Competence Center Molecular Medicine

News

A research project of the KoMM-member Prof. Manfred Schmitt (Molecular and Cell Biology) is nominated as one from three winner projects in the competition "Deutschland - Land der Ideen". Within the project the Microbiologists Dr. Frank Breinig and Prof. Manfred Schmitt show new ways of vaccines developed on the basis of yeast cells. (presse release)

Sven Lang and Nico Schäuble (PhD students of the GRK 845 and GRK 1326, respectively and coworkers in the group of Prof. Richard Zimmermann, Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) awarded the Homburger "Wissenschaftspreis" for their joint work on calcium regulation in the endoplasmic reticulum. They share the award in the amount of 10.000 Euro with Dr. Jan Weiß (coworker in the group of Prof. Frank Zufall, Physiology) for his work on a specific sodium channel in the olfactory process. Congratulations! This link opens an article published on 11/22/2011 in the local newspaper "Saarbrücker Zeitung".

To further promote young scientists in Germany the DFG will fund 16 new Research Training Groups, including the International Research Training Group IGK 1830, which represents the further development of the GRK 845 and which results from the perennial cooperation of the GRK 845 and the Membrane Protein Research Group (MPRG) at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. Within the IRTG 1830 "Complex membrane proteins in cellular development and disease" scientists form the University of Kaiserslautern, Saarland University and University of Alberta aim to investigate selected membrane transporters, protein targeting and translocation across biological membranes, protein folding, and the role of membrane proteins in developmental processes and diseases. Moreover, the German and Canadian partners have developed a joint training program, which will enable enrolled PhD students to develop high level skills in Membrane Biology through a series of activities, including research stays at the partner institutions. The MPRG has applied for support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to fund the University of Alberta portion of the International Research Training Group. If they receive funding, the IRTG 1830 will begin to enroll PhD-students (presumably in the beginning of 2012, announcements will appear e.g. on this website under News/Vacancies).

The KoMM members Prof. Veit Flockerzi and Prof. Marc Freichel, together with other scientists from the Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology in Homburg, have identified a so far unknown mechanism playing an important role during mature of functional sperms in epididymal cells. Their results have been published in the scientific journal Science Signaling on May 3rd, 2011. (Press release)

A new Priority Programme entitled "Ultraschnelle und zeitlich präzise Informationsverarbeitung im normalen und funktionsgestörten Hörsystem" will be funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The KoMM member Prof. Jutta Engel (Biophysics) will coordinate the programme together with Prof. Eckhard Friauf (Animal Physiology, University of Kaiserslautern). (Details)

Since 2001 the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the National Genome Research Network (NGFN). Within the network scientists from basic research and Medical scientists work together in close collaboration to elucidate causes of diseases and to improve diagnostic methods and therapies. There are three researchers from the Saarland University belonging to the network: Prof. Dr. Matthias Riemenschneider (Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy) and the two KoMM-members Prof. Dr. Friedrich Grässer (Institute of Virology) and Prof. Dr. Jörn Walter (Biosciences Genetics/Epigenetics). Within the network NGFN-Plus Prof. Riemenschneider analyzes genetic and epigenetic factors in Alzheimer's disease (details), Prof. Grässer investigates the function of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded and induced miRNA in viral latency and tumor genesis (details) and Prof. Walter works on integrated DNA-Methylation analysis (details).

The German Research Foundation (DFG) extended the Research Unit FOR 967 ("Functions and mechanisms of ribosomal tunnel exit ligands"; Speaker: Prof. Dr. Richard Zimmermann, Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, KoMM administration) at the Faculty of Medicine for another three years with about 3,5 million Euro (total sum). We congratulate sincere.

A new Collaborative Research Center (SFB) will be funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) at the Faculty of Medicine of Saarland University: SFB 894 ("Calcium-Signals: Molecular Mechanisms and Integrative Functions"; Speaker: Prof. Dr. Jens Rettig). The KoMM congratulates sincere. (Press release)

The German Research Foundation (DFG) extended the Clinical Research Unit KFO 196 ("Signal transduction in adaptive and mal-adaptive cardial remodeling-processes"; Speaker: Prof. Dr. Michael Böhm) at the Faculty of Medicine for another three years. We congratulate sincere. (Press release)

We welcome KryoBio GmBH for strategic partnership. Details about the company are available at the menue item Members/Companies and Institutes. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

In November 2010, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Saarland invited representatives of the Pharmaceutical Industry to the 8th PharmaForum. Three lecture blocks and an exhibition (in which the KoMM participated) provided an ideal platform to initiate collaborations. (PharmaForum 2010)

The German Research Foundation (DFG) extended the RTG 1326 ("Calcium-Signaling and Cellular Nanodomains"; Speaker: Prof. Dr. Dieter Bruns) for another 4.5 years. The KoMM congratulates sincere. (Press release)

In 2010, the "StudienStiftungSaar" promotes various projects for students in the BioMed area. In addition to several interesting medical topics a close cooperation between the Natural Sciences and Medicine will be encouraged. The support programme 2010 at the Saarland University by the "StudienStiftungSaar" is available via the logo.

