BIH Young Science - BIH at Charité

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Eine Initiative von Nachwuchswissenschaftlerinnen und -wissenschaftlern aus MDC und Charité startete als BIH Young Science mit einer Gründungsveranstaltung im Januar 2014. Die Initiative verfolgt das Ziel, den regelmäßigen Austausch und die wissenschaftliche Diskussion insbesondere auf der Ebene der Nachwuchsgruppenleiterinnen und -leiter in der fächerübergreifenden, translationalen Forschung zu intensivieren. Mitglieder der Initiative sind Nachwuchswissenschaftlerinnen und -wissenschaftler von MDC und Charité.

M.D. Till Althoff
Division of Cardiology & Vascular Medicine and Center for Cardiovascular Research
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 450 613446 / 525315
Email: till.althoff@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Vascular biology and diseases
- GPCRs and G-Protein signaling
- Epigenetics and Metabolics
Project Description
Focusing on G-protein signalling, metabolics and epigenetics, my research aims to elucidate molecular mechanisms of vascular remodelling and disease and to deduce and validate potential pharmacological targets. Current projects investigate the transcriptional regulation of smooth muscle cell plasticity in human vascular disease and the atherogenic mechanotransduction of flow-induced shear stress. Besides applying disease models for atherosclerosis, aneurysmal disease, restenosis and endovascular injury, I am conducting a patient study in collaboration with the biobank of the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), to prospectively acquire human vascular samples for the respective molecular analyses.
University Education
2004 - 2005
Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA – Studies of Medicine / Internship
2001 - 2005
Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU) – Studies of Medicine
1999 - 2001
University of Heidelberg – Studies of Medicine
Professional Experience
2012 - now
Charité – University Medicine Berlin Division of Cardiology & Vascular Medicine, Charité Campus Mitte
2010 - 2012
Postdoc – Max-Planck-Institute for Heart & Lung Research, Dept. of Pharmacology (Prof. Stefan Offermanns)
2009
Postdoc – Pharmacological Institute, University of Heidelberg (Prof. Stefan Offermanns)
2006 - 2009
Charité – University Medicine Berlin Division of Cardiology & Vascular Medicine, Charité Campus Mitte
Selected Publications
Althoff TF, Albarrán JuárezJ, Troidl K, Tang C, Wang S, Wirth A, Takefuji M, Wettschureck N, Offermanns S. Procontractile G-protein-mediated signaling pathways antagonistically regulate smooth muscle differentiation in vascular remodeling. J Exp Med. 2012 Nov 19;209(12):2277-90.
Takefuji M, Wirth A, Lukasova M, T akefuji S, Boettger T, Braun T, Althoff T, Offermanns S, Wettschureck N. A G13-Mediated Signaling Pathway Is Required for Pressure Overload–Induced Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure. Circulation. 2012 Oct 16;126(16):1972-82.
Tunaru S, Althoff TF, Nüsing RM, Diener M, Offermanns S. Castor oil induces laxation and uterus contraction via ricinoleic acid activating prostaglandin EP3 receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 5;109(23):9179-84.
Althoff TF, Fischer M, Langer E, Ziemer S, Baumann G. Sustained enhancement of residual platelet reactivity after coronary stenting in patients with myocardial infarction compared to elective patients. Thromb Res. 2010 May;125(5):e190-6
Althoff TF, Knebel F, Panda A, McArdle J, Gliech V, Franke I, Witt C, Baumann G, Borges AC. Long-term follow-up of fenestrated Amplatzer atrial septal occluder in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Chest. 2008 Jan;133(1):283-5
Prof. Dr. med. Claudia Baldus
Hämatologie, Onkologie, Tumorimmunologie am CBF
Address: Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 8445 2337/4468
Email: claudia.baldus@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Molecular markers in acute leukemia with prognostic & pathobiologic relevance
- Leukemia-stroma interaction
- Target identifciation in acute leukemia
Project Description
• Clinical trails in hematological malignancies
• Molecular characterization and subgroup identification in large cohorts of acute leukemia
• Analyses of bone marrow stroma compartment
• Genome wide expression
• Methylation and mutational studies
• Implementation of molecular findings in clinical trails with novel targeted therapies
University Education
1994 - 1999
Clinical Studies, Medical School, Freie Universität Berlin
1992 - 1994
Preclinical Studies Medical School Homburg/Saar
Professional Experience
2011 - now
Mildred Scheel Professorship (W3), Hematology and Oncology, Charite, Berlin
2005 - 2011
Max-Eder Fellowship (Deutsche Krebshilfe), Charite, Berlin
2001 - 2003
PostDoc, Human Cancer Genetics, OSU, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Leitung TRC GMALL Study Group
2012
Förderpreis Onkologie Fritz Acker Stiftung
2010
Gutermuth Preis
2007
Nachwuchswissenschaftlerpreis der DGHO
Selected Publications
Neumann M, Greif PA, Baldus CD. Mutational landscape of adult ETP-ALL. Oncotarget. 2013 Jul;4:954-
Neumann M, Heesch S, Schlee C, Schwartz S, Gökbuget N, Hoelzer D, Konstandin NP, Ksienzyk B, Vosberg S, Graf A, Krebs S, Blum H, Raff T, Brüggemann M, Hofmann WK, Hecht J, Bohlander SK, Greif PA, Baldus CD. Whole-exome sequencing in adult ETP-ALL reveals a high rate of DNMT3A mutations. Blood. 2013 Jun 6;121(23):4749-52.
Bock J, Mochmann LH, Schlee C, Farhadi-Sartangi N, Göllner S, Müller-Tidow C, Baldus CD. ERG transcriptional networks in primary acute leukemia cells implicate a role for ERG in deregulated kinase signaling. PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e52872.
Mochmann LH, Bock J, Ortiz-Tánchez J, Schlee C, Bohne A, Neumann K, Hofmann WK, Thiel E, Baldus CD. Genome-wide screen reveals WNT11, a non-canonical WNT gene, as a direct target of ETS transcription factor ERG. Oncogene. 2011 Apr 28;30(17):2044-56.
Baldus CD, Liyanarachchi S, Mrózek K, Auer H, Tanner SM, Guimond M, Ruppert AS, Mohamed N, Davuluri RV, Caligiuri MA, Bloomfield CD, de la Chapelle A. Acute myeloid leukemia with complex karyotypes and abnormal chromosome 21: Amplification discloses verexpression of APP, ETS2, and ERG genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Mar 16;101(11):3915-20.
Dr. rer. nat. Benedikt Beckmann
IRI for the Life Sciences
Address: Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 2093 47910
Email: benedikt.beckmann@iri-lifesciences.de
Fields of Research
- RNA Biology
- Infection Biology
- Systems Biology
Project Description
Scope: RNA-protein interactions in in host and pathogen during infection
Techniques: mRNA interactome capture, UV crosslinking of (m)RNPs
Translational Perspective: Understanding novel aspects of bacterial infection
University Education
2002 - 2006
Biology (Diplom), Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz
Professional Experience
2014 - 2015
Group Leader, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
2011 - 2014
Postdoctoral Fellow, EMBL Heidelberg
2006 - 2010
PhD, Philipps Universität Marburg
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Phoenix Award for Outstanding Basic Research in Pharmaceutical Technology
2010
Award for Best PhD Thesis in Life Sciences and Medicine
Selected Publications
Beckmann BM, Hoch PG, Marz M, Willkomm DK, Salas M and Hartmann RK. A pRNA-induced structural arrangement triggers 6S-1 RNA release from RNA polymerase in Bacillus subtilis. EMBO J (2012); 31(7):1727-38
Beckmann BM, Grünweller A, Weber MHW and Hartmann RK. Northern blot detection of endogenous small RNAs (∼14 nucleotides) in bacterial total RNA extracts. Nucleic Acids Res. (2010); 38(14):e147
Castello A, Fischer B, Eichelbaum K, Horos R, Beckmann BM, Strein C, Davey NE, Humphreys DT, Preiss T, Steinmetz LM, Krijgsveld J and Hentze MW. Insights into RNA Biology from an Atlas of Mammalian mRNA-Binding Proteins. Cell (2012); 149(6):1393-406i
Prof. Dr. med. Antje Beling (geb. Voigt)
Charité - Institute for Biochemistry / Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 450 528 187
Email: antje.beling@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Myocarditis / Inflammatory cardiomyopathy
- Post-translational Modification with ISG15
- Proteostasis / Ubiquitin-Proteasome System
- Cardiotropic enteroviruses
Project Description
My mission is to decipher cell-intrinsic immune mechanisms that on the one hand limit pathogen spread during viral infection and on the other hand ensure immune homeostasis for the benefit of the host. We seek to use of evolutionary evolved endogenous effector pathways to fight susceptibility to infection. We address the biological control of infection through harnessing mediators of innate immunity and test them for their potential to reverse host susceptibility to intractable infection.

We are particulary interested in understanding the spatio-temporal regulation of immune responses that are needed for successful pathogen clearance during infection. A dysbalance within the precise timing e.g. of an antiviral immune responses can provoke deleterious disease progression. An excellent example for such a failure to regulate inflammatory processes during viral infection is myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle with fulminant dysfunction of the heart muscle at acute stages and a potential development of long-term inflammation leading to chronic heart failure. We investigate two host key systems – the ISG15 and the ubiquitin-proteasome system – that are both needed to preserve immune homeostasis during viral infection, thereby (i) efficiently counteracting viral pathology and (ii) attenuating detrimental immune responses.

ISG15/ISGylation: Interferons α and β (IFN-α/β) are crucial effectors of the innate immune system. Engagement of the IFNA-receptor induces the expression of the IFN Stimulated Gene of 15 kDa (ISG15). We demonstrated that ISG15-dependent remodelling of the intracellular proteome plays a key role in constraining pathogen spread during enterovirus infection. Our group aims to dissect the role of ISG15 to regulate inflammatory processes during the course of viral infection. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the antiviral properties of the ISG15 system particularly during enterovirus infection. Thereby, proof-of-concept experiments are being conducted that study the therapeutic potential of the ISG15 system during viral infection. Such research represents an essential step towards the identification of novel drug targets in the future.

Ubiquitination/proteasome: During acute viral infection, IFN-α/β and pro-inflammatory cytokines induce the transcription of hundreds of genes, which on the other hand challenges proteolytic systems to ensure protein homeostasis. Our group investigates the function of the major intracellular proteolysis system, which is the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to regulate the immune response for the benefit of the host during viral infection. Beyond the generation of MHC class I restricted antigenic peptides, we are studying UPS function in the control of (i) viral replication, (ii) cytokine production, (iii) immune cell differentiation and survival, and (iv) preservation of cell vitality. We aim for a better understanding of the function of cytokine-inducible components of the UPS in different cell types, tissues and hosts to provide molecular aspects for novel treatment strategies of viral infection particulary for susceptible individuals.

Webpage: http://biochemie.charite.de/forschung/kardiale_infektionsbiologie_und_immunologie/
University Education
2012
Habilitation „The Impact of the Immunoproteasome in the Pathogenesis of murine CoxsackievirusB3-myocarditis“, Charité University Medical Centre in Berlin (Germany), Medical Section for Cardiology, Prof. Dr. Gert Baumann
2004
Dissertation: “Processing of the pp89 MCMV MHC Class I Epitope by the Proteasome” (summa cum laude), Institute of Biochemistry, Charité Berlin; Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Peter-M. Kloetzel
1996 - 2003
Human medicine: Humboldt University in Berlin (Germany), University of Bern and Zürich (Switzerland), University Hospital Birmingham (United Kingdom), University of Pittsburgh’s Medical School (U.S.A.)
Professional Experience
2015
Appointment W2-professorship in “Cardiac immunobiology and proteostasis” at the Institute for Biochemistry at the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2014
Board Certification in Cardiology
2012 - now
Research Group Leader: “Cardiac Immunmodulation”, Charité Berlin (Germany) – Charité Centre for Basic Sciences Berlin, Institute for Biochemistry, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Britta Eickholt Other affiliations: Interdisciplinary Center for Infection Biology and Immunity (ZIBI) and faculty member of the International Max Planck Research School for Infectious Diseases and Immunology (IMPRS-IDI) - ZIBI Graduate School | German Centre for Cardiovascular Research | Berlin Institute of Health Young Science | Research Centre for Immune Sciences Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2009 - 2012
Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Cardiology, Charité Berlin
2009
Board Certification in Internal Medicine
2004 - 2012
Charité University Medical Centre in Berlin, Medical Section for Cardiology
2003 - 2004
Research Fellow in Molecular Cardiology, Charité Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2015
Klaus-Georg-und-Sigrid-Hengstberger Research Award
2014
Peter Hans Hofschneider Endowed Professorship for Molecular Medicine – Foundation for Experimental Biomedicine Zürich (Switzerland)
2013
Ingrid-zu-Solms Wissenschaftspreis Medizin, Frankfurt/Main
2009
Rudolf-Thauer-Poster Prize Awarded by the German Society of Cardiology
2008
Rahel-Hirsch-Scholarship - Charité Berlin
Selected Publications
Paeschke A*, Possehl A,*, Klingel K, Voss M, Voss K, Kesphol M, Sauter M, Overkleeft HS, Althof N, Garlanda C, Voigt A. The availability of the cardio-protective pattern recognition molecule Pentraxin3 is controlled by the immunoproteasome. European Journal of Immunology 2015, in press. DOI: 10.1002/eji.201545892 (IF 4.6)
Rahnefeld A, Klingel K, Schuermann A, Diny NL, Althof N, Lindner A, Bleienheuft P, Savvatis K, Respondek D, Opitz E, Ketscher L, Sauter M, Seifert U, Tschöpe C, Poller W, Knobeloch KP, Voigt A. Ubiquitin-like protein ISG15 in host defense against heart failure in a mouse model of virus-induced cardiomyopathy. Circulation 2014; 130:1589-1600. (IF 15.3)
Ebstein F*, Voigt A*, Lange N, Warnatsch A, Schröter F, Prozorovski T, Kuckelkorn U, Aktas O, Seifert U, Kloetzel PM, Krüger E. Immunoproteasomes Are Important for Proteostasis in Immune Responses. Cell 2013; 152:935-937. *equal contribution (IF 35.0)
Opitz E, Koch A, Klingel K, Schmidt F, Prokop S, Rahnefeld A, Sauter M, Heppner F, Völker U, Kandolf R, Kuckelkorn U, Stangl K, Krüger E, Kloetzel PM, Voigt A. Impairment of immunoproteasome function by beta5i/LMP7 subunit deficiency results in severe enterovirus myocarditis. PLoS Pathogens 2011; 7(9):e1002233. (IF 9.6)
Rahnefeld A, Ebstein F, Albrecht N, Opitz E, Kuckelkorn U, Stangl K, Rehm A, Kloetzel PM, Voigt A. Antigen Presentation Capacity of Dendritic Cells is Impaired in Ongoing Enterovirus-Myocarditis. European Journal of Immunology 2011; 41:2774-2781. (IF 4.9)
Voigt A, Trimpert C, Bartel K, Egerer K, Feist E, Gericke C, Kandolf R, Klingel K, Kuckelkorn U, Stangl K, Felix SB, Baumann G, Kloetzel PM, Staudt A. Lack of Evidence for a Pathogenic Role of Proteasome-Directed Autoimmunity in Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Basic Research in Cardiology 2010; 105:557-567. (IF 6.2)
Seifert U, Bialy LP, Ebstein F, Bech-Otschir D, Voigt A, Schröter F, Prozorovski T, Lange L, Steffen J, Rieger M, Kuckelkorn U, Aktas O, Kloetzel PM, Krüger E. Immunoproteasomes preserve protein homeostasis upon interferon-induced oxidative stress. Cell 2010; 142:613-624. (IF 35.3)
Voigt A, Bartel K, Egerer K, Trimpert C, Feist E, Gericke C, Kandolf R, Klingel K, Kuckelkorn U, Stangl K, Felix SB, Baumann G, Kloetzel PM, Staudt A. Humoral anti-proteasomal autoimmunity in dilated cardiomyopathy. Basic Research in Cardiology 2010; 105:9-18. (IF 6.2)
Jäkel S, Kuckelkorn U, Szalay G, Plötz M, Textoris-Taube K, Opitz E, Klingel K, Stevanovic S, Kandolf R, Kotsch K, Stangl K, Kloetzel PM, Voigt A. Differential interferon responses enhance viral epitope generation by myocardial immunoproteasomes in murine enterovirus myocarditis. American Journal of Pathology 2009; 175:510-518. (IF 6.0)
Szalay G*, Meiners S*, Voigt A*, Lauber J, Spieth C, Speer N, Sauter M, Kuckelkorn U, Zell A, Klingel K, Stangl K, Kandolf R. Ongoing coxsackievirus myocarditis is associated with increased formation and activity of myocardial immunoproteasomes. American Journal of Pathology 2006; 168:1542-1552. * equal participation (IF 6.0)
Prof. Dr. Nils Blüthgen
Institute of Pathology
Address: Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 2093 8924
Email: nils.bluethgen@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Systems Biology
- Computational Oncology
- Quantitative Biology
Project Description
Scope: Function of molecular networks, network-based resistance mechanisms for targeted therapies Special Techniques: Mathematical Modelling, Computational Biology
Translational Perspective: Use models to predict most effective therapies and to overcome resistance
University Education
2002 - 2005
PhD in Theoretical Biophysics, Humboldt University Berlin
1996 - 2002
Physics (Diplom), Universität Heidelberg und Technische Universität Berlin
Professional Experience
2014 - now
Associate Professsor for Computational Modelling in Medicine, Charite Berlin
2011 - 2013
Junior Professor for Medical Systems Biology, Charite Berlin
2008 - 2010
Junior Group Leader, Institute of Pathology, Charite
2007 - 2008
Research Fellow, Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, University of Manchester
2005 - 2006
Postdoc, Molecular Neuroscience / Bernstein Cener, AG Dietmar Kuhl, FU Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Elected member of EpiGeneSys (EU Network of Excellence)
2011
EMBO short term fellowship for research stay at Insitute Cure, Paris
2008
MTZ-award for medical systems biology
2008
Honorary lecturer, translational medicine, University of Manchester
Selected Publications
Klinger, B., Sieber, A., Fritsche-Guenther, R., Witzel, F., Berry, L., Schumacher, D., Yan, Y., Durek, P., Merchant, M., Schäfer, R., Sers, C. and Blüthgen, N. Network quantification of EGFR signaling unveils potential for targeted combination therapy. Mol Syst Biol; 9:673, 2013.
Bentele, K., Saffert, P., Rauscher, R., Ignatova, Z. and Bluthgen, N. Efficient translation initiation dictates codon usage at gene start. Molecular Systems Biology, 9: 675, 2013.
Stelniec, I, Legewie, S, Tchernitsa, O, Witzel, F, Klinger, B, Sers, C, Herzel, H, Blüthgen, N* and Schäfer, R.* Reverse engineering a hierarchical regulatory network downstream of oncogenic KRAS. Molecular Systems Biology, 8: 601, 2012.
Nora, EP, Lajoie, BR*, Schulz, EG*, Giorgetti, L*, Okamoto, I, Servant, N, Piolot, T, Berkum, NL v., Meisig, J, Sedat, J, Gribnau, J, Barillot, E, Blüthgen, N , Dekker, J* and Heard, E*. Spatial partitioning of the regulatory landscape of the X-inactivation centre. Nature, 485: 381-385, 2012.
Fritsche-Guenther, R., Witzel, F., Sieber, A., Herr, R., Schmidt, N., Braun, S., Brummer, T., Sers, C. and Blüthgen, N. Strong negative feedback from Erk to Raf confers robustness to MAPK signalling. Molecular Systems Biology, 7: 489, 2011.
Dr. rer. nat. Chotima Böttcher
Neuropsychiatry and Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Address: Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 17154
Email: chotima.boettcher@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Cell Therapy
- Myeloid cells
- Neurodegenerative disorders
Project Description
My research focuses on
1) the differential roles of myeloid cells and microglia in neuropsychiatric disorders, including Huntington’s disease (HD), stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTLD/ALS);

