Curing diseases with the help of biotechnology and biomedicine - scientists in Saxony are researching treatment methods of the future

More than 30 excellent university and non-university research institutions, around 200 internationally staffed working groups, more than 65 biotechnology companies, ten pharmaceutical companies and around 70 innovative service providers with a total of more than 6,000 employees, most of whom are highly qualified, characterise this high-tech sector in Saxony.

On a tour as part of »SPIN2030«, a campaign to highlight the diversity, excellence and attractiveness of Saxony as a centre of science, Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow today visited various institutions in Leipzig that conduct excellent research in the field of biotechnology/biomedicine.

Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow said after visiting the research institutions in Leipzig:
»Saxony recognised the great importance of biotechnology many years ago and invested several hundred million in research in a very targeted manner. As a result, we now have one of the most efficient and, in some areas, world-leading research landscapes and, building on this, an important economic sector. Both are growing steadily. We want to continue to support the Biotec Cluster and the next major steps are already in preparation - such as the research and transfer hub for drug development at the University of Leipzig. The region has the potential to become one of the world's leading research and development centres in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry.

Station 1 – Obesity Research
The Helmholtz Institute for Metabolism, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) in Leipzig, an institute of Helmholtz Munich at the Universität Leipzig and Leipzig University Hospital, investigates the causes of pathological weight gain and aims to develop new therapies for obesity and the associated secondary diseases, such as metabolic and vascular diseases. 

Minister Gemkow was given an insight into current clinical issues that are being researched at HI-MAG as part of clinical studies and was able to try out some of the tests himself, which are otherwise only offered to test subjects in the HI-MAG outpatient study centre in the Red House. In the HI-MAG laboratories, the minister was able to take a look behind the scenes and learn more about how the researchers at the institute are using state-of-the-art methods to find out how morbid obesity can develop and what role the brain and adipose tissue play in obesity-related diseases.

Prof. Matthias Blüher, Director of HI-MAG and Head of the Obesity Outpatient Clinic at Leipzig University Hospital, said:
»Leipzig is an ideal location for our research institute. With its close links to Leipzig University Medicine, which is a world-leading centre for research into metabolic diseases in humans, and the close cooperation between clinical and basic researchers in Leipzig and Munich, I am certain that significant breakthroughs in the treatment of obesity and its secondary diseases can be expected in the coming years. Our primary goal is to bring the latest research findings to the benefit of people with metabolic diseases as quickly as possible&«

Station 2 – Cancer Research
The Universitätsmedizin Leipzig is based on the three pillars »Research, Teaching, Healing«. With around 3,600 students, the Faculty of Medicine at Leipzig University is the largest training centre for human medicine and dentistry, midwifery and the only one for pharmacy in Saxony. His research focuses on: molecular and cellular communication, diseases of the brain and soul, diseases of civilisation such as diabetes, arteriosclerosis and obesity, personalised medicine and oncology.

Minister Gemkow visited research laboratories at the José Carreras House, where new methods of leukaemia diagnostics are being developed and treatment methods for therapies with fewer side effects are being researched. »We have ideal conditions at Leipzig University Medicine, as the basic research institutes and clinics are located on the same site. The results come directly from the research laboratory for application in practice«, says Prof. Dr Ingo Bechmann, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and adds: »In various projects, we are developing novel gene and cell therapeutics, so-called »living drugs«, together with cooperation partners. This puts us on the path to the future of personalised medicine.« The Leipzig Medical Biobank (LMB) has shown how blood, tissue material and genetic material can be collected, processed and stored in a standardised way in order to make them available for research projects, for example in immuno-oncology. The state-of-the-art biobank thus bridges the gap between science and research.

Station 3 – Infection Research
The Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI researches and develops specialised solutions at the interface of medicine, biosciences and engineering. One of its main tasks is contract research for biotechnological, pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, clinics, diagnostic laboratories and research institutions. Research is focussed on developments in the field of immuno-oncology and infection pathology. The institute tests and develops novel cell and gene therapies, active substances and vaccines as well as diagnostic and analytical procedures.

The presentation today focused on research in the field of virology. Dengue and West Nile in particular are becoming increasingly important in the region, as these viruses are also becoming established in our latitudes as the climate warms up and the first major outbreaks of West Nile have been recorded here in the Leipzig/Halle region. This should therefore become a future topic for the location.

The Minister also visited a prototype plant for the production of vaccines and a GMP process development laboratory (Good Manufacturing Practice = guidelines and procedures designed to ensure that products in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food industries are manufactured in a safe and controlled environment). Manufacturing processes for modern cell and gene therapeutics, which are currently used primarily in immuno-oncology, are developed here.

PD Dr Sebastian Ulbert, Deputy Director and Head of the Department of Vaccines and Infection Models at Fraunhofer IZI, explained on the occasion of the visit: »Infectious diseases pose a global threat to human and animal health. With the Infection Pathology research area at the Fraunhofer IZI, we are actively contributing to gaining further important insights into the spread, pathogenesis and possibilities of diagnosis. We support partners in the development and translation of technologies for the research, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infectiological diseases.

Background:
A very dense research cluster in the field of biotechnology/life sciences has developed in Dresden and Leipzig. This comprehensive network, which has established itself in less than two decades and is highly visible internationally, includes:

in Dresden: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG),
Centre for Systems Biology Dresden (CSBD), the interdisciplinary research centre BIOTEC, the Centre for Regenerative Therapies at TU Dresden (CRTD),
three sites of the German Centres for Health Research (Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurodegenerative Diseases);for Health Research (neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, diabetes), the Dresden site of the National Centre for Tumour Diseases (NCT) and the external site of the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), the International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) and the International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering together with TU Dresden. These also include the Max Bergmann Centre for Biomaterials and the Medical Theoretical Centre at the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital Dresden.

in Leipzig: Helmholtz Institute for Metabolism, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG), Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI and Leipzig University with the Innovation Centre for Computer-Assisted Surgery (IACS);for Computer Assisted Surgery (ICCAS), the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI-CBS) and the German Centre for Child and Adolescent Health (DZKJ) i. G.

Source: SMWA Media Service from 26 October 2023