Competence Center Molecular Medicine

The organisations of the Competence Center Molecular Medicine

During the past decades different protein functions were elucidated on the molecular level. But despite sequencing the full genome the integrative functions of most proteins remain unclear. Collaborative research centers provide an excellent opportunity to obtain further knowledge of these functions in general. Furthermore it is very important to determine and understand the basics of Ca²⁺ signaling to obtain conclusive results at the systemic level. The projects of the Collaborative Research Center 894 are divided in Projects A 1-17. These projects cover "Molecular mechanisms and integrative functions". The projects P1, 2 and 3, the "platform projects" will support the other projects with specific techniques. The topics within the collaborative research center cover a huge field spanning from immunology to synaptic transmission. Hence, the Collaborative Research Center 894 is examining mechanisms throughout the Ca²⁺ signaling pathways, from basic mechanisms to bodily functions.

http://sfb894.uni-saarland.de/SFB894/Home_engl.html

Research Training Group GRK 845 "Molecular, physiological and pharmacological analysis of cellular membrane transport" The GRK 845 was founded in April 2003 as a collaboration project of the Technical University in Kaiserslautern and the Saarland University with it`s Medical Faculty located in Homburg. The group intends to examine the involvement of membrane proteins in physiological processes of various organisms, their regulation and interaction on a cellular level. In addition, interactions of membrane proteins on a cellular level are analyzed for a better understanding of the structure, maturing and assembling of functional complexes. The participation of experienced scientists of the research areas Physiology, Virology, Pharmacology, Anatomy, Cell Biology, Biophysics, Human Genetics, Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ensures a uniquely broad molecular, physiological and pharmacological examination of the hydrophobic membrane proteins, which are experimentally often difficult to access. The integrated educational program for graduate students provides the mediation of concepts and theories but also practical components.

http://www.uni-kl.de/membrantransport

Research Training Group GRK 1326 "Calcium-Signaling and Cellular Nanodomains" Central to this program (founded in April 2006 at the Saarland University) are functional analyses of Ca²⁺-transporting protein structures and intracellular membrane transport as well as Ca²⁺-regulated processes in the context of intra- and intercellular communication. In this way, the program focuses on one of the most attractive research fields in life sciences. The participating groups provide excellent scientific expertise in the spatial and temporal analyses of Ca²⁺-signals. This research program is accompanied by a demanding and performance-oriented curriculum that covers various specialties in the field of molecular research. Current topics in cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry and neuroscience as well as state-of-the art techniques are taught by distinguished scientists in a comprehensive lecture series and candidates will receive intense training in concepts of intra- and intercellular communication.

http://www.uniklinikum-saarland.de/en/forschung/gk-calcium

Clinical Research Unit KFO 129 "Mechanisms of resistance development and optimization of antiviral strategies in hepatitis C virus infection using integrative models in biomathematics and bioinformatics" This clinical research unit comprises research projects from different disciplines including clinical medicine, biomathematics, bioinformatics, structural biology, immunology, virology, and pharmaceutical chemistry to characterize resistance to hepatitis C therapy and to develop new treatments approaches. Inflammation of the liver caused by chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects more than 170 patients throughout the world including 500.000- 800.000 patients in Germany. After many years of infection chronic hepatitis C can proceed to severe liver diseases. Unfortunately, sustained virologic response rates to currently available anti-HCV treatments are only about 50 to 60 %. Many new drugs, especially inhibitors of the HCV NS3 serine protease and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, are currently under preclinical and early clinical evaluation. Therefore models for predicting treatment response are highly desirable. Additionally, efficient and reliable prediction algorithms of treatment response early after initiation of therapy may lead to individualized optimization of treatment schedules in clinical practise. A solution of these challenges may be derived from viral kinetics and genetics. In addition to the research projects, the clinical research unit provides interdisciplinary training structures and joint support of young researchers by clinicians and basic researchers.

http://www.kgu.de/zgw/...

The DFG supports a new Clinical Research Unit at the University Hospital in Homburg since July 2007 (KFO 196 "Signal transduction in adaptive and mal-adaptive cardial remodeling-processes"). The unit consists of 6 research projects of the Medical Faculty in Homburg and one central project in cooperation with the Medical center for Internal Medicine III, the Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and the Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology. Chronic heart failure is an ever increasing problem and accounts for a high mortality rate in industrial counties. The mechanisms of this disease are not yet clarified sufficiently and possibilities for therapies are limited. The new KFO 196 analyses the molecular settings of healthy and abnormal myocardial alterations.

Research Unit 967 "Functions and mechanisms of ribosomal tunnel exit ligands" Since January 2008 the DFG supports a new Research Unit 967 entitled "Functions and mechanisms of ribosomal tunnel exit ligands" at the University Hospital in Homburg. The Research Unit represents a supraregional network in the field of biochemistry including 10 projects at the universities in Fribourg, Heidelberg, Homburg, Kaiserslautern, Munich, Osnabrück and at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried. After their synthesis at the ribosome, proteins have to be folded and transported to their site of action in order to carry out their specific functions. In all organisms these processes are assured by certain ribosome-associated factors. Incorrect folded proteins account for numerous human diseases, e.g. polycystic liver disease or the Wolf-Hirschhorn-disease. The new Research Unit will analyze the effectiveness of molecular chaperones and components for protein transport using state-of-the-art and innovative methods in order to clarify the basic principles of protein folding and protein transport.

http://www.uni-saarland.de/fak2/for967

The project "Infection Biology and Epidemiology of Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases in Africa" is granted by a special program of the DFG (German-African Cooperative Projects in Infectious Diseases, PAK 296). Four sub-Saharan African and five German groups focus on a registry of S. aureus community-acquired disease, on the isolation and characterization of clinical isolates with advanced methods for typing and virulence factor expression, and on GLP-conform long-term isolate handling and scientific database exchange. Emerging information will allow to associate S. aureus biology with course of disease, and thus provide a basis for future rational multifaceted interventions including diagnostics, therapy, and preventive measures tailored to the resources and requirements of sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, the applied academic exchange and workshop program as well as case ascertainment and isolate characterization based on shared criteria and techniques will foster the combat against this pathogen in African countries as well as in Germany.

http://www.african-german-staph.net/

Former research projects

Collaborative Research Center SFB 530 "Spatio-temporal interactions of intracellular signalling molecules" The Collaborative Research Center SFB 530 was founded in 1999 at the Saarland University. It covered two project areas as well as a service range. In the first project area six working groups (Pharmacology, Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology) of the Faculty of Medicine in Homburg as well as a Zoological department of the Technical University Kaiserslautern dealt with "plasma membrane-obtained signals". The second project area consisted of eight working groups (Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Physiology, Biophysics and Structure Biology) of the Faculty of Medicine in Homburg. They concentrated on the communication between cell compartments. The service range included a working group from the Institute for Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Management of the Collaborative Research Center.

Statement after 12 years (press release)

Research Training Group GRK 377 "Cellular regulation and growth". The GRK 377 existed for 10 years at the Saarland University (until 2008). Within this Training Group 15 working groups of the Faculty of Medicine in Homburg (Physiology, Virology, Pharmacology, Anatomy, Cell Biology, Biophysics, Human Genetics, Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) investigated regulator molecules (cellular or viral origin) or cellular signals (e.g. Ca²⁺ ions), which affect central functions of the cell. Beyond the analysis of single functions the researchers wanted to understand superordinate connections that lead to the regulation of gene expression, secretion, cell division, surviving or the death of a cell. The research program was accompanied by a specific study program for graduate students.

Report 1998 - 2007