2) the development of hematopoietic cells as tools to treat neurological disorders. Our proof-of-concept experiments in mice suggested that adoptive transfer of hematopoietic precursors (HPs) in non-conditioned SOD1G93A transgenic mice, a model of ALS, at the symptomatic phase resulted in delay of disease progression, extension of lifespan, improvement of motor activity, and attenuation of inflammatory pathology. Therefore, HPs are a promising cell population for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. We intend to translate our findings to the human condition using CD34+ enriched samples. The therapeutic potential of the identified human HPs will be evaluated in mouse models of neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS and HD by xenotransplantation.
University Education
2001 - 2005
Graduate studies (Dr. rer. nat.) in Pharmacy at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany (summa cum laude, PhD-Scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD)
1997 - 2000
Master of Science in Pharmacy at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
1992 - 1997
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
Professional Experience
2006 - now
Senior postdoctoral fellow, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2006
Postdoctoral fellow at Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
2005 - 2006
Postdoctoral fellow at Biocenter, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
2000 - 2001
Lecturer at Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ubonrathani University, Thailand
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2005
Dorothea-Erxleben-Preis for the year’s best Ph.D. thesis of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany and Luther-Urkunde for the most excellent Ph.D. thesis
Selected Publications
Boettcher C , Fernández - Klett F, Gladow N, Rolfes S, Priller J (2013): Targeting Myeloid Cells to the Brain Using Non-Myeloablative Conditioning. Plos One, 8:e80260.
Boettcher C , Ulbricht E, Helmlinger D, Mack AF, Reichenbach A, Wiedemann P, Wagner HJ, Seeliger MW, Bringmann A, Priller J (2008): Long-term engraftment of systemically transplanted, gene-modified bone marrow-derived cells in the adult mouse retina. Br J Ophthalmol , 92:272-275.
Lee SW, Haditsch U, Cord BJ, Guzman R, Kim SJ, Boettcher C , Priller J, Ormerod BK, Palmer TD (2013): Absence of CCL2 is sufficient to restore hippocampal neurogenesis following cranial irradiation. Brain Behav Immun. 30:33-44.
Mildner A, Schlevogt B, Kierdorf K, Böttcher C , Erny D, Kummer MP, Quinn M, Brück W, Bechmann I, Heneka MT, Priller J, Prinz M (2011): Distinct and Non-Redundant Roles of Microglia and Myeloid Subsets in Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease. J Neurosci. 31(31):11159-71.
Klohs J, Baeva N, Steinbrink J, Bourayou R, Boettcher C , Royl G, Megow D, Dirnagl U, Priller J, Wunder A (2009): In vivo near-infrared fluorescence imaging of matrix metalloproteinase activity after cerebral ischemia. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 29(7):1284-92.
PD Dr. med. Irene Brunk
Institute of Integrative Neuroanatomy
Address: Philippstr. 12, 10115 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 28250
Email: irene.brunk@charite.de
Fields of Research
- G-protein signalling
- Monoamine storage/uptake
- Axonal growth
Project Description
My group focus es on the diverse functions Go-proteins serve in neurons and neuroendocrine cells, including the regulation of the (vesicular) uptake of neuro transmitter s by heterotrimeric G-proteins as well as their influence on axonal growth. We apply state-of-the-art cell biological, molecular biological, and microscopic techniques, including the direct determination of neurotransmitter uptake by isolated secretory vesicles.

Translational perspective: Behavioural experiments indicate a correlation between Go-protein function, monoaminergic signalling and psychostimulant induced behaviour (e.g. locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference). In general a better understanding of the regulation of neurotransmitter uptake and storage will provide us better insights into transmitter-system-related diseases and can help us identify novel therapeutic approaches and pharmacological targets. Identification of the determinants of axonal growth is critically important for the understanding of neuronal development, neurodegeneration and regeneration after neuronal injury , aspects which will be addressed in our future experiments.
University Education
2011
Habilitation, Anatomy and Cell Biology
2008 - 2010
Postgraduate studies in Medical Education, Heidelberg
2001
Degree in Human Medicine (M.D. / Dr. med.)
1993 - 2001
Studies in Medicine, Charité
Professional Experience
2002 - now
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (Wissenschaftliche Assistentin) Institute of Integrative Neuroanatomy, Charité
2002 - 2003
Resident, Department of Neuropediatrics, Charité
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2008
Scholarship for studies in Medical Education
2002
Scholarship for research-AIP, Charité
Selected Publications
Baron, J., Blex, C., Rohrbeck, A., Rachakonda, S.K., Birnbaumer L., Ahnert-Hilger, G., Brunk, I. The α-subunit of the trimeric GTPase Go2 regulates axonal growth. J. Neurochem. 2013 Mar; 124 (6): 782-794.
Brunk , I., Sanchis-Segura, C., Blex, C., Perreau-Lenz, S., Bilbao, A., Spanagel, R., Ahnert-Hilger, G. Amphetamine regulates NR2B expression in Go2α knockout mice and thereby sustains behavioral sensitization. J Neurochem. 2010 Oct; 115(1): 234-46.
Brunk I., Blex C., Speidel D., Brose N., Ahnert - Hilger G. Ca2+-dependent activator proteins of secretion promote vesicular monoamine uptake. J Biol Chem. 2009 Jan; 284(2): 1050-6.
Brunk I., Blex C., Sanchis-Segura C., Sternberg J., Perreau-Lenz S., Bilbao A., Hörtnagl H., Baron J., Juranek J., Laube G., Birnbaumer L., Spanagel L., Ahnert-Hilger G. Deletion of Go2alpha abolishes cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization by disturbing the striatal dopamine system. FASEB J. 2008 Oct; 22(10): 3736-46.
Brunk I., Blex C., Rachakonda S., Höltje M., Winter S., Pahner I., Walther D.J., Ahnert-Hilger G. The first luminal domain of vesicular monoamine transporters mediates G-protein-dependent regulation of transmitter uptake. J Biol Chem. 2006 Nov; 281(44): 33373-85.
Ph.D. Marina Chekulaeva
BIMSB
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 1850
Email: marina.chekulaeva@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- miRNAs and mechanisms of their function
- mRNA localization and localized translation
- Translational regulation and mRNA decay
Project Description
• RNA biology, with a special focus on non-coding RNAs
• mechanisms of miRNA function
• translational control and mechanisms
• messenger RNA transport and localized translation
• cell polarity

Key findings:
I have discovered that miRNA silencing is mediated by novel conserved linear motifs (W-motifs) dispersed throughout GW182, the effector protein of miRNA repression complex. These motifs recruit deadenylation complexes to cause deadeanylation, decay and translational repression of target mRNAs. My discovery reconciles literature data, which could not be explained by previous models and provides a new foundation from which to explore miRNA function (Chekulaeva et al., NSMB 2011).

I have uncovered a novel mechanism of translational repression that involves mRNA oligomerization into unusually large RNP complexes, silencing particles, that cannot be accessed by ribosomes. This mechanism is particularly suited to coupling translational control with mRNA transport, a common and ill-understood theme in developmental biology and neurobiology (Chekulaeva et al, Cell 2006).
University Education
2001 - 2005
Ph.D. (degree: Dr. rer. nat.), European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)/University of Heidelberg
1993 - 1998
Diploma in Biology, State University of Moldova
Professional Experience
2013 - now
Junior Group leader, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine
2006 - 2012
Postdoctoral Fellow, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel
Selected Publications
Chekulaeva, M., Mathys, H., Zippric h, J., Attig, J., Colic, M., Parker, R., and Filipowicz, W. (2011). miRNA repression involves GW182-mediated recruitment of CCR4-NOT through conserved W-containing motifs. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology 8(11): 1218-26.
Chekulaeva, M., Parker, R., and Filipowicz, W. (2010). The GW/WG repeats of Drosophila GW182 function as effector motifs for miRNA-mediated repression. Nucleic Acids Research 38(19): 6673-83.
Chekulaeva, M. and Filipowicz, W. (2009). Mechanisms of miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation in animal cells. Current Opinion in Cell Biology 21(3): 452-60.
Chekulaeva, M., Filipowicz, W., and Parker, R. (2009). Multiple independent domains of dGW182 function in miRNA-mediated repression in Drosophila. RNA 15: 794-803.
Chekulaeva, M., Hentze, M.W., and Ephrussi, A. (2006). Bruno acts as a dual repressor of oskar translation, promoting mRNA oligomerization and formation of silencing particles. Cell 124: 521-533.
Dr. Amaia Cipitria Sagardia
Julius Wolff Institute, Charité
Address: Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 52094
Email: amaia.cipitria@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Biomaterials
- Tissue Engineering
- In-Vivo Animal Models
Project Description
Understanding of the influence of physical properties of biomaterial scaffolds on cell behavior and tissue regeneration. Use of small (rat) and large (sheep) animal models to regenerate critical-sized bone defects resulting from trauma, inflammation or tumor resection. Characterization of the regenerated tissue using a multi-scale and multimodal analysis: Histology, microcomputed tomography, quantitative polarized light microscopy, second-harmonic generation imaging, small angle X-ray scattering, nanoindentation.
University Education
2004 - 2008
Ph.D. in Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, UK
1998 - 2004
M.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Navarra, Spain
Professional Experience
2009
Postdoctoral research scientist at Queensland University of Technology, Australia
2009 - 2010
Postdoctoral research scientist at the Julius Wolff Institute, Charité, Berlin
2001 - now
Principal investigator at the Julius Wolff Institute, Charité, Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Spanish accreditation A.N.E.C.A. for the title of Associate Professor
2011
Best poster price at the Osteologie Congress, Germany
2011
Best poster price at the Gordon Research Conference, US
2007
Best oral presentation at the ITSC Conference, China
2005
First National Prize in Mechanical Eng. awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science
2005
Fellow of the Cambridge European Society
2005
Best poster price at the Euromat Conference, Czech Republic
Selected Publications
A. Cipitria*/J.C. Reichert* et al, “Polycaprolactone scaffold and reduced rhBMP-7 dose for the regeneration of critical-sized defects in sheep tibiae”. Biomaterials, 2013, 34(38):9960-9968. IF 7.604.
J.C. Reichert*/A. Cipitria* et al, “A tissue engineering solution for segmental defect regeneration in load-bearing long bones”, Science Translational Medicine, 2012, 4 (141):141ra93. IF 10.481.
A. Cipitria et al, "Porous scaffold architecture guides tissue formation", Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2012, 27(6): 1275-1288. IF 6.227.
A. Cipitria et al, "Design, fabrication and characterization of PCL electrospun scaffolds—a review", Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2011, 21(2 6): 9419-9453. IF 5.968.
A. Cipitria et al, “A sintering model for plasma-sprayed zirconia TBCs. Part I: Free-standing coatings”, Acta Materialia, 2009, 57(4): 980-992. I F 3.760.
PD Dr. med. Marcus Czabanka
Department of Neurosurgery Charité
Address: Augustenburger Platz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4506 60433
Email: marcus.czabanka@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Angiogenesis
- Spinal metastasis
- Moyamoya disease
Project Description
• Animal glioma models
• Intraivital microscopy
• Animal metastasis models
• Bioluminescence
• Small animal imaging
University Education
2013
Habilitation
1999 - 2005
Medical School, University of Heidelberg
Professional Experience
2012
Board Certification Neurosurgery
2007 - 2014
Department of Neurosurgery, Universitätsmedizin Charité Berlin, Prof. Peter Vajkoczy
2006 - 2007
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Mannheim, Prof. Peter Schmiedek
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
Clinical scientist Program “Friedrich-Luft”, Universitätsmedizin Charité Berlin
Research award (German academy of Neurosurgery)
Selected Publications
Combined temozolomide and sunitinib treatment leads to better tumour control but increased vascular resistance in O6-methylguanine methyltransferase-methylated gliomas. Czabanka M, Bruenner J, Parmaksiz G, Broggini T, Topalovic M, Bayerl SH , Auf G, Kremenetskaia I, Nieminen M, Jabouille A, Mueller S, Harms U, Harms C, Koch A, Heppner FL, Vajkoczy P. Eur J Cancer. 2013 Mar 14. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.02.019
Microvascular biodistribution of L19-SIP in angiogenesis targeting strategies. Czabanka M, Parmaksiz G, Bayerl SH, Nieminen M, Trachsel E, Menssen HD, Erber R, Neri D, Vajkoczy P. Eur J Cancer. 2011 May; 47(8):1276-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2011.02.001.
Collagen XV is necessary for modeling of the extracellular matrix and its deficiency predisposes to cardiomyopathy. Rasi K*, Piuhola J*, Czabanka M*, Sormunen R, Ilves M, Leskinen H, Rysä J, Kerkelä R, Janmey P, Heljasvaara R, Peuhkurinen K, Vuolteenaho O, Ruskoaho H, Vajkoczy P, Pihlajaniemi T, Eklund L. Circ Res. 2010 Nov 12; 107(10):1241-52. Epub 2010 Sep 16, * Equal contribution.
Effects of sunitinib on tumor hemodynamics and delivery of chemotherapy. Czabanka M, Vinci M, Heppner F, Ullrich A, Vajkoczy P. Int J Cancer. 2009 Mar 15; 124(6): 1293-300. doi: 10.1002/ijc.24019
Del-1, an endogenous leukocyte-endothelial adhesion inhibitor, limits inflammatory cell recruitment. Choi EY, Chavakis E, Czabanka MA, Langer HF, Fraemohs L, Economopoulou M, Kundu RK, Orlandi A, Zheng YY, Prieto DA, Ballantyne CM, Constant SL, Aird WC, Papayannopoulou T, Gahmberg CG, Udey MC, Vajkoczy P, Quertermous T, Dimmeler S, Weber C, Chavakis T. Science. 2008 Nov 14; 322(5904):1101-4.
Prof. Dr. med. Marc Dewey
Radiology - Universitätsmedizin Charité
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 27353
Email: marc.dewey@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Radiology
- Imaging
- Heart
Project Description
• Noninvasive cardiovascular imaging
• Cardiac MRI and CT
• Radiation dose
• Experimental radiology
• Meta-analyses
• Cost-effectiveness
• Patient preference in diagnostic imaging

