Healthcare

By providing unique insights into molecules, cells and tissues, PETRA IV will open up completely new paths and possibilities for health research. Researchers are hoping to make substantial progress by capturing images of cells in their environment.

Cancer, diabetes, dementia or cardiovascular disease: Scientists are searching intensively for improved therapies and innovative active substances for many diseases. New pathogens such as the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus threaten human health, and the spread of infectious diseases and multiresistant germs requires new approaches with tailor-made active agents and molecular-biological therapies.

PETRA IV is the ideal instrument to drive medical progress. Using its brilliant X-ray light, researchers will be able to analyse cell components, such as proteins and molecules, as well as whole cells in a sample. The X-rays produced by PETRA IV are extremely narrowly focused. In combination with fast signal acquisition, this allows a very high measurement throughput, which in turn reduces the time needed to conduct medical studies.

Drugs can be approved more quickly.

The background of the photo collage shows a medical research laboratory. The schematic representation of a human body is placed in the foreground on the right, to the left of which are three circular image sections with medical illustrations in them. The circles are staggered from the foreground to the background and are shown with decreasing size from front to back. They are reminiscent of the view through an X-ray microscope. From the first to the third circle, there is a gradual approach in the respective image content from the size level of the tissue via that of the cell walls down to the molecular level.
For targeted cancer therapies, docking sites on the cell are an important starting point because these receptors control mechanisms such as blood vessel formation in the tumour. If suitable active substances (orange) prevent certain docking sites (blue) from being activated by growth factors (red), this inhibits tumour growth. PETRA IV can visualise the process from molecular drug docking to what happens across cells. Image: DESY, Lucid Berlin

A picture of the cell in its natural environment

  • In experiments, the cell is analysed as part of its natural environment.
  • Large numbers of samples can be examined in a standardised manner.
  • Images that were previously only possible with extraordinary effort and significantly less detail become routine.
  • The flexible and highly automated design of the beamlines at PETRA IV makes it possible to react quickly to newly arising challenges.
  • For the comprehensive analysis of biological samples, instruments such as cryoelectron microscopes and the ultrafast European XFEL X-ray laser can be used on campus to complement PETRA IV.
“The X-ray light from PETRA IV produces high-contrast images for systematic studies. In health research, the knowledge gained from these can be applied in many ways, for example to find new active substances or to understand how cells interact with their environment.”
Portrait of Prof. Edith Heard
Prof. Edith Heard Director General of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
DESY scientist Alke Meents working at a beamline

Speed dating for active ingredients

PETRA IV has the potential to make drug screening significantly faster and thus more efficient.

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Detailed images of implants

How PETRA IV can advance future medical technologies.

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FAQs glossary
Portrait of Heidrun Hillen
Press and Media / Communication

Heidrun Hillen

I am happy to answer your questions about PETRA IV.

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