New Insights into the Etiology of Complex Common Diseases

Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München, in cooperation with Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and King’s College London (KCL), have identified the association between genetic variants and specific metabolic changes. The study, published in Nature, provides new functional insights regarding associations between risk factors and the development of complex common diseases. Every individual is unique – a closer look at the individual’s metabolites could enable a better evaluation of the risks for developing complex common diseases in the future. more

New Insights into the Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Attack

The pathogenesis of myocardial infarction is not only influenced by the patients’ way of life but also by hereditary risk factors. The important impact of these genetic risk factors has recently been corroborated by a huge scientific study. Together with an international consortium of 150 scientists NGFN researchers were able to identify 13 new risk genes for coronary artery disease, supplemented by the confirmation of ten previously known ones. In the long run the identification of these risk genes will open up so far unknown tracks for prevention and therapy of this fatal disease. 
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Altered Brain Structure in Smokers

In a comparative study NGFN scientists have shown a reduced thickness of the medial orbitofrontal cortex in Smokers in contrast to persons who have never smoked. Interestingly the affected brain region plays a role in decisionmaking, reward and impulse control. Yet it is still unclear wether this alteration of the brain structur is caused by nikotine consumption or if it is a predisposition that promots taking up smoking. Although it is known that nikotin has an destructive impact on nerve cells future studies have to clearify the causal relationship.    
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Gigantic Studies on the Heritability of Obesity Heradic Factors for Body Mass and Fat Distribution

Obesity increases the risk for many life-threatening diseases such as diabetes type II or cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In addition to habits and nutrition heritable factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity. In a huge international study of the GIANT Consortium (Genetic Investigation of ANtropometric Traits) in which NGFN scientists were involved, the number of risk genes for increased body mass could be doubled.
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Migraine Risk Factor Identified

Migraine is an episodic neurological disorder with complex pathophysiology. In an NGFN-funded study researchers now succeeded in identifying a first genetic risk factor that is associated with migraine. This discovery delivers new insights into the etiology of common forms of migraine.
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Improved Prognosis for Neuroblastoma Patients

Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor of early childhood. The course of the disease differs remarkably between individual patients ranging from spontaneous regression to deadly outcome. Scientist of the NGFN now succeeded in developing a prognostic predictor which allows a more precise estimation of the course of the disease. It shall help to anticipate unnecessary treatments and to prevent avoidable cases of recurrence.
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Breast Cancer Cells Get Thwarted by miRNAs

Small regulating micro-RNAs of the miR-200 family are often down regulated during tumor growth. NGFN-scientists could recently show for the first time that this miRNA family can be divided into two clusters. Both have different effects on invasion and apoptosis of breast cancer cells and might be potential targets for future therapies.
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New Insight into the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease

NGFN scientists of the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research showed for the first time, that and how the removal of damaged mitochondria is directed by the two proteins PINK1 and Parkin. A defect in this removal mechanism might be crucial for the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease.
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Genome-Wide Association Studies – a Research Approach with Guaranty for Success

In Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) geneticists identify disease-associated genes and their variants that contribute to an increasing risk of developing a disease. With this approach NGFN scientists identified nine new gene variants, which predispose for changes in the heart rhythm. This knowledge might provide insights into atrial disease and lead to new opportunities for atrial fibrillation prevention and therapy. 
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A Novel Type of Cardiac Insufficiency and Its Mechanism

NGFN scientists identified the protein Nexilin and demonstrated that mutations of this protein are causative for a new type of heart failure. They showed that Nexilin is important to protect the heart muscle and thus crucial for its enormous power.
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