Publications, Books, Invited Lectures:

60 original paper as first or last author, 10 review paper as first or last author, Editor of the books „Coronary CT Angiography“ (2009) and „Cardiac CT“ (2011, Springer, 2nd edition: 2014), more than 60 invited lectures (e.g. RSNA and ECR)
University Education
1996 - 2002
Medical Studies at Charité and Johns Hopkins University
Professional Experience
2013 - now
Vice Chairman, Department of Radiology, Charité
2012
Appointment for a Heisenberg-Professorship in Radiology at Charité
2011 - now
Chief Attending, Department of Radiology, Charité
2008 - 2010
Attending, Department of Radiology, Charité
2002 - 2008
Resident, Department of Radiology, Charité
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen-Ring 2012, Deutsche Röntgengesellschaft
2008
Multislice Computed Tomography for Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease. Award: Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen-Preis 2009 of the Deutsche Röntgengesellschaft
2004
Magnetic Resonance Imaging with the Blood-Pool Contrast Agent P792 for Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease – Animal Experiments. Dissertation. summa cum laude Award: Behnken-Berger-Preis 2005
Selected Publications
Dewey M , Teige F, Schnapauff D, Laule M, Borges AC, Wernecke KD, Schink T, Baumann G, Rutsch W, Rogalla P, Taupitz M, Hamm B. Noninvasive detection of coronary artery stenoses with multislice computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Ann Intern Med 2006; 145: 407-415, W123-126
Miller JM, Rochitte CE, Dewey M, Arbab-Zadeh A, Niinuma H, Gottlieb I, Paul N, Clouse M, Shapiro E, Hoe J, Lardo A, Bush D, de Roos A, Cox C, Brinker J, Lima JA. Diagnostic performance of coronary angiography by 64-row CT. New Engl J Med 2008; 359:2324-36
Schuetz GM, Zacharopoulou NM, Schlattmann P, Dewey M. Meta-analysis: noninvasive coronary angiography using computed tomography versus magnetic resonance imaging. Ann Intern Med 2010; 152(3):167-77, W39-42
Rief M, Zimmermann E, Stenzel F, Martus P, Stangl K , Greupner J, Knebel F, Kranz A, Schlattman P, Laule M, Dewey M. Computed tomography angiography and myocardial computed tomography perfusion in patients with coronary stents: prospective intraindividual comparison with conventional coronary angiography. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013; 62(16):1476–85
Dewey M , Zimmermann E, Deissenrieder F, Laule M, Dübel HP, Schlattmann P, Knebel F, Rutsch W, Hamm B. Noninvasive coronary angiography by 320-row computed tomography with lower radiation exposure and maintained diagnostic accuracy: comparison of results with cardiac catheterization in a head-to-head pilot investigation. Circulation. 2009; 120(10):867-75
PD Dr. med. Jens Fielitz
Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) and Dept. of Cardiology, Charité UniversitätsmedizinBerlin, Virchow-Klinikum
Address: Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 40424
Email: jens.fielitz@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Inflammation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy
- Ubiquitin proteasome mediated protein degradation
- Cardiac remodeling
Project Description
Maintenance of muscular structure and function requires a precise control of protein synthesis and degradation; abnormalities in these processes can give rise to myopathies. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is responsible for the degradation of structural and contractile proteins of cardiomyocytes such as myosin heavy chain (MHC). The UPS functions as a cascade of enzymes mediating ubiquitination of proteins which are then degraded by the 26S proteasome. E3 ubiquitin ligases are the key enzymes for UPS dependent protein degradation assuring substrate specificity. Activity of this process is mainly regulated by the E3 ligases. Most importantly, we found that absence of the RING-finger E3 ligases Muscle RING-finger (MuRF) 1 and 3 leads to cardiac hypertrophy and renders the heart susceptible to stress leading to heart failure and cardiac rupture following myocardial infarction. Furthermore, we identified MHC proteins as novel targets to be ubiquitinated by MuRFs as disease mechanism. Inhibition of MuRF mediated protein degradation could therefore preserve cardiac function and prevent its transition into heart failure. However, the mechanism of this process during hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes is unclear preventing development of target specific therapy. Therefore, the major goal of the group is to investigate regulation of MuRF expression and activity during hypertrophy in more detail. We aim to elucidate the molecular mechanism of target protein recognition of MuRF proteins during cardiac hypertrophy. Additionally, we aim to identify novel transcription factors increasing MuRF1 expression to further characterize pathways of MuRF1 regulation. Elucidation of the function and regulation of MuRF proteins in cardiac hypertrophy will provide the basis for the development of a target specific therapy to treat hypertrophy and its transition into heart failure.

Special Techniques: various animal models of inflammation-induced muscle failure (cecal ligation and puncture surgery (CLP)) and denervation-induced atrophy. Animal models of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure (drug administration via osmotic mini-pumps; myocardial infarction, transverse aortic constriction). Histological and immunohistological investigation of heart and skeletal muscle. Generation of peptide specific antibodies. Recombinant proteins. In vitro ubiquitination assays. SILAC-IP/AP-MS. Live cell imaging. Microdialysis in mouse skeletal muscle.

