Press releases and news 2000

Thomas Graeve was awarded a Fraunhofer Prize 2000 for the development of an artificial skin model.

Before new creams, lotions or lipsticks are launched on the market, they have to be tested for possible skin reactions. Dr. Thomas Graeve of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart has been awarded the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize for the devolopment of a human skin tissue model, which replaces animal testing.

In 2000 students of the Fraunhofer IGB were awarded with one 1st and two 2nd prizes.

Scientists of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart/Germany now succeeded in developing a high efficient, low cost technology for the bio-treatment of formaldehyde containing waste air.

Red lips from algae (July 2000) Algae are very easily satisfied, they grow fast, and they synthesize valuable substances such as antibiotics, vitamins, color pigments and fatty acids. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a photo-bioreactor, in which microalgae can be cultured in large numbers.

Fraunhofer researchers developed a fast screening method with reliable results that allows doctors to establish a cancer patient's response to different drugs even before choosing and commencing a course of therapy.

Tracking the pathogenicity of the yeast Candida albicans (April 2000) Candida albicans is the most frequent fungal pathogen for humans. Scientists of the newly established research group "Automated Protein Screening Systems" at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart have identified proteins, which are involved in the mechanisms responsible for pathogenicity of Candida and thus may represent specific targets for novel antimycotic drugs.

Twice as much energy can now be generated from residual waste. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a new fermentation process for treating residual waste which already meets the forthcoming technical requirements for disposal of domestic waste.