Scientists at CeMM discover a new fundamental feature in the organization of biological matter
An unexpected order in the molecular regulation of the constituents of the fat part of our cells is revealed in two simultaneous publications appearing from the laboratory of Prof. Giulio Superti-Furga in the renowned scientific journals Cell and Cell Reports. The two studies, from scientists at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences investigated the role of lipids in the immune response. Marielle Köberlin, Berend Snijder, Leonhard Heinz and colleagues discovered that the regulation of lipids in the cell membrane follows a surprising circular, ring-like organizational pattern and that this pattern…
Inherited DOCK2 deficiency in patients with early-onset invasive bacterial and viral infections
In an international study scientists from Kaan Boztug´s team at CeMM and the Medical University of Vienna, in close collaboration with the groups of Luigi Notarangelo at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Jean-Laurent Casanova at Rockefeller University, New York , have elucidated the molecular cause of a hitherto unrecognized inherited disorder of the immune system (primary immunodeficiency). Performing genetic and cellular immunological studies, the researchers identified biallelic mutations in DOCK2, a gene encoding a protein of critical importance for the cytoskeleton. Patients affected by this rare disease exhibit broad defects of immunity,…
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Opening CeMM Kapsel/Time Capsule
On June 3rd, 2015 the CeMM Kapsel/Time Capsule a Science and Art project by Martin Walde and Giulio Superti-Furga was officially opened by Andreas Mailath-Pokorny, Vienna City Councillor for Cultural Affairs and Science. The concept of the Time Capsule is based on Martin Walde´s interaction with CeMM´s research and philosophy and with the wish to create a “docking place” for artists of all branches within a biomedical research institute. The idea was to create a place where one, two or three people at a time can seclude to think or work in peace. The artist conceived the room as a safe haven and repository for ideas and thoughts that are…
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CeMM Research Report 2014
On Monday, May 18, the new Research Report was presented to a selected audience.
CeMM attempts to address a wider public of culturally interested people, provides interesting artistic insides and provokes new questions. A good example for this is the yearly CeMM Research Report, which is more than a summary of the ongoing projects and activities.
The theme of this year’s report is inspired by the human genome, and by the Austrian National Library. In 2014, CeMM successfully launched the Personal Genome Project “Genom Austria” (www.genomaustria.at), together with the Medical University of Vienna, aiming to support a genetic literacy in…
Prominent encouragement for the life sciences at the ceremonial session of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
On the occasion of the Feierliche Sitzung/Ceremonial Meeting of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, on May 8th, 2015, both Heinz Fischer, President of Austria and Reinhold Mitterlehner, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Science, Research and Economy emphasized the pioneering achievements of CeMM and IMBA and their importance for Austria as a top location for science. Academy President Anton Zeilinger acknowledged the appeal and confirmed the intention to work on securing the future of the life science institutes in consultations with all people concerned, for the benefit of society.
Best of Biotech Competition: CeMM researchers among the best 10 teams
“Best of Biotech” is an international life science business plan competition organized by Life Science Austria (LISA), a program run by the Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS) on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy. On May 6, 2015 an international jury consisting of distinguished experts from the areas of science, industry and finance selected the winners of the competition.
CeMM congratulates its researchers for being among the top 10 teams in the “Best of Biotech” competition out of 42 applications from 11 different countries.
The project idea: During the management of patients with blood cancers,…
Open Statement in support of opposing the cuts in the EU budget earmarked for research
EU-LIFE strongly supports the position of the European Parliament against H2020 cuts and now urges the EU Commission to substantially amend the EFSI (European Fund for Strategic Investments) proposal to ensure full protection of the EU budget for research; and the support of Member States Governments to ensure this protection.
In particular, we call for the following measures:
1. Stop deviating funds from research. Science must be protected if Europe wants to be a leading economy. In particular:
a. It is not acceptable to deviate funds from the thoroughly negotiated and validated H2020 budget to beneficiate a yet unproven mechanism to…
Karl Landsteiner Lecture 2015
Stressed Out: A Novel Approach to Cancer Immunotherapy
One target – two anti-cancer strategies!
On April 27th Laurie H. Glimcher, Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College delivered this year’s CeMM Landsteiner Lecture with the topic “Stressed Out: A Novel Approach to Cancer Immunotherapy”. In her lively and fascinating talk, Laurie H. Glimcher presented a novel approach to cancer immunotherapy that looks promising to treat solid, very aggressive, and unfortunately often late diagnosed tumors like breast or ovarian cancer. Her talk attracted more than 300 people to the Festive Hall of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, among them institute…
SMART lecture – Peter Brabeck-Letmathe
On March 16th, 2015, the 4th SMART Lecture was delivered by Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of the Board of Nestlé S.A. The topic “Big Data Challenges and Opportunities for Food and Nutritional Sciences” attracted an audience of some 150 people, among them scientists, students and interested visitors. CeMM’s PhD Students obtained the chance to meet the Austrian businessman with an exceptional career in an industry branch confronted with major societal responsibility challenges in a closed Q&A session prior to his public lecture.
In his talk, Dr. Brabeck-Letmathe stated Nestlé´s position as a worldwide player in the food industry slowly…
Researchers at CeMM have developed a method for studying DNA methylation in single cells
Dissecting the human epigenome one cell at a time
Every human life starts from a single cell. This cell, the zygote, undergoes many rounds of cell division and epigenome remodeling as it gives rise to the different cell types in the human body. Each organ of our body comprises a handful of cell types that serve specific biological functions. But there is often significant variation between single cells of the same type. Such cell-to-cell differences become particularly relevant in cancer, when a single cell that is by chance resistant to chemotherapy can become the “winner” of massive evolutionary selection in response to therapy, which can…
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