Translational Perspective: Inhibition of UPS mediated protein degradation might preserve muscle mass and function. This will ease mobilization of critically patients once they emerge from sedation. In end stage heart failure patients this approach could stop disease progression, and immobilization due to general muscle failure. Discovery of novel signalling pathways and molecular pathways will broaden our knowledge about disease mechanisms and pave the road for drug development.
University Education
1998
Graduation of Medical School with 3rd State Examination. „magna cum laude“
1997
General Surgery; University of Sydney; Canberra Clinical School, Canberra, Australia
1990 - 1998
Studies of Medicine, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Professional Experience
2012 - now
Participation in “24/7 on-call Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Duty”, Charité Campus Virchow
2011 - now
Invasive Cardiology, Charité Campus Virchow
2010 - 2012
Organization of and participation in “24/7 on-call Echocardiography” Duty, Charité Campus Virchow
2009
Department of cardiac Electrophysiology, Dept. of Cardiology, Charité Campus Virchow, Prof. W. Haverkamp (1 year)
2009 - 2013
Department of Echocardiography, Dept. of Cardiology, Charité Campus Virchow
2008
Department of cardiac Magnetic Resonance Tomography, Dept. of Cardiology, Franz-Volhard-Klinik, Charité Campus Buch, Prof. Schulz-Menger (1 year)
2007 - now
Clinician Scientist, Charité Campus Virchow
2007 - 2008
Department of Gastroenterology, Charité Campus Buch (6 month)
2003 - 2007
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA, Prof. Eric N. Olson
2002 - 2003
Postdoctoral Fellow, Habilitation grant of the Charité Campus Virchow, Prof. V. Regitz- Zagrosek
2001 - 2002
Cardiology ward, German Heart Institute Berlin and in cooperation with Charité Campus Virchow
2001 - 2002
Ward doctor at Intensive Care Unit, Dept. of Cardiology, Franz-Volhard-Klinik, Charité Campus Buch
1998
Disputation: „summa cum laude“
1998 - 2000
Research-Internship at German Heart Institute Berlin and in cooperation with Charité Campus Virchow (Outpatients department, Cardiology ward, Emergency department)
1994
Start of experimental doctoral thesis: „Krankheitsspezifische Regulation der AT1 mRNA in humanen Endomyokardbiopsien – eine Untersuchung mittels quantitativer RT-PCR-ELISA Technik“ (German Heart Institute Berlin, Prof. V. Regitz-Zagrosek).
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2010
Marie-Curie International Reintegration Grant, European Union (4 years)
2010
Independent Group Leader at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) at the Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch (5 years)
2009
Clinical cooperation project with Prof. T. Sommer, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch
2009
Principal investigator: at MyoGrad Graduate School of the DFG, together with Prof. V. Mouly and Prof. G. Butler-Browne, Paris (TP2: Function of the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of Muscle RING finger 1 and 3 in critical illness myopathy)
2008
Research Grant at Charité Virchow (1 year)
2008
Travel grant of the German Research Foundation (DFG FI 965/3-1) for a meeting of the American Heart Association “Pathological and Physiological Regulation of Cardiac Hypertrophy”; Abstract: “Myosin storage myopathy resulting from the loss of Muscle RING Finger 1 and 3”
2008
DFG Sachmittelantrag; DFG FI 965/2-1 (3 years)
2008
Persönliche Forschungsförderung, Charité (2 years)
2007
German Society of Muscular Disorders e.V. (2 years)
2006
Young Investigator Award – AHA meeting Keystone: „Translation of Basic Insights Into Clinical Practice”. Abstract: „MuRF3 Maintains the Integrity of the Heart Following Acute Myocardial Infarction“
2005
American Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA); Neuromuscular Disease research Grant; Principal Investigator – Eric N. Olson, Ph.D., UTSW Medical Center, Project Title: Control of Muscle Growth by a Novel Small Molecule
2004
Pfizer fellowship of the German Society of Cardiology (1 year)
2002
Interdisciplinary Habilitation grant at Charité Virchow (2 years)
2001
Research Grant at Charité Virchow (1 year)
1998
Research-Internship at German Heart Institute Berlin (1.5 years)
Selected Publications
Fielitz J , Kim MS, Shelton JM, Qi X, Hill JA, Richardson JA, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. Requirement of protein kinase D1 for pathological cardiac remodeling. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2008; 105:3059-3063
Fielitz J, Kim MS, Shelton JM, Latif S, Spencer JA, Glass DJ, Richardson JA, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. Myosin accumulation and striated muscle myopathy result from the loss of muscle RING finger 1 and 3. J Clin Invest. 2007; 117:2486-2495
Fielitz J, van Rooij E, Spencer JA, Shelton JM, Latif S, van der Nagel R, Bezprozvannaya S, de Windt L, Richardson JA, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. Loss of muscle-specific RING-finger 3 predisposes the heart to cardiac rupture after myocardial infarction. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2007; 104:4377-4382
Fielitz J , Philipp S, Herda LR, Schuch E, Pilz B, Schubert C , Gunzler V, Willenbrock R, Regitz-Zagrosek V. Inhibition of prolyl 4-hydroxylase prevents left ventricular remodelling in rats with thoracic aortic banding. Eur J Heart Fail. 2006
Wollersheim T, Woehlecke J, Krebs M, Hamati J, Lodk a D, Luther-Schroeder A, Langhans C, Haas K, Radtke T, Kleber C, Spies C, Labeit S, Schuelke M, Spuler S, Spranger J, Weber-Carstens S, Fielitz J. Dynamics of myosin degradation in intensive care unit-acquired weakness during severe critical illness. Intensive Care Med. 2014 Apr; 40(4):528-38.
PD Dr. med. Roland C. E. Francis
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine - Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK)
Address: Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 51002
Email: roland.francis@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Ventilator-induced lung injury
- Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction
- Acute hemorrhagic shock
Project Description
Animal models of acute lung injury and ventilator induced lung injury, mechanisms of action of reactive oxygen species and anti-inflammatory drugs to attenuate ventilator-induced lung injury
University Education
2011
Habilitation
2004
Medical thesis (Promotion)
1995 - 2002
Medical School, Freie Universität und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Professional Experience
2014 - now
Vice director, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité, CVK
2013 - 2014
Associate medical director, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité, CVK
2011
Supervising Consultant in Anesthesiology
2008
Board Certification in Anesthesiology & in Emergency Medicine
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Hanse-Preis für Intensivmedizin, Bremen
2007
Invited Member of the Council of Nobel Laureates 57th meeting in Lindau
2007
Member of the Mentoring Programme WAKWiN of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin.
Selected Publications
Francis RCE, Vaporidi K, Bloch KD, Ichinose F, Zapol WM. Protective and detrimental effects of sodium sulfide and hydrogen sulfide in murine ventilator-induced lung injury. Anesthesiology 2011 Nov;115(5):1012-21
Derwall M*, Francis RCE*, Kida K, Bougaki M, Crimi E, Adrie C, Zapol WM, Ichinose F. Administration of hydrogen sulfide via extracorporeal membrane lung ventilation in sheep with partial cardiopulmonary bypass perfusion: a proof of concept study on metabolic and vasomotor effects. Crit Care. 2011; 15(1):R51
Francis RCE, Höhne C, Klein A, Pickerodt PA, Reyle-Hahn MS, Boemke W. Xenon/remifentanil anesthesia protects against adverse effects of Losartan on hemodynamic challenges induced by anesthesia and acute blood loss. Shock. 2010; 34(6):628-35.
Pickerodt PA, Francis RC, Höhne C, Neubert F, Telalbasic S, Boemke W, Swenson ER. Pulmonary vasodilation by acetazolamide during hypoxia: impact of methyl-group substitutions and administration route in conscious, spontaneously breathing dogs. J Appl Physiol. 2014;116:715-723.
Vaporidi K, Francis RCE, Bloch KD, Zapol WM. Nitric oxide synthase 3 contributes to ventilator-induced lung injury. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2010 Aug;299(2):L150-9. Epub 2010 May 7.
Dr. rer. nat. Raphaela Fritsche
Berlin Institute of Health
Address: Kapelle-Ufer 2, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 3114
Email: raphaela.fritsche@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Cancer
- Signaling
- Metabolomics and proteomics
Project Description
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the primary cause of death from pediatric cancer deriving from neural crest precursor cells. Its clinical impact and biological heterogeneity leading to a highly aggressive malignancy drive the translational research effort. Despite intensive research, improvements in clinical outcome of NB have been achieved mostly for low- and intermediate-risk tumors. To gain new insights into NB pathogenesis we will analyze several high-risk NB cell lines and a cohort of NB tissue samples using MS-based proteomics and metabolomics techniques. As it is known that NB tumors show dependency on glycolysis, targeting major branching points may be a promising therapeutic strategy.
University Education
2003 - 2008
PhD in molecular and cell biology at Charité Berlin
1999 - 2003
Studies of Biology at Freie Universität Berlin (Diploma)
Professional Experience
2016 - now
Postdoctoral research scientist at Max-Delbrück-Center Berlin (BIH - metabolomics)
2013 - 2016
Postdoctoral research scientist at Max-Delbrück-Center Berlin (BIMSB - proteomics and metabolomics platform)
2008 - 2013
Postdoctoral research scientist at Humboldt University Berlin (Institute for Theoretical Biology) and Charité Berlin (Institute of Pathology)
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Lydia-Rabinowitsch award
2011
MKFZ award
Selected Publications
Fritsche-Guenther R, Witzel F, Kempa S, Brummer T, Sers C, Blüthgen N. Effects of RAF inhibitors on PI3K/AKT signalling depend on mutational status of the RAS/RAF signalling axis. Oncotarget. 2016 Feb 16;7(7):7960-9.
Klinger B, Sieber A, Fritsche-Guenther R, Witzel F, Berry L, Schumacher D, Yan Y, Durek P, Merchant M, Schäfer R, Sers C, Blüthgen N. Network quantification of EGFR signaling unveils potential for targeted combination therapy. Mol Syst Biol. 2013;9:673.
Fritsche-Guenther R, Witzel F, Sieber A, Herr R, Schmidt N, Braun S, Brummer T, Sers C, Blüthgen N. Strong negative feedback from Erk to Raf confers robustness to MAPK signalling. Mol Syst Biol. 2011 May 24;7:489.
Fritsche-Guenther R, Noske A, Ungethüm U, Kuban RJ, Schlag PM, Tunn PU, Karle J, Krenn V, Dietel M, Sers C. De novo expression of EphA2 in osteosarcoma modulates activation of the mitogenic signalling pathway. Histopathology. 2010 Dec;57(6):836-50.
Nazarenko I, Kristiansen G, Fonfara S, Guenther R, Gieseler C, Kemmner W, Schafer R, Petersen I, Sers C. H-REV107-1 stimulates growth in non-small cell lung carcinomas via the activation of mitogenic signaling. Am J Pathol. 2006 Oct;169(4):1427-39.
Ph.D. Katarzyna Gurzawska
Center for Dental and Craniofacial Sciences, Dept. of Periodontology
Address: Assmannshauser Str. 4-6, 14197 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 62535
Email: katarzyna.gurzawska@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Nanocoating
- Implantology
- Bone
Project Description
Stimulation of the bone growth by organic nanocoating of titanium implants and bone substitute materials, carries for bone growth factors, stem cells and drugs
University Education
2010 - 2011
Technical University of Denmark (DTU) engineer
2008 - 2013
University of Copenhagen (PhD and post-doc)
2006 - 2011
Medical University of Łódź (dentist)
Professional Experience
2013 - now
Post-doc Marie-Curie Fellowship at Charité Universitätsmedizin: In vivo studies (rat, rabbit animal model)
2008 - 2011
In vitro studies (cell and bacteria culture)
2008 - 2011
Dental surgery
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2013
Arthur R. Frechette Prosthodontic Research Award, Seattle 2013, IADR meeting
Selected Publications
Gurzawska K., Svava R., Jørgensen N.R., Gotfredsen K.: Nanocoating of titanium implant surfaces with organic molecules. Polysaccharides including glycosaminoglycans, Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology 2012, 8 (6), 1012 - 1024(13)
Gurzawska K., Svava R., Syberg S., Yihua Y., Haugshøj K. B., Damager I., Ulvskov P., Christensen L. H., Gotfredsen K., Jørgensen N. R.: Effect of nanocoating with rhamnogalacturonan-I on surface properties and osteoblasts response, Journal of Biomedical Materials part A 100(3), 2012
Svava R., Gurzawska K.., Yihua Y., Haugshøj K. B., Dirscherl K., Syberg S., Dirscherl K., Levery SB., Jørgensen N. R., Gotfredsen K., Damager I ., Jørgensen B., Ulvskov P.: The structurally effect of surface coated rhamnogalacturonan I on response of the osteoblast-like cell line SaOS-2. Journal of Biomedical Materials part A, 2013 Jul 12
Gurzawska K., Dirscherl K., Yihua Y., Byg I., Jørgensen B., Svava R., Nielsen MW., Jørgensen NR., Gotfredsen K.: Characterization of Pectin Nanocoatings at Polystyrene and Titanium Surfaces. Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology, 2013, 3, 20-28
Dr. rer. nat. Caroline Helmstetter
Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Campus Charité Mitte (CCM) - DRFZ
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 28460 711
Email: helmstetter@drfz.de
Fields of Research
- T cell differentiation
- Cytokine expression
- Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation
Project Description
• Quantitative cytokine memory of T helper cells
• Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of T cell differentiation
• Cytokine secretion assay and cell sorting
University Education
2005 - 2007
Biomedicine Studies and diploma thesis at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm as awardee of the ERASMUS program
2001 - 2007
Human Biology Studies at the Philipps-University of Marburg, 2007 Diploma (“with distinction”)
Professional Experience
2013 - now
Postdoc in the group of Experimental Immunology (Prof. Max Löhning) at the Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité, Berlin
2007 - 2013
PhD thesis as fellow of the Int. Max Planck Research School for Infection Biology and Immunology, 2013 Dr. rer. nat. (“very good, with distinction”)
Selected Publications
Helmstetter, C., M. Floßdorf, M. Peine, A. Kupz, J. Zhu, A.N. Hegazy, M.A. Duque-Correa, Q. Zhang, Y. Vainshtein, A. Radbruch, S.H. Kaufmann, W.E. Paul, T. Höfer & M. Löhning. 2015. Individual T helper cells have a quantitative cytokine memory. Immunity 42, 108-122.
Peine, M., C. Helmstetter*, S. Rausch*, A. Fröhlich, A.N. Hegazy, A. Kühl, C.G. Grevelding, T. Höfer, S. Hartmann & M. Löhning. 2013. Stable T-bet+GATA-3+ Th1/Th2 hybrid cells arise in vivo, can develop directly from naive precursors, and limit immunopathologic inflammation. PLoS Biology 11, e1001633. *Shared second authors
Hegazy, A.N., C. Helmstetter*, M. Peine*, I. Panse, A. Fröhlich, A. Bergthaler, L. Flatz, D.D. Pinschewer, A. Radbruch & M. Löhning. 2010. Interferons direct Th2 cell reprogramming to generate a stable GATA-3+T-bet+ cell subset with combined Th2 and Th1 cell functions. Immunity 32, 116-128. *Shared second authors
Mariani L, Schulz EG, Lexberg MH, Helmstetter C, Radbruch A, Löhning M, Höfer T. Short-term memory in gene induction reveals the regulatory principle behind stochastic IL-4 expression. Mol Syst Biol 2010. vol. 6, p. 359.
Matskova LV, Helmstetter C, Ingham RJ, Gish G, Lindholm CK, Ernberg I, Pawson T and Winberg G. The Shb signalling scaffold binds to and regulates constitutive signals from the Epstein-Barr virus LMP2A membrane protein. Oncogene 2007. 26:4908-17.
Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Florian Herse
Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC)
Address: Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 40434
Email: florian.herse@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Immunology of Pregnancy
- Preeclampsia
- Renin-Angiotensin System
Project Description
• Patient cohorts
• Translational research
University Education
2007
Ph.D. at the Technische Universität Berlin
2004
Dipl. Ing. of Biotechnology at the Technische Universität Berlin
2001 - 2004
Student research assistant, funded by „Studentischen Forschungsförderung“ Universitätsmedizin Charité Berlin
Professional Experience
2010 - now
Lab Manager/Scientist in the group of PD Dr. Müller and PD Dr. Dechend, Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), Max-Delbrück Centrum für molekulare Medizin (MDC-Berlin)
2008 - 2010
Scientist (PostDoc) in the group of PD Dr. Dechend, Universitätsmedizin Charité Campus Buch
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2014
Rösslin-Preis für Geburtsmedizin der DGGG; 60. Kongress der DGGG, München
2010
Posterpreis; 34. Wissenschaftlichen Kongresses der Deutschen Hochdruckliga, Berlin
2010
ISH International Forum Poster Prize; 23rd Scientific Meeting of the international Society of Hypertension, Vancouver
2006
Taylor & Francis Award; 15th World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy, Lisbon
Selected Publications
Herse F, Lamarca B, Hubel CA, Kaartokallio T, Lokki AI, Ekholm E, Laivuori H, Gauster M, Huppertz B, Sugulle M, Ryan MJ, Novotny S, Brewer J, Park JK, Kacik M, Hoyer J, Verlohren S, Wallukat G, Rothe M, Luft FC, Muller DN, Schunck WH, Staff AC, Dechend R. CYP2J2 Expression and Circulating Epoxyeicosatrienoic Metabolites in Preeclampsia. Circulation. 2012 Dec 18; 126(25):2990-9. PMID: 23155181
Searle J, Mockel M, Gwosc S, Datwyler SA, Qadri F, Albert GI, Holert F, Isbruch A, Klug L, Muller DN, Dechend R, Muller R, Vollert JO, Slagman A, Mueller C, Herse F. Heparin strongly induces soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 release in vivo and in vitro--brief report. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011 Dec; 31(12):2972-4. Epub 2011 Oct 6. PMID: 21979436
Herse F, Fain JN, Janke J, Engeli S, Kuhn C, Frey N, Weich HA, Bergmann A, Kappert K, Karumanchi SA, Luft FC, Muller DN, Staff AC, Dechend R. Adipose Tissue-Derived Soluble Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1 Is an Obesity-Relevant Endogenous Paracrine Adipokine. Hypertension. 2011 Jul; 58(1):37-42. Epub 2011 May 9. PMID: 21555675
Brosnihan KB, Hering L, Dechend R, Chappell MC, Herse F. Increased angiotensin II in the mesometrial triangle of a transgenic rat model of preeclampsia. Hypertension. 2010 Feb; 55(2):562-6. Epub 2009 Dec 28. PMID: 20038747
Herse F, Dechend R, Harsem NK, Wallukat G, Janke J, Qadri F, Hering L, Muller DN, Luft FC, Staff AC. Dysregulation of the circulating and tissue-based renin-angiotensin system in preeclampsia. Hypertension. 2007 Mar; 49(3):604-11. PMID: 17261642
Dr. Michael Hinz
Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC)
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 3751
Email: m.hinz@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- NF-κB signal transduction
- DNA damage
- Hodgkin’s disease
Project Description
• Biochemistry
• Genome-wide target gene determination
• Screening approaches (siRNA and small molecules)
• Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics (SILAC, SRM)
University Education
1992 - 1995
Doctoral degree, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, magna cum laude
1985 - 1992
Diploma (Biology), Leibniz University Hannover and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
Professional Experience
2012 - now
Scientific Officer for the MDC Cancer Research Program
2005 - now
Senior Postdoc with C. Scheidereit, Max-Delbrück-Center, Berlin
2002 - 2005
Scientist, Silence Therapeutics
1999 - 2001
Postdoc fellow with C. Scheidereit, Max-Delbrück-Center, Berlin
1995 - 1998
Postdoc fellow with M. Strauss, Humboldt University Berlin
Selected Publications
Hinz, M., Krappmann, D., Eichten, A., Heder, A., Scheidereit, C., and Strauss, M. NF-kappaB function in growth control: regulation of cyclin D1 expression and G0/G1-to-S-phase transition. Molecular Cellular Biology. 1999. 19, 2690-2698
Hinz, M., Löser, P., Mathas, S., Krappmann, D., Dörken, B. and Scheidereit C. Constitutive NF-kappaB maintains high expression of a characteristic gene network, including CD40, CD86, and a set of antiapoptotic genes in Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells. Blood. 2001. 97 (9), 2798-2807
Hinz, M., Lemke, P., Anagnostopoulos, I., Hacker, C. , Krappmann, D., Dörken, B. Zenke, M., Stein, H., and Scheidereit, C. Nuclear factor kappaB-dependent gene expression profiling of Hodgkin's disease tumor cells, pathogenetic significance, and link to constitutive signal transducer and activator of transcription 5a activity. J. Exp. Med. 2002. 196, 605-617
Stilmann, M.*, Hinz, M.*, Arslan, S. C., Zimmer, A., Schreiber, V., and Scheidereit, C. A nuclear poly(ADP-ribose)-dependent signalosome confers DNA damage-induced IkappaB kinase activation. Molecular Cell 2009, 36 (3), 365-378. *These authors contributed equally to this work.
Hinz, M.*, Stilmann, M.* , Çöl Arslan, S., Khanna, K.K., Dittmar, G., and Scheidereit, C. A cytoplasmic ATM-TRAF6-cIAP1 module links nuclear DNA damage signaling to ubiquitin-mediated NF-κB activation. Molecular Cell 2010, 40 (1), 63-74. *These authors contributed equally to this work.
Dr. med. (M.Sc.) Andreas Ch. Hocke
Med. Klinik m.S. Infektiologie / Pneumologie
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 53477
Email: andreas.hocke@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Innate immunity of the lung
- Cellular interplay in the alveolus
- Mitochondrial role for immune activation
Project Description
Our scope is to strengthen the understanding of subcellular mechanisms of the pathogen-host interaction in the human lung to find novel strategies for the modulation of innate immune functions for a better outcome in pneumonia. From a translational point of view, many innate immune functions are quite different between men and mice and many human pathogens are not naturally adapted to animals necessitating a stronger focus in the establishment of human disease models. For that purpose w e continuously address the further development of a human lung tissue infection model. A special focus of the model is to visualize infectious process directly in the human alveolus using high-end imaging methods such as spectral intravital imaging combined with FRET etc.
University Education
2005 - 2008
Medical Informatics, TFH Berlin
1996 - 2000
Human Medicine, JLU-Gießen
Professional Experience
2010 - now
Member of the SFB-TR84 and Group Leader “Lung infection and molecular imaging”
2008 - 2010
Deputy Speaker of Hippenstiel Group, “Molecular infection and pneumology”
2000 - 2008
PostDoc, Med. Klinik m.S. Infektiologie/Pneumologie
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2011
Erster Berliner Forschungspreis für Tierversuchsalternativen
Selected Publications
Hocke AC, Becher A, Knepper J, Peter A, Holland G, Tönnies M, Bauer TT, Schneider P, Neudecker J, Muth D, Wendtner CM, Rückert JC, Drosten C, Gruber AD, Laue M, Suttorp N, Hippenstiel S, Wolff T. Emerging human middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus causes widespread infection and alveolar damage in human lungs. Am. J. Resp. Crit. Care Med. 188:882-6
Knepper J, Schierhorn KL, Becher A, Budt M, Tönnies M, Bauer TT, Schneider P, Neudecker J, Rückert JC, Gruber AD, Suttorp N, Schweiger B, Hippenstiel S, Hocke AC, Wolff T: (2013) The novel human influenza A(H7N9) virus is naturally adapted to efficient growth in human lung tissue. MBio. 8:e00601-13
Weinheimer VK, Becher A, Tonnies M, Holland G, Knepper J, Bauer TT, Schneider P, Neudecker J, Ruckert JC, Szymanski K, Temmesfeld-Wollbrueck B, Gruber AD, Bannert N, Suttorp N, Hippenstiel S., Wolff T, and Hocke A C: (2012) Influenza A viruses target type II pneumocytes in the human lung. J Infect Dis 206, 1685-94
Szymanski KV, Toennies M, Becher A, Fatykhova D, N'Guessan PD, Gutbier B, Klauschen F, Neuschaefer-Rube F, Schneider P, Rueckert J, Neudecker J, Bauer TT, Dalhoff K, Dromann D, Gruber AD, Kershaw O, Temmesfeld-Wollbrueck B, Suttorp N, Hippenstiel S, and Hocke AC: (2012) Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 in human lung tissue. Eur Respir J 40: 1458-67
Slevogt H, Zabel S., Opitz B, Hocke A, Eitel J, N'Guessan PD, Lucka L, Riesbeck K, Zimmermann W, Zweigner J, Temmesfeld-Wollbrueck B, Suttorp N, and Singer BB (2008): CEACAM1 inhibits Toll-like receptor 2-triggered antibacterial responses of human pulmonary epithelial cells. Nat Immunol 9: 1270-1278
Dr. rer. nat. Carolin Höfig
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK)
Address: Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 450 524 162
Email: carolin.hoefig@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Thyroid hormone metabolism
- Trace elements
- Autoimmunity
Project Description
Hormonal regulation of food and appetite regulation, thyroid hormone research with focus on cardiovascular function and thermoregulation, trace elements and aging
University Education
2003 - 2008
Studies of nutritional science at the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena
Professional Experience
2015 - now
Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2012 - 2015
Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
2008 - 2012
Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2014
Young Active Research in Endocrinology (YARE) Board member, and now speaker of the organization
2014
Von Basedow Preis from the German Research Council
Selected Publications
Hoefig CS, Harder L, Oelkrug R, Meusel M, Vennström B, Brabant G, Mittag J. Thermoregulatory and Cardiovascular Consequences of a Transient Thyrotoxicosis and Recovery in Male Mice. Endocrinology. 2016 May 4:en20161095. PMID: 27145010
Fischer AW, Hoefig CS, Abreu-Vieira G, de Jong JM, Petrovic N, Mittag J, Cannon B, Nedergaard J. Leptin Raises Defended Body Temperature without Activating Thermogenesis. Cell Rep. 2016 Feb 23;14(7):1621-31. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.01.041. Epub 2016 Feb 11. PMID: 26876182
Hoefig CS, Wuensch T, Rijntjes E, Lehmphul I, Daniel H, Schweizer U, Mittag J, Köhrle J. Biosynthesis of 3-iodothyronamine from L-thyroxine in murine intestinal tissue. Endocrinology. 2015 Sep 8:en20141499.
Hoefig CS, Köhrle J, Brabant G, Dixit K, Yap B, Strasburger CJ, Wu Z.: Evidence for extrathyroidal formation of 3-iodothyronamine in humans as provided by a novel monoclonal antibody-based chemiluminescent serum immunoassay. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jun;96(6):1864-72.
Piehl S*, Hoefig CS*, Scanlan TS, Köhrle J. Thyronamines--past, present, and future. Endocr Rev. 2011 Feb;32(1):64-80. Review.
PD Dr. rer. nat. Markus Höltje
Institute for Integrative Neuroanatomy, Charité
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 28356
Email: markus.hoeltje@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Small G proteins
- Neuronal Regeneration
- Autoimmune encephalitis
Project Description
Neuroregenerative / -protective action of Clostridium botulinum C3 Peptides for the treatment of spinal cord injuries (behavioural mouse models, histochemistry, light- / electron microscopy, activation status of molecular switches such as Rho-proteins, effects on neurotransmitter handling by radiolabelled transmitter assays)

