News
How blood flow regulates liver function
10/05/2026 |
New findings from basic research with potential implications for the treatment of liver diseases.
The liver is organized into distinct zones, each containing liver cells that perform specific functions. The liver's blood vessels play a key role in this functional organization: The endothelial cells lining these vessels send signals to neighboring liver cells that regulate their activity. But how do endothelial cells know which signals to send? Researchers at the Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now discovered a fundamental mechanism: Blood flow and the resulting biomechanical forces determine which signaling programs endothelial cells activate. Through the Wnt signaling pathway, these cells regulate the function of neighboring liver cells. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
How blood vessels distinguish between growth and inflammation
10/01/2026 |
Blood vessels must fulfill two seemingly contradictory functions in the body: They need to remain stable to ensure blood flow while also responding to injury, disease, and inflammation. Until now, it was not fully understood how blood vessels distinguish between these different states. Researchers at the Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now identified a mechanism that separates these functions: Cleavage of the vascular receptor Tie1 is required for the pro-inflammatory activity of the angiopoietin–Tie signaling pathway, but not for its role in blood vessel growth and maintenance. The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Colon Cancer: How Highly Aggressive Tumors Evade the Immune System
08/19/2026 |
Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the HI-STEM* Stem Cell Institute have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which a particularly aggressive form of colon cancer evades the immune system. The findings show that the activation of a key signaling pathway helps cancer cells suppress the immune system, thereby promoting the development of malignant tumors.
Protecting young people over lobby interests: DKFZ calls for nicotine pouch ban to remain in place
08/12/2026 |
In Germany, nicotine pouches are classified as food products and cannot legally be sold due to their high nicotine content. Manufacturers are currently engaged in intensive lobbying efforts to have these products classified as tobacco products, which would open up a new legal market for them. A recent publication by the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) explains why maintaining the existing ban on an addictive product is an important measure to protect young people and safeguard public health.
11/09/2025
» Ângela Gonçalves' talk at the Falling Walls Summit in Berlin
Ângela Gonçalves’ talk at the Falling Walls Summit in Berlin
Prof. Dr. Ângela Gonçalves (Breakthrough of the Year Award 2025) gave a talk at the Falling Walls Summit in November 2025.
News Archiv
08/05/2026
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» Lautenschläger Prize for Young Scientists 2025 awarded to Lukas Bunse
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» How the Biological Clock Ticks in the Female Reproductive Tract – Breakthrough of the Year Award 2025 for Ângela Gonçalves
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» Role of intestinal bacteria in the development of colorectal cancer: Emmy Noether grant for DKFZ researcher Jens Puschhof
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» Prestigious DFG funding for DKFZ projects
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» Mannheim to lead new DFG research unit
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» ERC funding for research into improved cancer immunotherapies
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» Third German Award for Research in Cancer Prevention honors outstanding scientists
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» DKFZ Hector Cancer Institute at University Medicine Mannheim receives further substantial funding from the Hector Foundation
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» Takeda Oncology Research Award 2024: DKFZ scientists recognized for outstanding research
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» ERC Advanced Grants for Hannah Monyer and Michael Platten
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» Life Sciences Bridge Award für Lukas Bunse
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» How tumors suppress the development of metastases (dkfz.de)
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» DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Centre Mannheim (dkfz.de)
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» Wer profitiert von einer zielgerichteten Therapie beim nicht-kleinzelligen Lungenkarzinom? (dkfz.de)
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» Vom Bild zum Gen: Was Minitumoren über zukünftige Therapiemöglichkeiten bei Darmkrebs verraten (dkfz.de)
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» Resistenz gegenüber Krebsimmuntherapien überwinden (dkfz.de)
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» Founding ceremony of the DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim (dkfz.de)