We welcome Prof. Dr. Jutta Engel (Dept. 2.5 - Biophysics) as new member and are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

We welcome Jun.-Prof. Dr. Christine Peinelt (Emmy-Noether Nachwuchsgruppenleiterin, Dept. 2.5 - Biophysics) as new member and are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

The "Studienstiftung Saar", founded by the Ministry of Economy and Science in June 2009 as an instrument of structural and locational policy, granted the KoMM with 7.000,00 €. The funds will be used as fellowships for Bachelor and Master students in Biology (Human and Molecular Biology) and PhD-students in Medicine or Dentistry of the Saarland University (further information on the fellowships at Vacancies).

In April 2010 the KoMM offered several practical courses for pupils from class level 9. As the picture schows, pupils from the Erweiterte Realschule Kleinblittersdorf really enjoyed the visit in Homburg (by the way, T-Shirts with the KoMM-Logo are available at the KoMM-office).

The KoMM-member Prof. Dr. Markus Hoth, head of the department of Biophysics at the Faculty of Medicine of the Saarland University, was elected member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. It´s a grat honor for Prof. Hoth´s scientific work and his personality. The Leopoldina is the world`s oldest continuously existing academy for medicine and natural sciences with a tradition of over 355 years and more than 1300 members all over the world. We congratulate sincere.

For the first time the KoMM offered a practical course for children in March 2010. Eight girls and boys from the KITA Hummelburg in Neunkirchen could perform simple chemical and biological experiments and had a lot of fun at the Campus Homburg.

We welcome magrochem for strategic partnership. Details about the company are available at the menue item Members/Companies and Institutes. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

In November 2009, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Saarland invited 220 representatives of the Pharmaceutical Industry to the 7. PharmaForum. Three lecture blocks and an exhibition (in which the KoMM participated) provided an ideal platform to initiate collaborations. ("Biotech-Branchenblick" on the PharmaForum 2009)

The first International Symposium of the Research Unit 967, which had been organized by the speaker of the Research Unit and KoMM leader, Prof. Richard Zimmerman, was attended by two just nominated Nobel Laureates: Ada Yonath from the Weizmann Institute in Israel and Thomas Steitz of the Yale University in New Haven, USA. The pictures show the Nobel Laureates in discussion with Prof. Zimmermann and together with the Mayor of Homburg, Karlheinz Schöner, while signing the entry in the Golden Book of the town of Homburg. More information on the symposium and the Nobel Laureates is available at the home page of the Research Unit and in several articles (Homburger Rundschau Nr. 237, Saarbrücker Zeitung Nr. 240, Wochenspiegel Online, Saarland).

We welcome PomBioTech GmBH for strategic partnership. Details about the company are available at the menue item Members/Companies and Institutes. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

On Tuesday, August 25th, two KoMM-members were appointed to Vice-presidents of the Saarland University by the Ministry of Economy and Science: Prof. Manfred Schmitt (Molecular and Cell Biology) to Vice-President for Education and Prof. Matthias Hannig (Dentistry, Stomatology and Orthodontics) to Vice-President for Planning and Strategy. The KoMM congratulates and wishes much success during the upcoming term of two years. (press release)

To gain insights into the world of science and technology 40 pupils spend a holiday week at the UniCamp 2009 of the Saarland University. From August 3rd to 7th, scientists from the faculties of chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, bioinformatics, medicine and mechatronics introduce the pupils to their fields. Within the Competence Center of Molecular Medicine, the young participants will for example measure the pH of blood and isolate DNA from fruits and vegetables. More information about the Unicamp 2009 is available on the UniCamp home page and in an article of the "Saarbrücker Zeitung", published on August 4th 2009.