Investigation of molecular events contributing to the newly detected autoimmune diseases such as anti NMDA-receptor encephalitis, close cooperation with the Neurology department of the Charité (use of patients serum and CSF for investigation of effects on synaptic proteins in cell lines, primary neuronal culture and tissue culture). A true bench to bedside project.
University Education
2009
Habilitation, Charité-University Medicine Berlin
2000
Graduation (PhD), Humboldt-University Berlin
1996
Diploma in Biology, Georg-August-University, Göttingen
Professional Experience
2005 - now
Group leader C3 Proteins and Neuronal Regeneration - Supervision of more than 10 PhD and MD students - Conduction of the annual course “Functional and practical neuroanatomy for neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists and psychiatrists” for eight years
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2015
Patent: "Small C3bot peptides as drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and neuroregenerative therapies including those involving stem cells” European Patent pending EP 09156967.3
2010
The publication Boato et al., 2010 (see list of publications) was awarded 1st price for the best publication by the Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies
2010
Co-laureate „Best pre-clinical teaching course 2010“ for the seminar on macroscopic anatomy
2007
Posterprice of the 24th Annual Workshop of the Anatomical Society, Würzburg
Selected Publications
Prüss H.*, Höltje M.*, Maier N., Gomez A., Buchert R., Harms L., Ahnert - Hilger G., Schmitz D., Terborg C., Köller H., Kopp U., Klingbeil C., Borowski K., Kohler S., Schwab JM., Stoecker W., Dalmau J., Wandinger KP. IgA NMDA receptor antibodies are markers of synaptic immunity in slow cognitive impairment. Neurology, 2012 78:1743-53 *equally contributing
Prüss H., Finke C, Höltje M, Hofmann J, Ahnert-Hilger G, Harms L, Ploner CJ, Schwab JM, Dalmau J, Wandinger KP N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies in herpes simplex encephalitis Annals of Neurology, 2012 , 72: 902-11
Boato, F., Hendrix, S., Huelsenbeck, S.C., Hofmann, F., Große, G., Djalali, S., Klimaschewski, L., Auer, M., Just, I., Ahnert-Hilger, G., and Höltje, M. C3 peptide enhances recovery from spinal cord injury by improved regenerative growth of descending fiber tracts. Journal of Cell Science, 2010, 123; 1652-62
Höltje, M., Djalali, S., Hofmann, F., Münster-Wandowski, A., Hendrix, S., Boato, F., Dreger, C.S., Große, G., Henneberger, C., Grantyn, R.,Just, I., Ahnert-Hilger, G. A 29-amino acid fragment of Clostridium botulinum C3 protein enhances neuronal outgrowth, connectivity, and reinnervation. The FASEB Journal 2009 , 23; 1115-26
Walther, D.J., Peter, J.-U., Winter, S., Höltje, M ., Paulmann, N., Grohmann, M., Vowinckel, J., Alamo-Bethencourt, V., Wilhelm, C.S., Ahnert-Hilger, G., Bader, M. Serotonylation of small GTPases is a signal transduction pathway that triggers platelet alpha-granule release. Cell 2003, 1 15; 851-62
PD Dr. rer. nat. Uta E. Höpken
Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 3330
Email: uhoepken@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Tumor-stroma crosstalk in B cell lymphoma
- Mucosal immunology
- Adoptive T cell therapy
Project Description
• Preclinical mouse models of gastrointestinal inflammation and inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis
• Multiphoton intravital microscopy to visualize lymphoma cell trafficking and tumor-stroma interactions
• Targeting the secretory pathway in cytotoxic T cells in cancer immunotherapy
University Education
2008 - now
Priv. Doz., Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Germany
1990 - 1993
Ph.D., Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany
1986 - 1989
Major/Diplom in Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
1984 - 1986
Bachelor/Vordiplom in Biology, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
Professional Experience
2006 - now
Research Group Leader, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin
2001 - 2005
Senior Scientist, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin
1998 - 2001
Helmholtz-Scholarship, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin
1996 - 1997
Postdoctoral-Associate, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
1994 - 1996
Postdoctoral scholarship (DFG), Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
1998
Helmholtz-Scholarship of the HGF
1994
Postdoctoral scholarship by the DFG
Selected Publications
Heinig K, Gätjen M, Grau, M, Stache, V, Anagnostopoulos I, Gerlach, K, Niesner R, Cseresnyes Z, Hauser A, Lenz P, Hehlgans T, Brink R, Westermann J, Dörken B, Lipp M, Lenz G, Rehm A, Höpken UE (2014): Access to follicular dendritic cells is a pivotal step in murine chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cell activation and proliferation. Cancer Discovery 4: 1449-1465.
Rehm A*, Gätjen M, Gerlach K, Scholz F, Mensen A, Gloger M, Heinig K, Lamprecht B, Mathas S, Begay V, Leutz A, Lipp M, Dörken B, Höpken UE (2014): Dendritic cell-mediated survival signals in Eμ-Myc B cell lymphoma depend on the transcription factor C/EBPβ. Nature Communication 5: 5057-5070.
Wichner K, Fischer A, Winter S, Tetzlaff S, Heimesaat MM, Bereswill S, Rehm A, Lipp M, Höpken UE (2013): Transition from an autoimmune-prone state to fatal autoimmune disease in CCR7 and RORγt double-deficient mice is dependent on gut microbiota. Journal of Autoimmunity 47:58-72.
Herda S, Raczkowski F, Mittrücker H-W, Willimsky G, Gerlach K, Kühl, AA, Breiderhoff T, Willnow TE, Dörken B, Höpken UE, Rehm A (2012): The sorting receptor Sortilin exhibits a dual function in exocytic trafficking of inteferon-γ and granzyme A in T cells. Immunity 37: 854-866.
Rehm A, Mensen A, Schradi K, Gerlach K, Winter S, Büchner G, Dörken B, Lipp M, Höpken UE (2011): Cooperative function of CCR7 and lymphotoxin in the formation of a lymphoma-permissive niche within murine secondary lymphoid organs. Blood 118:1020-1033.
PD Dr. med. Bimba Franziska Hoyer
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Campus Charité Mitte (CCM)
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 13019
Email: bimba.hoyer@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Autoimmunity
- Plasma cells
- Humoral memory
Project Description
autoimmunity, rheumatology, plasma cell reserach, plasma cell memory in autoimmunity and targeting of autoreactive B cells
University Education
2002 - 2004
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2000 - 2001
Université de Rennes/France
1997 - 2002
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Bonn
Professional Experience
2007
Visiting Scientist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbouren, Australia
2005 - 2015
Specialisation in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine (Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin)
2002 - 2016
Researcher at the German Rheumatism Research Center
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2015
Rudolf-Schoen-Prize (German Society of Rheumatology)
2006
MSD-Grant for Arthritis-Research
2004
Avrion-Mitchison Prize in Rheumatology
Selected Publications
Bortezomib Plus Continuous B Cell Depletion Results in Sustained Plasma Cell Depletion and Amelioration of Lupus Nephritis in NZB/W F1 Mice. Khodadadi L, Cheng Q, Alexander T, Sercan-Alp Ö, Klotsche J, Radbruch A, Hiepe F, Hoyer BF, Taddeo A. PLoS One. 2015
Long-lived plasma cells are early and constantly generated in New Zealand Black/New Zealand White F1 mice and their therapeutic depletion requires a combined targeting of autoreactive plasma cells and their precursors. Taddeo A, Khodadadi L, Voigt C, Mumtaz IM, Cheng Q, Moser K, Alexander T, Manz RA, Radbruch A, Hiepe F, Hoyer BF. Arthritis Res Ther. 2015
Autoantibodies from long-lived 'memory' plasma cells of NZB/W mice drive immune complex nephritis. Cheng Q, Mumtaz IM, Khodadadi L, Radbruch A, Hoyer BF, Hiepe F. Ann Rheum Dis. 2013
Takayasu arteritis is characterised by disturbances of B cell homeostasis and responds to B cell depletion therapy with rituximab. Hoyer BF, Mumtaz IM, Loddenkemper K, Bruns A, Sengler C, Hermann KG, Maza S, Keitzer R, Burmester GR, Buttgereit F, Radbruch A, Hiepe F. Ann Rheum Dis. 2012
Short-lived plasmablasts and long-lived plasma cells contribute to chronic humoral autoimmunity in NZB/W mice. Hoyer BF, Moser K, Hauser AE, Peddinghaus A, Voigt C, Eilat D, Radbruch A, Hiepe F, Manz RA. J Exp Med. 2004
Dr. Nafisa Jadavji
Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Department of Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CCM
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 172 2168683
Email: nafisa.jadavji@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Neuroscience
- Folate Metabolism
- Neurodegeneration
Project Description
• Rodent breeding and behavioural testing
• In vivo surgical procedures
• In vitro primary neuronal cell culture procedures
• Cellular, biochemical, molecular and histological laboratory techniques
• Leader of 3 Animal Ethics/Protocol Applications (Versuchsleiter, Tierversuchsantrag, Landesamtes für Gesundheit und Soziales), Berlin GERMANY 2013-2016
• The Care and Use of Animals in Research, Teaching and Testing Training (CANADA)
• Institutional Animal User Training Part 2A (Mouse and Rat Training Lab); (CANADA)
• Radiation Protection Training Certification (CANADA)
• St. John’s Ambulance Standard First Aid Certification (CANADA)
University Education
2008 - 2012
Doctorate of Philosophy, Human Genetics and Neuroscience
2006 - 2008
Master of Science, Behavioual and Molecular Neuroscience
2002 - 2006
Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience (CO-OP education)
Professional Experience
2008
Research Associate, Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
2008
Research Assistant, Montreal Children’s Hospital Research Institute, McGill University
2006 - 2007
Research Assistant, Department of Women’s Studies, University of Lethbridge
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
McGill University Department of Human Genetics Excellence Award ($2000 CAN)
2011
Honourable Mention, Canadian Institutes of Health Research National Poster Competition
2009
3rd Place Poster Competition at Congress IBRO/LARC of Neuroscience for Latin America, Caribbean and Iberian Peninsula
2005
17th Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain, Undergraduate Talk Award
Selected Publications
Jadavji NM, Deng L, Wang XL, Maly sheva O, Caudill MA, Bedell BJ, Rozen R (2014) Mouse model for deficiency of methionine synthase reductase exhibits short-term memory impairment and disturbances in brain choline metabolism. Biochemical Journal. 461(2): 205-212
Jadavji NM, Deng L, Leclerc D, Malysheva O, Caudill MA, Bedell BJ, Rozen R (2012) Severe methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency in mice results in behavioral anomalies with morphological and biochemical changes in hippocampus. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. 106(2): 149-159
Jadavji NM, Metz GA (2009) Both pre- and post-lesion experiential therapy is beneficial in 6-hydroxydopamine dopamine-depleted female rats. Neuroscience. 158(2): 373-86
Jadavji NM, Kolb B and Metz GA (2006) Enriched environment improves motor function in intact and unilateral dopamine-depleted rats. Neuroscience. 140(4): 1127-1138
Metz GA, Jadavji NM and Smith LK (2005) Modulation of motor function by stress: a novel concept of the effects of stress and corticosterone on behavior. European Journal of Neuroscience. 22(5): 1190-1200
Dr. rer. nat. Jan Philipp Junker
Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC)
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 1860
Email: janphilipp.junker@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- single cell biology
- systems biology
- quantitative developmental biology
Project Description
We study the interplay between variation and stability during embryonic development using the zebrafish as a model system. To address our questions we develop strategies for spatially-resolved transcriptomics and single-cell lineage tracing. These approaches are powerful tools for studying the design principles of pattern formation in healthy and diseased tissue.
University Education
2006 - 2009
PhD in Biophysics at Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
2000 - 2005
Studies of Physics at Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
Professional Experience
2013 - 2015
Senior Postdoc at Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
2010 - 2012
Postdoc at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2015
Minerva ARCHES award
Selected Publications
A Predictive Model of Bifunctional Transcription Factor Signaling
Genome-wide RNA Tomography in the Zebrafish Embryo
Every Cell Is Special: Genome-wide Studies Add a New Dimension to Single-Cell Biology
Single-molecule force spectroscopy distinguishes target binding modes of calmodulin
Ligand-Dependent Equilibrium Fluctuations of Single Calmodulin Molecules
PD Dr. med. Dipl.-Phys. Frederick Klauschen
Insititute of Pathology, Campus Charité Mitte
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 36053
Email: frederick.klauschen@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Systems Medicine
- Biomedical Computing
- Molecular Pathology
Project Description
Bioinformatics techniques: biomedical image analysis, simulation modeling and molecular pathology/oncology data analysis.

