Tag: Medicine

On the road

Zebrafish and sushi

By Antonia Lichtenegger

Antonia Lichtenegger’s research is focused on gaining the most accurate insights possible into the tissues of our bodies. During her Schrödinger stay in Japan, the physicist was successful in helping her host develop an improved imaging method for cancer research. She will soon return to Austria, bringing home many new contacts and a fascination for […] Continue reading “Zebrafish and sushi”

Projects

Fine-tuning cochlear implants greatly boosts quality of hearing

Cochlear implants enable people with hearing impairments to communicate with others using spoken language. Noisy environments and diverse sources of interference are still making conversation difficult, however. The Innsbruck biologist Anneliese Schrott-Fischer and her interdisciplinary team have now succeeded in laying the foundations for individually perfecting the implants. Continue reading “Fine-tuning cochlear implants greatly boosts quality of hearing”

Portrait

Here’s a tobacco plant that saves lives

By Margit Schwarz-Stiglbauer

Molecular biologist Herta Steinkellner and her team have succeeded in producing highly effective antibodies against Covid-19. What is amazing about her method is that these medical wonder weapons are produced by – humanised – plants. This feat could be performed because at the genetic level the boundaries between living beings are blurred. Continue reading “Here’s a tobacco plant that saves lives”

Projects

The impact of epilepsy on emotions and social skills

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases. It often occurs in childhood and adolescence and has psychosocial consequences. A research team in Salzburg led by neurologist Eugen Trinka was the first to prove a connection between deficits in emotion recognition and social cognition. The results will lead to new therapeutic approaches. Continue reading “The impact of epilepsy on emotions and social skills”

Projects

Can cell ageing be stopped?

What changes does our organism undergo as we age? The biotechnologists Johannes Grillari and Markus Schosserer study healthy ageing at the cellular level. They have now succeeded in prolonging the lifespan of flies, worms and yeast cells, while increasing their fitness at the same time. The researchers achieved this by making changes to the ribosomes. Continue reading “Can cell ageing be stopped?”