A new joint research project "Infection Biology and Epidemiology of Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases in sub-Saharan Africa" will be funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) at the Medical Faculty of the Saarland University in Homburg. The speaker of the group is the KoMM member Prof. Dr. Mathias Herrmann (Dept. of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene). The joint research project with four subprojects at universities/institutes in Africa (Johannesburg, Lambaréné, Tanzania, Mozambique) and five subprojects in Germany (Saarland University, University Münster, University Freiburg, IBMT St. Ingbert) analyses staphylococcal diseases to foster the combat against this pathogen in African countries as well as in Germany. (Details)

Since July 2009, the José Carreras Center for Immunotherapy and Gene Therapy at the UKS publishes the scientific journal "Clinical Epigenetics" under the direction of Prof. Dr. Ulrich Mahlknecht (KoMM Administration). Clinical Epigenetics deal with changes of genes in consequence of lifestyle habits, diet or environmental factors over a lifetime affecting e.g. severity and progression of diseases. Research results may be useful for novel therapeutic approaches in e.g. cancer treatment. The electronic journal is available here.

In the current university ranking by the Center for Higher Education Development (CHE) various subjects of the Saarland University again occupy top places. In addition to informatics, biology scored particularly well. The concept of the Saarland University placing biology at the interface of life sciences and medicine was valued by the students. Details on the current CHE-ranking are available at the Saarland University home page.

The last KoMM pupil practical in school year 2008/2009 took place on 22nd of April in Homburg. Two advanced biology courses from the secondary school Kusel carried out experiments on tumor diagnostics under the direction of Prof. Dr. Eckart Meese (Human Genetics). A short report and pictures on the practical are published at the school home page.

The KoMM-member Prof. Dr. Friedrich Grässer (Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Virology) is on the quotation list of "Laborjournal". This link opens a new window with an image of the quotation list, published in "Laborjournal" 04/2009.

The KoMM-member Prof. Dr. Michael Böhm (Internal Medicine III) was elected new president of Germanys major medical society, the "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie (DGK)". Congratulation! (Press release)

We welcome the Competence Network Healthcare (healthcare.saarland) for strategic partnership. Details about healthcare.saarland are available at the menue items Members/Companies. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

In February 2009 the KoMM offered a practical course for the Biology-Olympics from Saarland a second time. At first, participants could refresh their anatomic knowledge with the help of Dr. Kurt Becker at the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology. Afterwards, they carried out different molecular biological and biochemical experiments and they had to take a test at the subjects. Prof. Richard Zimmermann demonstrated some fields of application of Molecular Biology and Medical Biochemistry. The KoMM wishes good luck to the Olympics further on. The pictures show this year`s participants together with their tutors.

The groups of the KoMM-members Prof. Ulrich Laufs and Prof. Michael Böhm are involved in a new transnational research project which was approved by the EU in February 2009. The project aims to analyze the impact of feeding and environmental factors on cardiovascular diseases. The general management of the project is done by the Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé in Luxembourg. Details on the large-scale project are available in the press release of the Faculty of Medicine.

In 2008 the KoMM offered 31 practicals for pupils occupying subjects on Natural Sciences from 19 schools in Saarland. The feedback by the attendees was pretty good, so we decided to keep the practicals in 2009.

Report and pictures on practicals offered to groups from the Max-Planck-Gymnaiums Saarlouis (published at the school home page, in German only):

We welcome Prof. Dr. Frank Lammert (Dept. of Internal Medicine II) as new member and are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

Prof. Lammert was co-initiator and coordinator of the recently established Transregional Collaborative Research Center SFB 57 "Organ Fibrosis: From Mechanisms of Injury to Modulation of Disease" in Bonn, before he came to Homburg in January 2008. The subproject in Homburg will be funded with nearly 500.000 Euro during the next 4 years to investigate genetic determination of liver fibrosis in complex mice models. Details on the research area of the new member are available at the menu item Members/Scientists. Further information regarding the SFB 57 in Aachen, Bonn and Homburg may be obtained from the press release of the Medical Faculty (11/08).

The KoMM welcomes another two companies for a strategic partnership: Jenlab GmbH and toroma organics Ltd. Details about both adventures are available at the menue items Members/Companies. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

The Competence Center Molecular Medicine welcomes two new members: Prof. Dr. Matthias Hannig (Dept. 2.21 - Dentistry, Stomatology and Orthodontics) and Prof. Dr. Mathias Herrmann (Dept. 2.21 - Medical Microbiology and Hygiene). Details on the research areas of the new members are available at the menu item Members/Scientists. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

40 coeds visit the Competence Center Molecular Medicine at the campus of the Medical Faculty in Homburg in July within the frame of the 5th UniCamp. Press release UKS / Press release UdS

The University Board of the Saarland University appointed Prof. Dr. Richard Zimmermann (Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) as administrator of the KoMM for another two years. As hitherto, Prof. Zimmermann will represent the area Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Mahlknecht (Immunotherapy and Gene Therapy) was appointed for two years as KoMM-administrator of the area Clinical Medicine.

