Hormonal disorders can have far-reaching health consequences such as metabolic diseases. In a study funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, a group of researchers from Graz has now proven the positive effect of vitamin D on blood sugar levels. Continue reading “Vitamin D suitable also as a therapeutic supplement”
The search for specific therapies for multiple sclerosis has prompted an international research group to investigate how immune cells can cross the blood-brain barrier and trigger inflammatory processes in nerve tissue. The results obtained by the Center for Brain Research in Vienna show that the development of this inflammatory disease is dominated by two types […] Continue reading “How immune cells cross the blood-brain barrier”
An interdisciplinary research group in Graz looked for biomarkers that could already provide indications during the first year of life of developmental disorders such as fragile X syndrome, which are still detected (too) late. The researchers analysed early-childhood vocalisation and movement patterns of children with a definite diagnosis. Continue reading “Shortening the path to diagnosis”
With the support of the FWF, Hannes Schuler investigates fruit tree pests and their parasitic ‘lodgers’. He wants to find out which Wolbachia bacteria occur in which cherry fruit fly species, how they are transferred and what this means for the successful reproduction of the flies. Continue reading “Cherry-picking among flies”
The biologist Eva Ringler talks about strategic planning for poison dart frogs, surprising moments in field research and why there are so many roads to success. Continue reading “From cannibal to model father”
The ILEI protein transforms sedentary into mobile cells and is therefore regarded as an important signal inducer for the metastasis of cancer cells. ILEI is only one member of a protein family that has not been widely researched. With the support of the Austrian Science Fund FWF, cancer researcher Agnes Csiszar has demonstrated that one […] Continue reading “A power couple mobilises cancer cells”
With the support of the FWF, a group of researchers from Innsbruck examined 100 test subjects in a sleep laboratory and achieved widespread recognition for their collection of standard values for healthy sleep. While even healthy individuals move about more than expected while sleeping, muscle twitching during dreams can be a harbinger of neurodegenerative diseases. Continue reading “How much twitching is normal during sleep?”
Silviculturist Rupert Seidl talks about the positive effects of bark beetle and forest fires, at what point the forest ecosystem could collapse and why the climate problem needs to be solved mainly from the bottom up. Continue reading “Forest man – working hand in glove with practitioners”
In a project funded by the FWF, a research group from Innsbruck investigated how cancer cells in the large intestine can be made to glow in order to facilitate early detection. Continue reading “Luminescent nanoparticles help with early cancer detection”
Supported by funding from the Austrian Science Fund FWF, a team from the Max F. Perutz Laboratories deciphered the mechanism of the TTP protein as a time-switch for the programmed cell death of white blood cells. A targeted death of these cells prevents an excessive immune reaction, but could also be used as a therapeutic […] Continue reading “Time-switch for immune cells”