Press

New Partnership will advance three antibacterial programmes as part of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), a public-private European R&D consortium. The new GNA NOW project, led by Evotec SE and managed by Lygature, will work on the development of novel antibacterial agents to battle antimicrobial resistance in gram-negative bacteria. Fraunhofer IME is one of the 11 beneficiaries.

One year after the controversial decision of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the regulation of crop plants developed by new molecular breeding techniques, scientists are once again taking the floor. Undersigners from more than 120 European plant and life science research centres, including Fraunhofer IME, address the open statement to the newly elected European Parliament and the European Commission. The aim is to secure the potential of new molecular breeding techniques for sustainable agriculture and food production.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME coordinates the research project RESET-ME, selected for funding by the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR). In this project, together with partners from Germany, Latvia, Finland, and Italy, adjuvants for antimicrobial therapies are developed targeting an intrinsic resistance mechanism in Gram-negative bacteria.

Safe diagnoses of diseases, identification of multidrug-resistant germs, ­detection of beginning epidemics at an early stage or detection of toxins and pathogens in drinking water and food in even the lowest concentrations – these are major challenges and goals of current research programs. One of the most promising tools for these tasks are novel and considerably improved biosensors. The project “BioSensing” of the Fraunhofer Institutes for Silicate Research ISC and for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME and the Leiden University, Institute of Physics aims to overcome the limits of modern biosensors with the help of quantum technology.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME participates in the EU-funded ENDOSCAPE project a research and innovation action that develops a novel gene delivery technology. ENDOSCAPE is a 6.8 M€ H2020 EU project coordinated by scientists at the Charité in Berlin with participation of 12 industrial and academic partners from 7 European countries.

Hip and dental implant operations are routine. But not entirely risk-free. They may result in inflammation that is difficult to control with oral or intravenous antibiotics. In such cases, the implant will probably need to be replaced. Fraunhofer researchers can now apply a precisely matched drug directly to the replacement implant while significantly increasing the effectiveness of the antibiotic via a synergism with silver ions. Their research will be on display at the MEDICA and COMPAMED trade fairs from November 12 to 15, 2018 in Düsseldorf (Hall 8a, Stand P13).

On August 1st and 2nd, scientists of the Chilean- German project "MoMaPo" met at the Fraunhofer IME in Aachen. The aim of the binational cooperation project "MoMaPo" is the identification of molecular markers for an increased anthocyanin content in potato tubers. Molecular markers are a tool of modern breeding. With their help, the breeders can succeed in developing new varieties in a shorter time compared to classical breeding.

Life sciences startup LenioBio GmbH and the Fraunhofer IME announced today the signing of an exclusive license agreement that allows LenioBio to utilize Fraunhofer’s proprietary vector solution and technology for the cryopreservation of cell-free lysates. The optimized vector solution and cryopreservation technology from Fraunhofer IME has been specifically developed to meet the wide application areas LenioBio is targeting. With the addition of the Fraunhofer IME license, LenioBio is extending the patent family covering this innovative cell-free system.

Jacobs University Bremen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, today announce their intention to set up a new strategic collaboration to establish joint research projects in the area of antibiotic drug discovery and promote the exchange of students, researchers and educators between the institutions.

The Fraunhofer IME presented a living exhibit and it`s digital twin at the joint Fraunhofer booth “Future Factory” at the Hanover Trade Fair 2018.