A new research building for the Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine (CIPMM) will be build at the campus Homburg in 2009. The focus of the CIPMM is on communication between the nervous, immune- and endocrine systems. Main applicants were the two KoMM-members Prof. Dr. Frank Zufall and Prof. Dr. Jens Rettig. (press release)

This link opens an article on research of KoMM-members, published in the UKS Report (Journal of the Saarland University Hospital and its society of friends; issue II/July 2006). The issue also contains information regarding the KoMM pupil practicals .

The KoMM-integrated Research Training Group GRK 377 "Cellular regulation and growth" (Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Mathias Montenarh) completed after 10 years. It was the first Research Training Group at the Faculty of Medicine of the Saarland University. 30 PhD-students were trained within this program. During a press conference, the GRK 377 was introduced as example for the excellent conditions for young scientists at the Saarland University. (press release)

This link leads to the press release of the Saarland University on the extension of term of the Collaborative Research Center SFB 530 "Spatio-temporal interactions of intracellular signalling molecules"

The Collaborative Research Center SFB 530 "Spatio-temporal interactions of intracellular signalling molecules" will be further funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for another three years. We congratulate sincere. This link opens a new window with an image of an article on the grant, published on May 27th, 2008 in the daily newspaper "Rheinpfalz",

The Central Student Advisory Service of the Saarland University invites pupils to a workshop, which may help choosing the right course of studies. Four dates in May/June 2008 will be offered. Further information as well as the registration form is available here.

We welcome another two KoMM-members: Prof. Dr. Michael Veith (Dept. 8.11 - Anorganic Chemistry/Scientific director of the "INM Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien gGmbH") as well as Dr. Patrick Huber (Dept. 7.3 - Engineering Physics) and are looking forward to a successful collaboration. Details on the research areas of the new members are available at the menu item Members, Scientists.

Our press release on the KoMM-pupil practical "Isolation of DNA from fruits" was published at the home page of the youth campaign "food safety and salutary feeding" of the aid infodienst Verbraucherschutz, Ernährung, Landwirtschaft e.V., Bonn: http://www.talkingfood.de.

The Competence Center Molecular Medicine again welcomes new members: Prof. Dr. Karin Jacobs (Dept. 7.2 - Experimental Physics), Dr. Volker Jung and Dr. Jörn Kamradt (Dept. 2.20 - Urology and Paediatric Urology). Details on the research areas of the new members are available at the menu item Members, Scientists. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

The Competence Center Molecular Medicine welcomes new members: Dr. Kurt W. Becker (Dept. 2.1 - Anatomy and Cell Biology), Prof. Dr. Ingolf Bernhardt (Dept. 8.3 - Biosciences, Biophysics Research Group), Dr. Matthias Engel (Dept. 8.2 - Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry), Prof. Dr. Alexandra K. Kiemer (Dept. 8.2 - Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology), Prof. Dr. C. Roy D. Lancaster (Dept. 2.5 - Biophysics, Chair in Structural Biology), Prof. Dr. Matthias W. Laschke (Dept. 2.9 - Surgery, Clinical Experimental Surgery ), Dr. Hans-Ruprecht Neuberger (Dept. 2.7 - Internal Medicine III ), Prof. Dr. Christian Wagner (Dept. 7.3 - Technical Physics) and Prof. Dr. Gunther Wennemuth (Dept. 2.1 - Anatomy and Cell Biology ). Details on the research areas of the new members are available at the menu item Members, Scientists. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

Press release on KoMM-pupil practical

Since fall 2007 the KoMM offers practical courses on Molecular- and Cell Biology for pupils occupying subjects on Natural Sciences in schools from the Saarland including the sixth form. These courses are very popular. The pictures show pupils from the "Gymnasium am Schloss" in Saarbrücken doing experiments on Campus Homburg.

A new Research Unit "Functional conservation and mechanistic diversity of ligands of the ribosomal tunnel exit" will be funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) at the Hospital of the Saarland University in Homburg. The speaker of the group is the KoMM leader Prof. Dr. Richard Zimmermann (Dept. of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology). The supraregional Research Unit with projects at the universities in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Homburg, Kaiserslautern, Munich, Osnabrück and at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried analyses the effectiveness of molecular chaperones and components for protein transport.

