Project ScreenHub with Winfried Neuhaus awarded with Hugo Junkers Prize 2020

Hugo Junkers Prize 2020: Second place in the category "Most Innovative Basic Research Projects" for the group led by Dr. Matthias Jung, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, with AIT Principal Scientist Winfried Neuhaus, Center for Health & Bioresources, with their project ScreenHub - a blood-brain barrier model for researching and combating Alzheimer's disease.

The group led by Dr. Matthias Jung, at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, in collaboration with AIT Principal Scientist Winfried Neuhaus, Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics of the Center for Health & Bioresources (Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics) have developed a blood-brain barrier (BBB) model for researching Alzheimer's disease. Little is known today about the cause and progression of the disease, which complicates its treatment. It is assumed that the BBB is damaged at the onset of the disease and that this condition continues to deteriorate as the disease progresses. This could make the BBB an important factor in disease progression. In addition, it is essential in treatment, as drugs must pass through this biological barrier, but the protective function for the brain must be maintained.

Together, the consortium has created a personalized in vitro disease model using human stem cells. This allows research into disease mechanisms as well as drug efficacy. The model works with a blood sample of the patient, blood cells are reprogrammed into stem cells, and these can be modified to form a personalized BBB, which in turn can be used to obtain information about the diseased person. 

For almost 30 years, the Ministry of Economy, Science and Digitalization of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany has awarded the "Hugo Junkers Prize for Research and Innovation from Saxony-Anhalt". This award is intended to recognize the achievements of innovative entrepreneurs and scientists and to support their work. Once again this year, companies were invited to apply their visions, creative thinking and innovative business models and strategies to create new products and services for new markets or to change existing markets. The projects should be market-ready innovations.

Link award ceremony (starts from 00:10:30): https://youtu.be/ULbJyhka_ic?t=630   
Hugo Junkers Preis: https://www.hugo-junkers-preis.de/