Experimental techniques: time-course cell signaling perturbation analysis using phosphoproteomics; targeted panel sequencing (IonTorrent); conventional histopathology technique
University Education
1998 - 2005
Physics, University of Hamburg (Diplom-Physiker)
1995 - 2001
Medicine, University of Lübeck (Arzt)
Professional Experience
2009 - now
Physician/Pathologist and Group Leader, Systems Pathology Group, Institute of Pathology, Charité
2004 - 2009
Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Systems Biology, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Novartis Oncology-Pathology Award Winner
Selected Publications
Brandes M, Klauschen F, Kuchen S, Germain RN. A Systems Analysis Identifies a Feedforward Inflammatory Circuit Leading to Lethal Influenza Infection. CELL 2013 Jul 3;154(1): 197-212
Ghigo C, Mondor I, Jorquera A, Nowak J, Wienert S, Zahner SP, Clausen BE, Luche H, Malissen B, Klauschen F*, Bajénoff M. Multicolor fate mapping of Langerhans cell homeostasis. J Exp Med. 2013 Aug 26;210(9): 1657-64. *Co-corresponding-author
Angermann BR, Klauschen F*, Garcia AD, Prustel T, Zhang F, Germain RN, Meier-Schellersheim M. Computational modeling of cellular signaling processes embedded into dynamic spatial contexts. Nature Methods 2012;9:283-9. *Co-first-author
Klauschen F, Ishii M, Qi H, Bajenoff M, Egen JG, Germain RN, Meier-Schellersheim M. Quantifying cellular interaction dynamics in 3D fluorescence microscopy data. Nature protocols 2009;4:1305-11.
Ishii M, Egen JG, Klauschen F, Meier-Schellersheim M, Saeki Y, Vacher J, Proia RL, Germain RN. Sphingosine-1-phosphate mobilizes osteoclast precursors and regulates bone homeostasis. Nature 2009; 458:524-8.
Dr. rer. nat. Friederike Klempin
Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC)
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 2518
Email: Friederike.Klempin@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Adult neural stem cells
- Signaling factors serotonin, BDNF, Sox2
- Angiotensin system
Project Description
My interest is in neural stem cell biology and the study of mechanisms by which brain function and physical activity induce neuronal plasticity and repair in the adult mammalian brain. Stem cells hold a great deal of promise for the cure of disorders resulting from neuronal loss through injury, aging, or disease. I have expertise in adult hippocampal neurogenesis, and intrinsic signaling molecules (serotonin, BDNF, Sox2 and Pax6) regulating cell birth, fate choice, and survival in neurogenic, and non-neurogenic brain regions.

