Transforming Lymphoma Care Through Molecularly Guided Personalized Therapy

Lymphoma treatment often follows standardized approaches, even though these diseases vary widely in their molecular characteristics. Modern liquid biopsy methods—blood tests capable of detecting even the smallest tumor-derived molecules such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)—now provide a much more precise view of disease biology and its dynamics over time. In this project, ultrasensitive ctDNA analyses are used to identify molecular changes through a simple blood draw, establish individualized risk profiles, and detect relapses early, before clinical symptoms appear.

Pediatric Experimental und Translational Imaging

Pediatric Experimental and Translational Imaging

This research project addresses a central problem of modern medicine: new drugs are often developed faster than the corresponding diagnostic procedures. This means that effective therapies may be available, but they cannot be used optimally because suitable tests to identify the right patients in time are still lacking. As a result, valuable time is lost, and the opportunities to treat diseases early and in a targeted way are often not fully utilized.

Paediatric loiasis and cardiac complications (LoaPaed)

Loa loa is a neglected tropical disease endemic in Central Africa, yet little is known about its impact on children. The LoaPaed project examines over 1,200 children in Gabon to determine the prevalence of loiasis, clinical symptoms and potential cardiovascular complications using advanced echocardiography. The aim is to improve understanding of paediatric loiasis and provide evidence for better diagnosis and management.

Further information here. 

CARTESIAN – Clinician-Scientist Advanced Research and Training in Exploratory Science with Intelligence and Algorithms for Next-generation Medicine

CARTESIAN is a new three-year training program at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. It prepares young doctors to unite patient care with cutting-edge research. The program focuses on cancer and age-related diseases and connects medicine closely with data science. Doctors, researchers, and IT specialists work together to develop better diagnostics, therapies, and prevention strategies. Participants alternate every six months between clinical work and research and receive structured mentoring plus courses in data science, statistics, research methods, and soft skills.

Neues Forschungsprojekt zur Pneumokokken-Impfung

An der Universitätsmedizin Mainz ist ein neues Forschungsprojekt zur Pneumokokken-Impfung gestartet: Ziel der Wissenschaftler:innen um Univ.-Prof. Dr. Tim Sparwasser vom Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene ist es, neuartige Schleimhautimpfstoffe zu entwickeln, die einen verbesserten Schutz gegen Pneumokokken-Erkrankungen wie Lungen- oder Hirnhautentzündung bieten und dazu beitragen, den Einsatz von Antibiotika zu reduzieren und damit Resistenzen zu verhindern.

HALT – Healthy inflammAging by deceLerating the Transition from chronic inflammation into age-related diseases

Many age-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular or metabolic disorders develop slowly and remain unnoticed for a long time. A key driver is a chronic, low-grade inflammation in the body, similar to what is observed in chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease or rheumatoid arthritis. In the HALT research program, the scientists investigate why this process progresses more rapidly in some individuals and how it can be slowed down. The goal is to develop new preventive and therapeutic strategies to help people maintain health and quality of life for longer.

Targeting mEetabolic vulnerabilities in tumors for theRAnostics (THERA)

Cancer develops through genetic changes that cause tumor cells to grow uncontrollably and spread in the body. Metabolic processes in the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role: tumor cells alter the local supply of energy and nutrients and can thereby weaken the immune defense. The THERA project investigates these interactions. Using advanced analytical technologies, the scientists make tumor cells, immune cells, and their metabolic processes visible within the tumor.

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