ForTra is announcing a call for proposals to fund consulting costs for the preparation and support of orientation (´kick-off´) and scientific advice meetings with regulatory authorities for projects for which a clinical trial is planned.
Cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood into the circulation. It often occurs after a severe myocardial infarction, but other forms of heart failure can also be the cause. Temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) systems are increasingly used to stabilize organ perfusion. Microaxial, left ventricular support systems can provide short-term relief for patients and serve as a bridge-to-recovery, further therapeutic decision-making, or implantation of a long-term MCS device.
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest challenges facing modern healthcare. It threatens the effective treatment of severe infections and increasingly compromises complex medical interventions, including cancer care. This project aims to improve antibiotic use, reduce the emergence of resistance, and optimize sepsis treatment through earlier and more targeted clinical decision-making.
In their “SMART-NEO” project, Dr. Bonakdar and Prof. Dr. Morhart are developing an intelligent system to safely suction airway secretions in ventilated preterm and newborn infants – a routine procedure that must be performed several times a day. An AI-assisted system monitors the pressure and flow signals in real time and adjusts the suction automatically. This prevents dangerous pressure spikes and helps to protect infants’ delicate lungs. Alone in Germany, around 60,000 babies could benefit from this technology every year.
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune-mediated disease of the oral mucosa and is classified as a potentially malignant lesion. Patients often suffer from pain and a burning sensation of the oral mucosa, which significantly impairs their quality of life. The etiology remains largely unclear, and there are no causal treatments available. Recent approaches aim to specifically modulate the inflammatory cascade using Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi).
The Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause acute viral hepatitis. Current treatments, such as ribavirin and interferon-alpha, have limitations due to side effects and resistance, creating a need for new therapies. This project investigates how a specific chemical modification of RNA called m6A, controlled by the enzyme METTL3, affects HEV infection. Preliminary findings show that blocking METTL3 reduces HEV infection significantly without harming virus replication.
Pancreatic cancer ranks among the most aggressive and lethal malignancies. In male patients, a striking genetic anomaly frequently occurs: loss of the Y chromosome. The project investigates whether this loss alters tumor cell behavior—enhancing mobility, adaptability, and aggressiveness. To explore this, the scientists analyze patient data to identify affected genes and proteins, and apply genetic editing to induce Y chromosome loss and assess its direct consequences.
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as enfortumab vedotin are currently revolutionizing the treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma. Nevertheless, the development of therapy resistance remains a clinically relevant problem whose molecular basis is poorly understood.