My methods combine genetic tools/gene therapy, electrophysiology/optogenetics, and imaging to identify specific pathways of these factors in the adult brain. The long-term goal is to include the role of peripheral signal molecules to facilitate the design of alternative approaches for the treatment of depression or age-related cognitive decline.
University Education
2004 - 2007
Humboldt University of Berlin, Charité/MDC-Berlin, Germany – Neuroscience (Ph.D.)
1997 - 2003
Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany – Biology, Neurobiology, Bichemistry (M.Sc.)
Professional Experience
2013 - now
MDC-Berlin, Germany / UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil (senior post-doc/visiting prof)
2011 - 2013
University of Washington, ISCRM, Seattle, WA, USA (post-doc)
2008 - 2010
Rosalind Franklin University – Chicago Medical School, IL, USA (post-doc)
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2013
Manuscript „Klempin et al., 2013 J Neurosci“ has been highlighted at the MDC-Berlin with comments in German media, in ‘Fans of cognitive Neuroscience’, in the Stanford Journal, and in a Journal Club Feature of The Journal of Neuroscience
2010
Session organizer, chair and speaker at Winter Conference On Brain Research, Breckenridge, CO, USA
2006
First prize at the ROUTE28 workshop, Munich, Germany
Selected Publications
Kronenberg G, Mosienko V, Gertz K, Alenina N, Hellweg R, Klempin F (Increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein concentrations in mice lacking brain serotonin. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 10.1007/s00406-015-0611-3.2015)
Alenina N, Klempin F (The role of serotonin in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Behav Brain Res. Aug 11. 2014)
Klempin F, Beis D, Mosienko V, Kempermann G, Bader M, Alenina N (Serotonin is required for exercise-induced adult hippocampal neurogenesis. J Neurosci 33:8270-8275.2013)
Klempin F, Marr RA, Peterson DA (Modification of pax6 and olig2 expression in adult hippocampal neurogenesis selectively induces stem cell fate and alters both neuronal and glial populations. Stem Cells 30:500-509.2012)
Klempin F, Babu H, De Pietri Tonelli D, Alarcon E, Fabel K, Kempermann G (Oppositional effects of serotonin receptors 5-HT1a, 2, and 2c in the regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Front Mol Neurosci 3.2010)
Dr. rer. nat. Susanne Krug
Institute of Clinical Physiology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Berlin
Address: Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 8445 2546
Email: susanne.m.krug@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Tight Junction
- Epithelial barrier
- Tricellulin
Project Description
• Molecular characterization of the tight junction associated MARVEL proteins tricellulin and
marvelD3
• Characterization of the tricellular tight junction as a permeation pathway
• Molecular characterization of the distinct properties claudin-17, a paracellular anion channel
• Tight junction proteins in inflammatory bowel diseases
• Freeze fracture electron microscopy of molecularly altered tight junctions
• Two-path impedance spectroscopy for discrimination of paracellular and transcellular resistances
University Education
2005 - 2006
Diploma thesis: "Transfektion von MDCK-Zellen mit Claudin-12-cDNA und Analyse der differenzierungs-abhängigen Expression von Tight Junction-Proteinen", Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin ("Mit Auszeichnug")
2001 - 2005
Study of biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin
2000 - 2001
Study of chemistry, Freie Universität Berlin
Professional Experience
2013 - now
Coordinating Research Officer of the Institute of Clinical Physiology
2011
Visiting researcher at the lab of Prof. Jerrold R. Turner, Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, IL, USA
2010 - now
Research Associate, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Berlin
2009
Dr. rer. nat. (PhD), "Tricellulin and its function in the tricellular tight junction of epithelial cells" Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin ("Summa cum laude")
2006 - 2009
Postgraduate, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Berlin; 11.06-12.09: German Research Foundation, Research Unit (DFG Forschergruppe) FOR 721/1, TP1
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2010
Poster award of the European Intestinal Transport Group (EITG), Salerno, Italy
Selected Publications
Krug SM, Amasheh M, Dittmann I, Christoffel I, Fromm M, Amasheh S (2013) Sodium caprate as an enhancer of macromolecule permeation across tricellular tight junctions of intestinal cells. Biomaterials 34(1): 275-282
Krug SM, Günzel D, Conrad MP, Rosenthal R, Fromm A, Amasheh S, Schulzke JD, Fromm M (2012) Claudin-17 forms tight junction channels with distinct anion selectivity. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 69: 2765-2778
Krug SM, Amasheh S, Richter JF, Milatz S, Günzel D, Westphal JK, Huber O, Schulzke JD, Fromm M (2009) Tricellulin forms a barrier to macromolecules in tricellular tight junctions without affecting ion permeability. Mol. Biol. Cell 20: 3713–3724
Krug SM, Fromm M, Günzel D (2009) Two-path impedance spectroscopy for measuring paracellular and transcellular epithelial resistance. Biophys. J. 97(8): 2202–2211
Hackel D, Krug SM, Sauer RS, Mousa SA, Böcker A, Pflücke D, Wrede EJ, Kistner K, Hoffmann T, Niedermirtl B, Sommer C, Bloch L, Huber O, Blasig IE, Amasheh S, Reeh PW, Fromm M, Brack A, Rittner HL (2012) Transient opening of the perineurial barrier for analgesic drug delivery. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109(29): E2018-E2027
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Elke Krüger
Institute of Biochemistry CCM, Charité CrossOver
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 28317
Email: elke.krueger@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
- Molecular Immunology
- Proteostasis in inflammation, cancer, and neurodegeneration
Project Description
The main research field of my group lies in the preclinical area of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine. Our projects are focused on the regulation of controlled protein breakdown by the ubiquitin-proteasome-system (UPS) in health and disease at the crossroads of proteotoxic stress and immune responses. The importance of a strictly adjusted UPS becomes evident by abnormal regulation, which results in the loss of proteostasis control in chronic inflammation, cancer, or neurodegeneration. In the adaptive immune response we investigate the role of UPS components in MHC class I antigen presentation of virus and tumor antigens. During innate immune responses we study the impact of UPS adaptation to cytokine signaling and oxidative stress. This innate immune function of the UPS is systemically relevant, because mutations in proteasome subunits lead to proteasome associated autoinflammatory diseases with early onset in childhood. We perform basic research with translational aspects. By the better understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms we try to identify new drug targets for treatment and also examine validated compounds in our disease models.
University Education
1993 - 1996
Doctoral thesis, EMAU Germany (grant by the DFG Graduiertenkolleg „Structural and funktional characterization of pro- and eukaryontic genes“); Degree Dr. rer. nat. (summa cum laude)
1987 - 1992
Biology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald (EMAU), Germany, Degree: Diplom-Biologin Molecular Microbiology and Biochemistry
Professional Experience
2009 - now
Associate (W2) Professor of Biochemistry at the Institute of Biochemistry Charité and Head of the Group Regulation of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System
2008
Habilitation
1999 - 2008
Project group leader „Proteasome assembly“, Institute of Biochemistry Charité Berlin
1996 - 1999
Postdoctoral fellow, EMAU, Bacterial stress responses
Selected Publications
Krüger E, Zühlke D, Witt E, Ludwig H, and Hecker M. Clp-mediated proteolysis in Gram-positive bacteria is autoregulated by the stability of a repressor. EMBO J. 20(4), 852-863, 2001
Heink S, Ludwig D, Kloetzel PM, and Krüger E. IFN-γ-induced immune adaptation of the proteasome system is an accelerated and transient response. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 102 (26), 9241-9246, 2005
Steffen J, Seeger M, Koch A, and Krüger E. Proteasomal degradation is transcriptionally controlled by TCF11 via an ERAD-dependent feedback loop. Mol Cell 40(1), 147-158, 2010
Seifert U, Bialy LP, Ebstein F, Bech-Otschir D [...], and Krüger E. Immunoproteasomes preserve protein homeostasis upon interferon-induced oxidative stress. Cell 142 , 613-624, 2010
Krüger E, Kloetzel PM. Immunoproteasomes at the interface of innate and adaptive immune responses: two faces of one enzyme. Curr Opin Immunol. 24 (1), 77-83, 2012
PhD Anja A. Kühl
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Campus Benjamin Franklin (CBF)
Address: Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin
Phone: +49-30-450-514-345
Email: anja.kuehl@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Histopathology
- Immunohistochemistry, -fluorescence
- Experimental Models
Project Description
• Histopathology of experimental models of inflammation and cancer
• Macrophages and T cells in intestinal inflammation/ IBD
• Macrophages and T cells in Graft versus Host-Disease
University Education
2001 - 2006
Medical Sciences, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin
1993 - 1997
Degreed Engineer (Biotechnology), University of Applied Science, Berlin
Professional Experience
2015 - now
Scientific Head of iPATH.Berlin-Immunpathology for Experimental Models, Charité-CBF
2011 - now
PI at Medical Department (Gastroenterology/Infectious diseases/Rheumatology), Charité-CBF
2008 - 2011
PI at Institute of Pathology, Charité-CBF
2006 - 2008
PostDoc at Medical Department (Gastroenterology/Infectious diseases/Rheumatology), Charité-CBF
Selected Publications
Neumann K, Erben U, Kruse N, Wechsung K, Schumann M, Klugewitz K, Scheffold A, Kühl AA. Chemokine transfer by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells contributes to the recruitment of effector CD4+ T cells into the murine liver. PLoS One; 10(6):e0123867, 2015.
Erben U, Pawlowski NN, Doerfel K, Loddenkemper C, Hoffmann JC, Siegmund B, Kühl AA. Targeting human CD2 by the monoclonal antibody CB.219 reduces intestinal inflammation in a humanized transfer colitis model. Clin Immunol; 157(1): 16-25, 2015.
Erben U, Loddenkemper C, Doerfel K, Spieckermann S, Haller D, Heimesaat MM, Zeitz M, Siegmund B, Kühl AA. A guide to histomorphological evaluation of intestinal inflammation in mouse models. Int J Clin Exp Pathol; 7(8):4557-4576, 2014.
Mayer CT, Kühl AA, Loddenkemper C, Sparwasser T. Lack of Foxp3+ macrophages in both untreated and B16 melanoma-bearing mice. Blood; 119(5):1314-5, 2012.
6. Kühl AA, Kakirman H, Janotta M, Dreher S, Cremer P, Pawlowski NN, Loddenkemper C, Heimesaat MM, Grollich K, Zeitz M, Farkas S, Hoffmann JC. Aggravation of different Types of experimental Colitis by Depletion or Adhesion Blockade of Neutrophils. Gastroenterology, 133(6): 1882-1892, 2007.
Dr. rer. nat. Markus Landthaler
BIMSB / MDC
Address: Robert-Roessle Str. 10, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 3026
Email: markus.landthaler@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Posttranscriptional regulation
- Protein-RNA interactions
- RNA Biology
University Education
2003
Dr. rer. nat., Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany
1997
Diplom-Biologe, Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Germany
Professional Experience
2003 - 2009
PostDoc, Rockefeller University, New York, USA; Supervisor: Thomas Tuschl
2002 - 2003
PostDoc, NYSDOH, Albany, NY, USA; Supervisor: Marlene Belfort
Selected Publications
Munschauer M.; Schueler M.; Dieterich C.; Landthaler M . (2013) High-resolution profiling of protein occupancy on polyadenylated RNA transcripts. Methods pii: S1046-2023(13)
Graf R, Munschauer M, Mastrobuoni G, Mayr F, Heinemann U, Kempa S, Rajewsky N#, and Landthaler M#. (2013) Identification of LIN28B-bound mRNAs reveals features of target recognition and regulation. RNA Biology 10, 45–44.
Baltz AG, Munschauer M, Schwanhausser B, Vasile A, Murakawa Y, Schueler M, Youngs N, Penfold-Brown D, Drew K, Milek M, Wyler E, Bonneau R, Selbach M, Dieterich C, and Landthaler, M (2012) The mRNA-bound proteome and its global occupancy profile on protein-coding transcripts. Mol Cell. 46, 674-90.
Anders G, Mackowiak S, Jens M, Maaskola J, Kuntzagk A, Rajewsky N#, Landthaler M#, Dieterich C#. (2012) doRiNA: a database of RNA interactions in post-transcriptional regulation. Nucl. Acids Res. D180-186.
Hafner M#, Landthaler M#, Burger L, Khorshid M, Hausser J, Berninger J, Rothballer A, Ascano M, Jr., Jungkamp AC, Munschauer M, Ulrich A, Dewell S, Zavolan M, and Tuschl T. Transcriptome-wide identification of RNA-binding protein and microRNA target sites by PAR-CLIP. Cell 141: 129-141.
Prof. Dr. Seija Lehnardt
Department of Neurology and Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 28090
Email: seija.lehnardt@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Innate immunity
- Neurodegeneration
- Neuroinflammation
Project Description
Our group is active in the field of neuroimmunology and neurodegeneration focusing on the role of the immune system in CNS injury, cell-autonomous neurodegeneration, mechanisms of CNS infections, and interaction between innate immunity and CNS development. We use mouse models of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and bacterial meningitis and investigate the phenotype of mice deficient of pattern recognition receptors and associated molecules in this context. Analyzing blood samples and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with diverse neurodegenerative and autoimmune CNS diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, multiple sclerosis) we aim at identifying new therapeutic strategies (e.g. inhibition of inflammatory response) and potential biomarkers (e.g. extracellular miRNAs) for the respective disease.
University Education
2001 - 2003
Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Neurology, Harvard Institutes of Medicine and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston
1997 - 2000
PhD thesis, Center for Anatomy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin
1995 - 2004
Studies in Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Professional Experience
2013
Neurology Board Exam
2008
Habilitation for Neurology
2007 - 2013
Residency in Neurology, Cecilie Vogt Clinic for Neurology and Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2004 - 2007
Residency in Neuropediatrics, Department of Neuropediatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2005
Rahel Hirsch Fellow
Fellow of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
Lecturer of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
Faculty member ZIBI Graduate School for Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Faculty member International Graduate Program Medical Neurosciences
Principal Investigator NeuroCure
Selected Publications
Lehmann SM, Rosenberger K, Krüger C, Habbel P, Derkow K, Kaul D, Rybak A, Brandt C, Schott E, Wulczyn FG, Lehnardt S. Extracellularly delivered single-stranded viral RNA causes neurodegeneration dependent on TLR7. J Immunol. 2012; 189, 1448-58.
Lehmann SM, Krüger C, Park B, Derkow K, Rosenberger K, Baumgart J, Trimbuch T, Eom G, Hinz M, Kaul D Habbel P, Kälin R, Franzoni E, Rybak A, Nguyen D, Veh R, N innemann O, Peters O, Nitsch R, Heppner FL Golenbock DT, Schott E, Ploegh HL, Wulczyn FG, Lehnardt S. An unconventional role for miRNA: let-7 activates Toll-like receptor 7 and causes neurodegeneration. Nat Neurosci. 2012; 15, 827-35.
Lehnardt S, Schott E, Trimbuch T, Laubisch D, Krueger C, Wulczyn G, Nitsch R, Weber JR. A vicious cycle involving release of heat shock protein 60 from injured cells and activation of toll-like receptor 4 mediates neurodegeneration in the CNS. J Neurosci. 2008; 28, 2320-31.
Lehnardt S, Massillon L, Follett P, Jensen FE, Ratan R, Rosenberg PA, Volpe JJ, Vartanian T. Activation of innate immunity in the CNS triggers neurodegeneration through a Toll-like receptor 4-dependent pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2003; 100, 8514-9.
Lehnardt S, Lachance C, Patrizi S, Lefebvre S, Follett PL, Jensen FE, Rosenberg PA, Volpe JJ, Vartanian T. The toll-like receptor TLR4 is necessary for lipopolysaccharide-induced oligodendrocyte injury in the CNS. J Neurosci. 2002; 22, 2478-86.
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Max Löhning
Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Campus Charité Mitte (CCM) - DRFZ
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 28460 760
Email: max.loehning@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Lymphocyte differentiation in inflammation
- Immunological memory
- Virus and parasite infections
Project Description
• Quantitative multicolour single-cell analyses of lymphocyte differentiation (transcription factors etc.)
• Adoptive cell transfer and cell therapy models in inflammation and infections
• Animal models of acute and chronic inflammation and infections with viruses and parasites
University Education
1996 - 2000
PhD thesis at the Institute of Genetics, University of Cologne
1990 - 1996
Biology studies (diploma), University of Mainz
Professional Experience
2006 - now
Lichtenberg Professor at Charité, funded by Volkswagen Foundation
2003 - 2006
Postdoc fellow of Ernst Schering Foundation with R.M. Zinkernagel & H. Hengartner at the Inst. of Experimental Immunology, ETH and University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
2000 - 2002
Postdoc fellow with A. Radbruch at the German Rheumatism Research Center, Berlin
1999 - 2000
Research fellow with W.E. Paul at the NIH, NIAID, Bethesda, MD, and with K.M. Murphy at the Washington University - School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2013
Member of Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences (BBAW)
2010
Georges-Köhler-Prize of the German Society for Immunology
2004
Robert-Koch-Postdoctoral-Prize of Robert Koch Foundation
2004
Member of “Die Junge Akademie” (The German Young Academy) at the BBAW and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
2000
Avrion-Mitchison-Prize for Rheumatology
2000
Otto-Westphal-PhD-Prize of the German Society for Immunology
Selected Publications
Helmstetter, C., M. Floßdorf, M. Peine, A. Kupz, J. Zhu, A.N. Hegazy, M.A. Duque-Correa, Q. Zhang, Y. Vainshtein, A. Radbruch, S.H. Kaufmann, W.E. Paul, T. Höfer & M. Löhning. 2015. Individual T helper cells have a quantitative cytokine memory. Immunity 42, 108-122.
Baumann, C., W.V. Bonilla, A. Fröhlich, C. Helmstetter, M. Peine, A.N. Hegazy, D.D. Pinschewer & M. Löhning. 2015. T-bet- and STAT4-dependent IL-33 receptor expression directly promotes antiviral Th1 cell responses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Mar 31;112(13):4056-61.
Peine, M., S. Rausch, C. Helmstetter, A. Fröhlich, A.N. Hegazy, A. Kühl, C.G. Grevelding, T. Höfer, S. Hartmann & M. Löhning. 2013. Stable T-bet+GATA-3+ Th1/Th2 hybrid cells arise in vivo, can develop directly from naive precursors, and limit immunopathologic inflammation. PLoS Biology 11, e1001633.
Bonilla, W.V., A. Fröhlich, K. Senn, S. Kallert, M. Fernandez, S. Johnson, M. Kreutzfeldt, A.N. Hegazy, C. Schrick, P.G. Fallon, R. Klemenz, S. Nakae, H. Adler, D. Merkler, M. Löhning* & D.D. Pinschewer*. 2012. The alarmin interleukin-33 drives protective antiviral CD8+ T cell responses. Science 335, 984-989 )*Shared last and corresponding authors.
Hegazy, A.N., M. Peine, C. Helmstetter, I. Panse, A. Fröhlich, A. Bergthaler, L. Flatz, D.D. Pinschewer, A. Radbruch & M. Löhning. 2010. Interferons direct Th2 cell reprogramming to generate a stable GATA-3+T-bet+ cell subset with combined Th2 and Th1 cell functions. Immunity 32, 116-128.
PD Dr. rer. nat. Markus Morkel
Charité, Laboratory for Molecular Tumor Pathology, Institute for Pathology
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 36107
Email: markus.morkel@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Cell Signal Transduction
- Colon Cancer
- Mouse Transgenics
Project Description
Broad experience in contemporary genomic techniques, primary organotypic culture of intestinal epithelium, working interdisciplinary with pathologists, mathematicians, bioinformaticians.
University Education
2014
Habilitation in Medical Molecular Biology (Charité Berlin)
1999
Dr. rer.nat (Humboldt University, Berlin)
1995
Diploma in Biology (University of Würzburg)
Professional Experience
2011 - now
Research Scientist at Charité, Laboratory for Molecular Tumor Pathology
2005 - 2011
Research Group Leader MPI-MG Berlin
1999 - 2005
Postdoc with Walter Birchmeier, MDC Berlin
Selected Publications
Riemer et al. Transgenic expression of oncogenic BRAF induces loss of stem cells in the mouse intestine, which is antagonized by β-catenin activity. Oncogene 2014 10.1038/onc.2014.247 (Last and Corresponding author)
Grimm et al. DNA-methylome analysis of mouse intestinal adenoma identifies a tumour-specific signature that is partly conserved in human colon cancer. PLoS Genetics 2013 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003250.s019 (Last and Corresponding author)
Farrall et al., Wnt and BMP signals control intestinal adenoma cell fates. Int J Cancer 2012 10.1002/ijc.27500 (Last and Corresponding author)
Fritzmann et al. A colorectal cancer expression profile that includes transforming growth factor beta inhibitor BAMBI predicts metastatic potential. Gastroenterology 2009 10.1053/j.gastro.2009.03.041 (Co-1st author)
Morkel et al. An E2F-like repressor of transcription. Nature 1997 10.1038/37507
Prof. Dr. Dominik Müller
ECRC
Address: Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 40286
Email: dominik.mueller@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Hypertension-induced Target-Organ Damage
- Salt
- Immune system
Project Description
Memberships:
German Society of Nephrology
German Society of Hypertension
AHA Council for High Blood Pressure Research
Editorial Board: HYPERTENSION and J American Society of Hypertension
Steering committee: Gordon Research Conference (Angiotensin)
AHA HBPR committee Liaison, Coordinator, International Mentoring
AHA HBPR Fall Conference Committee Program on the Leadership Committee
University Education
1986 - 1991
Pharmacy, Free University Berlin, Germany
Professional Experience
2010 - 2012
Professor, Experimental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center, Erlangen, Germany
2010 - now
Group Leader, ECRC at Max-Delbrück-Center, Berlin, Germany
2004 - 2010
Group Leader, Delbrück Fellow at Max-Delbrück-Center, Berlin, Germany
2001 - 2004
Post-doc Research Assistant, Max-Delbrück-Center, Germany
1996 - 2000
Post-doc Research Assistant, Volhard Clinic, Berlin, Germany
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2009
Best basic science paper of 2008 – Hypertension
2007
Renin Academy Young Investigator Award
2006
ADUMED Forschungspreis
2002
Dieter-Klaus Förderpreis of the German Hypertension Society
2002
New Investigator Award for European Fellows, Council for High Blood Pressure Research, American Heart Association
2000
Young investigator award of the German Hypertension Society
Selected Publications
Kleinewietfeld M, Manzel A, Titze J, Kvakan H, Linker RA, Müller DN*, Hafler DA*. Sodium chloride drives autoimmune disease by the induction of pathogenic TH17 cells. Nature 2013; 496(7446): 518-22 (* shared authorship)
Kierdorf K, Erny D, Goldmann T, Sander V, Schulz C, Gomez Perdiguero E, Wieghofer P, Heinrich A, Riemke P, Hölscher C, Müller DN , Luckow B, Brocker T, Debowski K, Fritz G, Opdenakker G, Diefenbach A, Biber K, Heikenwalder M, Geissmann F, Rosenbauer F, Prinz M. Microglia emerge from erythromyeloid precursors via Pu.1- and Irf8-dependent pathways. Nature Neuroscience 2013;16(3): 273-80.
Wiig H, Schröder A, Neuhofer W, Jantsch J, Kopp C, Karlsen TV, Boschmann M, Goss J, Bry M, Rakova N, Dahlmann A, Brenner S, Tenstad O, Nurmi H, Mervaala E, Wagner H, Beck FX, Müller DN , Kerjaschki D, Luft FC, Harrison DG, Alitalo K, Titze J. Immune cells control skin lymphatic electrolyte homeostasis and blood pressure. J Clin Invest. 2013;123(7): 2803-15.
Rakova N, Juttner K, Dahlmann A, Schröder A, Linz P, Kopp C, Rauh M, Goller U, Beck L, Agureev A, Vassilieva G, Lenkova L, Johannes B, Wabel P, Moissl U, Vienken J, Gerzer R, Eckardt K-U, Müller DN , Kirsch K, Morukov B, Luft FC, Titze J. Long-Term Space Flight Simulation Reveals Infradian Rhythmicity in Human Na+ Balance Cell Metab 2013; 17,125–131.
Kvakan H, Kleinewietfeld M, Qadri F, Park J-K, Fischer R, Schwarz I, Rahn H-P, Plehm R, Wellner M, Elitok S, Gratze P, Dechend R, Luft FC, Müller DN. Regulatory T cells ameliorate angiotensin II-induced cardiac damage. Circulation 2009; 119:2904-12.
Prof. Dr. med. Bastian Opitz
Innate immunity in the lung, Dept. of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Med.
Address: Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 53501
Email: bastian.opitz@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Innate immunity
- Pattern recognition receptor
- Bacterial pneumonia
Project Description
Respiratory tract infections represent the third leading cause of death worldwide. Community-acquired pneumonias are caused by e.g. Streptococcus pneumoniae as well as atypical intracellular bacteria such as Legionella pneumophila, whereas gram-negative multidrug-resistant bacteria are often found in hospital-acquired pneumonias. An appropriate immune response that fights the invading microbes is vital for preserving organ function (on-going gas exchange). However, an overwhelming and/or a not locally restricted inflammation can also lead to tissue damage (acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome), both of which are associated with high lethality. The first and critical step in the initiation of an immune response is the recognition of the invading pathogen by extracellular and intracellular receptor molecules, called pattern recognition receptors. These receptors include the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), the NOD-like receptors (NLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) and cytosolic DNA sensors. In addition, recognition of endogenous „damage-associated molecular patterns“ by those or other receptors might be involved in deleterious overinflammation but also in resolution and repair mechanisms in the lung. We are interested in the function of the different receptors of the innate immune system and the immune response in general and in the respiratory tract in particular. We focus on infections with bacterial pathogens causing pneumonia including S. pneumoniae, L. pneumophila, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and employ different in vivo and in vitro infection models. In the long run, our research aims to contribute to the development of new strategies for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia in general and of infections with multi-drug resistant bacteria in particular.
University Education
1998 - 2002
Doctoral Thesis, Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité University Medicine Berlin (Prof. Ralf Schumann), “summa cum laude”
1995 - 2002
Study of Human Medicine, Charité Berlin and Galway University, (Ireland)
Professional Experience
2010 - now
W2 professorship “Pulmonary Innate Immunity”
2010 - now
Training in Medical Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité, Berlin
2008
Visiting scientist, Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Microbial Pathogenesis, Prof. Craig Roy; funded by the Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung
2006 - now
Research group leader (Pulmonary Innate Immunity), Dept. of Internal Med/Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine, Charité, Berlin
2004 - 2006
Postdoc, Dept. of Internal Med/Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine, Charité, Berlin
2003 - 2004
"Arzt im Praktikum” training, Dept. of Internal Med/Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2010
PI GRK 1673
2010
PI SFB-TR84
2009
Fritz-und-Ursula-Melchers prize from the German Society of Immunology
2008
Scholarship given by the Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung
2006
Project Award given by the German Society of Pneumology
Selected Publications
Slevogt H, Zabel S, Opitz B, Hocke A, Eitel J, N ́Guessan PD, Lucka L, Zimmermann W, Zweigner J, Temmesfeld-Wollbrueck B, Suttorp N, Singer BB. CEACAM1 inhibits Toll-like receptor 2-triggered antibacterial responses of human pulmonary epithelial cells. Nat Immunol. 2008; 9:1270-8.
Opitz B, van Laak V, Eitel J, Suttorp N. Innate Immune Recognition in Infectious and Noninfectious Diseases of the Lung. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010; 181:1294-309.
Witzenrath M, Pache F, Lorenz D, Koppe U, Schönrock S, Meixenberger K, Dorhoi A, Ma J, Holmes A, Trendelenburg G, Heimesaat MM, Bereswill S, van der Linden M, Tschopp J, Mitchell TJ, Suttorp N, Opitz B. The NLRP3 Inflammasome Is Differentially Activated by Pneumolysin Variants and Contributes to Host Defense in Pneumococcal Pneumonia. J Immunol. 2011; 187:434–440.
Lippmann J, Müller H, Naujoks J, Eitel J, Witzenrath M, Shin S, Hellwig K, Kirschning CJ, Taylor GA, Bauer S, Suttorp N, Roy CR, Opitz B. Dissection of a type I interferon pathway in controlling bacterial intracellular infection in mice. Cell Microbiol. 2011; 13:1668-82.
Koppe U, Högner K, Bauer S, Witzenrath M, Hammerschmidt S, Lohmeyer J, Suttorp N, Herold S, Opitz B. Streptococcus pneumoniae Stimulates a STING- and IFN Regulatory Factor 3-Dependent Type I IFN Production in Macrophages, which Regulates RANTES Production in Macrophages, Cocultured Alveolar Epithelial Cells, and Mouse Lungs. J Immunol. 2012; 188:811-17.
Dr. rer. nat. Daniela Panáková
Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 2730
Email: daniela.panakova@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Cardiovascular development
- Zebrafish genetics
- Wnt/calcium signaling
Project Description
Our long-standing research interest lies in studying the interplay between development and physiology during embryonic development. Currently, we focus on the mechanisms that lead to the attenuation of L-type Ca(2+) channel function by non-canonical Wnt signals during the development of the vertebrate heart. Next, we are addressing how the cardiac chambers acquire their form, and how this process simultaneously affects the patterning of intercellular cardiomyocyte coupling and leads to the formation of functional cardiac syncytium.