The KoMM member Prof. Dieter Bruns (Department 2.2 - Physiology, Speaker of the GRK 1326) and colleagues recently published their results on signal transmission in neurons in the famous professional journal "Cell" (Kesavan J et al. (2007) Cell 19: 351-363). These data for the first time allocate that during Calcium triggered fusion of vesicles and cell membranes of neurons, SNARE-protein mediated mechanistic forces are involved. The results of the Homburger physiologists may foster handling of neurotoxins, which are used amongst others as antispasmodic or crinkle-smoothing agents. (article on the Cell publication in UKS Report, issue November - 3/2007)

A new Clinical Research Unit "Signal transduction in adaptive and mal-adaptive cardial remodeling-processes" (KFO 196) will be funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) at the Hospital of the Saarland University in Homburg. The speaker of the group is the KoMM member Prof. Dr. Michael Böhm, Chair of the Internal Medicine III Department of the University Hospital. (Details)

The "VolkswagenStiftung" approved 5,6 million Euro for the arrangement of five Lichtenberg-professorships at German Universities. The KoMM member Dr. Trese Leinders-Zufall (Physioolgy, University Hospital) received one of these professorships. Her research is primarily concerned with pheromones. The title of the professorship is "Neuro-endocrine-immune interactions: The molecular basis of chemical communication". We congratulate cordially. (Details)

The KoMM welcomes the Competence Network for Nano- and Biotechnology (NanoBioNet e.V.) in Saarbrücken for a strategic partnership. Details about NanoBioNet are available at the menue items Members/Companies. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

The KoMM members PD Dr. Ulrich Laufs and Dr. Christoph Maack (Internal Medicine) received research awards for their work on heart failure, cardiopathy, vasculitis and atrial fibrillation. Dr. Ulrich Laufs together with Prof. Dr. Stefan Blankenberg from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz obtained the Albert-Fraenkel-Award to the amount of 5.200 Euro (founded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie/Herz- und Kreislaufforschung e.V.). Dr. Christoph Maack received the Franz-Maximilian-Groedel-Award amounting to 5.000 Euro (founded by the Mannheimer Kongress- und Touristik GmbH. (Details)

The KoMM welcomes another two companies for a strategic partnership: Across Barriers GmbH in Saarbrücken and PHAST GmbH in Homburg. Details about both adventures are available at the menue items Members/Companies. We are looking forward to a successful collaboration.

Prof. Wolfram Henn (Human Genetics/Genetic information center) and the KoMM member Prof. Eckart Meese (Human Genetics) published a book on Human Genetics in May 2007. On 128 pages within three big chapters, current topics of Human Genetics are described in an objective and generally understandable way (Herder Verlag, HERDER spektrum, Volume 5744, ISBN: 978-3-451-05744-1).

The KoMM member Prof. Manfred Schmitt (Applied Molecular Biology) and co-workers developed a novel expression system based on engineered variants of the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) dsRNA virus L-A allowing the in vivo assembly of chimeric virus-like particles (VLPs) as a unique platform for a wide range of applications (vaccine development and recombinant protein production). This link opens a new window with the respective article, published online May 2nd 2007 at PLOS one (www.plosone.org).

Worldwide rankings (citation comparison, most cited articles, most cited heads) confirm that Homburger researchers belong to the international point league. Some examples are summarized in an article of the UKS report (March 1/2007), which can be achieved here (in German only). There are also KoMM members among these researchers (Klaus Faßbender, Veit Flockerzi, Marc Freichel, Michael Böhm, Ulrich Laufs). Further information: http://www.laborjournal.de/rubric/ranking/index.html

This link opens an article about the research on cardiac arrhythmia in the group of Prof. Peter Lipp, published in "Laborjournal" 02/2007.

The KoMM members Prof. Veit Flockerzi, Prof. Marc Freichel, Prof. Wilhelm Bloch, Prof. Stephan Philipp and Prof. Frank Schmitz and members of the Physiological Institute of the University of Leuven (Belgium) identified a so far unknown mechanism, which plays a crucial role during the release of allergies. Within this mechanism an ion channel (TRPM4) is involved, which increases the disposition to respond to allergens by sneezing, hay fever or skin rash up to acutely life-threatening symptoms.

The work was published online on February, 11th 2007 (Nature Immunology, doi: 10.1038/ni1441, http://www.nature.com/ni/index.html) and opens the possibility of developing activators of the TRPM4 ion channel as new medicaments for the treatment of allergic affection. The article can be downloaded here.

KoMM introduces itself to the public within the context of the "Long night of sciences" of the Saarland University Hospital.