 %.