Special techniques: live cell microscopy, high resolution voltage and calcium imaging

Translational Perspective: Zebrafish vertebrate model is very suitable for the analysis of human genetic disorders. We are primarily interested in cardiovascular diseases, but we can also provide resources for studies of pancreatic beta cells and kidney.
University Education
2001 - 2005
Ph.D., Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
1996 - 2001
M.Sc., Comenius University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
Professional Experience
2011 - now
Group Leader, MDC Berlin
2007 - 2011
Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, Postdoctoral Fellow with Calum MacRae
2005 - 2007
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany, Postdoctoral Fellow with Suzanne Eaton
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2009
Research Excellence Award, Biomedical research Institute at BWH
Selected Publications
Panáková, D.*, Werdich, A.A.*, and MacRae, C.A. (2010). Wnt11 patterns a myocardial electrical gradient through regulation of the L-type Ca(2+) channel. Nature 466, 874-878.
Becker, J.R., ..., Panáková D., et al. (2014). Differential activation of natriuretic peptide receptors modulates cardiomyocyte proliferation during development. Development 141, 335-45.
Wang, J.H., Panáková, D., et al. (2011). The regenerative capacity of zebrafish reverses cardiac failure caused by genetic cardiomyocyte depletion. Development 138, 3421-3430.
Becker, J.R., ..., Panáková, D., et al. (2011). Human cardiomyopathy mutations induce myocyte hyperplasia and activate hypertrophic pathways during cardiogenesis in zebrafish. Disease Models & Mechanisms 4, 400-410.
Panáková, D.*, Sprong H.* et al. (2005). Lipoprotein particles are required for Hedgehog and Wingless signalling. Nature 435, 58-65. *contributed equally
PD Dr. med. Olaf Penack
BCRT, Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Service Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumorimmunology Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (CVK)
Address: Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 65064
Email: olaf.penack@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Experimental stem cell transplantation
- Tranplantation Immunology
- Endothelial Biology
Project Description
Aim of my research is to improve our knowledge on t he function of the endothelium during allogeneic stem cell transplantation. My specific interest is a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms of endothelial damage, endothelial regeneration, neovascularization as well as the interaction between endothelial cells and immune cells.

My research could contribute to the development of anti-inlammatory and anti-tumor therapies aiming at the endothelium. Due to the close connection between preclinical research and the clinical transplantation program, the Charité offers excellent possibilities for translational development of novel therapies in the field of stem cell transplantation.
University Education
1993 - 2000
Medical School, Georg-August University, Göttingen
Professional Experience
2011 - 2014
Attending Physician, Hamatology, Oncology and Tumor immunology Charite CVK, Berlin
2002 - 2011
Physician, Hematology and Oncology, Charité CBF, Berlin
2000 - 2002
Medical Resident, Internal Medicine, St. Joseph Hospital, Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2011
Award for best basic research of the German Society of Blood and MarrowTransplantation
2010
Chugai Science Award’ for outstanding research in the field of stem cell transplantation
2009
‘Award for Basic Science’, American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
2007
Stipend, post-doc, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
2006
Stipend, research, German Research Organization (DFG)
Selected Publications
Penack O, Smith OM, Cunningham-Bussel A, Liu X, Rao U, Yim N, Na IK, Holland AM, Ghosh A, Lu SX, Jenq RR, Liu C, Murphy GF, Brandl K, van den Brink MR. NOD2 regulates hematopoietic cell function during graft-versus-host disease. J Exp Med. 2009 Sept; 206:2101-10.
Penack O, Henke E, Suh D, King CG, Smith OM, Na IK, Holland AM, Ghosh A, Lu SX, Jenq RR, Liu C, Murphy GF, Lu TT, May C, Scheinberg DA, Gao DC, Mittal V, Heller G, Benezra R, van den Brink MR. Inhibition of neovascularization to simultaneously ameliorate graft-vs-host disease and decrease tumor growth. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2010 Jun; 102:894-908.
Penack O, Holler E, van den Brink MR. Graft-versus-host disease: regulation by microbe-associated molecules and innate immune receptors. Blood. 2010 Mar; 115:1865-72.
Penack O, Socié G, van den Brink MR. The importance of neovascularization and its inhibition for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Blood. 2011 Apr; 117:4181-9.
Ghosh A, Dogan Y, Moroz M, Holland AM, Yim NL, Rao UK, Young LF, Tannenbaum D, Masih D, Velardi E, Tsai JJ, Jenq RR, Penack O, Hanash AM, Smith OM, Piersanti K, Lezcano C, Murphy GF, Liu C, Palomba ML, Sauer MG, Sadelain M, Ponomarev V, van den Brink MR. Adoptively transferred TRAIL+ T cells suppress GVHD and augment antitumor activity. J Clin Invest. 2013 Jun; 123:2654-62.
Dr. med. Philipp Pickerodt
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité–Universitätsmedizin
Address: Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4506 51278
Email: philipp.pickerodt@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV)
- Carbonic anhydrase and nitrite Biology
- Acute lung injury (ALI)
Project Description
• Regulation of pulmonary artery blood flow and pressure in lung health and disease
• Measurement of nitric oxide, nitrite and nitrate in gas phase / liquid samples (ozone-based chemiluminescence)
• Application of nitrite therapies in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and lung vascular injury
University Education
2005 - 2009
Doctoral Thesis: „Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction“, Dept. of Experimental Anaesthesia at the Dept. of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, CVK, Charité, Berlin; Grade: Magna cum laude
2000 - 2006
Medical School at the Freie University and Humboldt University, Berlin
1998 - 2000
Studium Generale at the University of Barcelona, Spain; DELE–Diploma
Professional Experience
2011 - 2014
Research Fellow, DFG Sachbeihilfe (PI795/2-1 to Philipp Pickerodt)
2008 - 2010
Th. Maren Research Fellow, Dept. of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle; PI: Prof. Dr. Erik Swenson
2006 - 2014
Residency at Dept. of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité, Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2007
Data presented in doctoral thesis (published in the American Journal of Physiology in 2007) was granted the Alfred-Ludwig-Berblinger Award 2007 for scientific excellence by the German Academy of Aviation and Travel Medicine
Selected Publications
Pickerodt PA, Francis RC, Höhne C, Neubert F, Telalbasic S, Boemke W, Swenson ER. Pulmonary vasodilation by acetazolamide during hypoxia: impact of methyl-group substitutions and administration route in conscious, spontaneously breathing dogs. J Appl Physiol. 2014 Apr 1; 116:715-23.
Pickerodt PA, Emery MJ, Zarndt R, Martin W, Francis RC, Boemke W, Swenson ER. Sodium nitrite mitigates ventilator-induced lung injury in rats. Anesthesiology 117:592-601, 2012
Höhne C, Pickerodt PA, Francis RC, Boemke W, Swenson ER. Pulmonary vasodilation by acetazolamide during hypoxia is unrelated to carbonic anhydrase inhibition. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 292:178-84, 2007
Francis RC, Philippi-Höhne C, Klein A, Pickerodt PA, Reyle-Hahn MS, Boemke W. Xenon/remifentanil anesthesia protects against adverse effects of losartan on hemodynamic challenges induced by anesthesia and acute blood loss. Shock 34:628-35, 2010
Pickerodt PA, Pickerodt VW, Boemke W, Swenson ER. Management of severe acute anemia: who needs blood? Anesth Analg 112:1251-2, 2011
Dr. rer. nat. Stephan Preibisch
Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC)
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin
Phone: +49 172 3773050
Email: stephan.preibisch@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Computational Biology
- Image Processing
- Microscopy
Project Description
We combine light & electron microscopy, transcription imaging and deep sequencing with computer vision and software development. We develop tools and solutions in order to study and model transcriptional regulation in development using C. elegans and other major model organisms.
Many of our software solutions are widely used in many fields of science and technology as they are made available through the Fiji software platform that we developed over the years (http://fiji.sc)
University Education
2006 - 2010
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Dresden, Germany
2000 - 2006
TU Dresden, Germany
Professional Experience
2012 - 2015
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
2011 - 2012
HHMI Janelia, Ashburn, VA, USA
2010 - 2011
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Dresden
2008
Stanford Research Institute, CA, USA
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2011
Finalist of the 2011 Drosophila Image Award
2008
Böhringer-Ingelheim Travel Award
Selected Publications
Software for bead-based registration of selective plane illumination microscopy data
Globally Optimal Stitching of Tiled 3D Microscopic Image Acquisitions
ImgLib2 – Generic image processing in Java
Nuclear accessibility of β-actin mRNA measured by 3D single-molecule real time (3D-SMRT) microscopy
Efficient Bayesian-based Multi-View Deconvolution
Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Alessandro Prigione
Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC)
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0)30 9406 2871
Email: alessandro.prigione@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- human iPSCs
- mitochondrial disorders
Project Description
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), generated through reprogramming of somatic cells back into an embryonic-like pluripotent state, hold great promises for biomedical research. Until recently, however, the contributing role of mitochondria and energy metabolism in the induction of pluripotency remained an unexplored topic. My previous works demonstrated that a “mitochondrial reprogramming” may occur during cell fate transition. Numerous studies confirmed these data and the investigation of the link between metabolic transformation and cellular reprogramming is presently an active field of research.
I now wish to build employ the iPSC technology for advancing the understanding and treatment of debilitating brain disorders due to mitochondrial impairment. This will be applied to neurological diseases affecting the mitochondria either directly, such as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disorders, or indirectly, like Huntington’s disease (HD). The development of alternative modeling approaches is highly needed for conditions affecting the nervous system, whose understanding has been hindered by the inability to sample live neuronal cells and it is particularly important for mtDNA disorders, which lack viable modeling tools due to the hurdles associated with engineering mtDNA. Reprogramming-derived neurons can be eventually employed as disease-relevant cell type-specific cellular systems for the discovery of novel disease-modifying therapeutic strategies for these untreatable brain disorders. To reach this long-term goal, we combine unbiased systems-driven analysis of iPSC neural derivatives with the development of mitochondria-centered high-throughput screening strategies.
University Education
2004 - 2008
Ph.D. San Raffaele Scientific Institute
1996 - 2002
M.D. University of Milan
Professional Experience
2013 - now
Delbrück Fellow, MDC
2009 - 2012
Postdoc, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin
2005 - 2007
Visiting researcher, University of Davis, USA
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2015
Guest Editor of the Special Issue "Mitochondria and metabolism remodeling in cellular reprogramming and differentiation” in Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology.
2014
Young Investigator eBio
2010
Oral presentation award, “1st World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria”
Selected Publications
Wang J, Xie G, Singh M, Ghanbarian AT, Raskó T, Szvetnik A, Cai H, Besser D, Prigione A, Fuchs N, Schumann G, Chen W, Lorincz MC, Ivics Z, Hurst LD, Izsvák Z. Primate-specific endogenous retrovirus driven transcription defines naïve-like stem cells. Nature, 2014, Oct 15
Prigione A*, Rohwer N, Hoffmann S, Mlody B, Drews K, Bukowiecki R, Blümlein K, Wanker EE, Ralser M, Cramer T, Adjaye J*. HIF1α modulates cell fate reprogramming through early glycolytic shift and up-regulation of PDK1-3 and PKM2. Stem Cells, 2014 Feb;32(2):364-76.
Prigione A*, Lichtner B, Kuhl H, Struys EA, Wamelink M, Lehrach H, Ralser M, Timmermann B, Adjaye J*. Human iPSCs Harbor Homoplasmic and Heteroplasmic Mitochondrial DNA Mutations While Maintaining hESC-Like Metabolic Reprogramming. Stem Cells. 2011 Sep;29(9):1338-48.
Prigione A, Fauler B, Lurz R, Lehrach H, Adjaye J. The Senescence-Related Mitochondrial /Oxidative Stress Pathway is Repressed in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cells. 2010 Apr;28(4):721-33.
Prigione A, Cortopassi G. Mitochondrial DNA deletions and chloramphenicol treatment stimulate the autophagic transcript ATG12. Autophagy. 2007 Jul-Aug;3(4):377-80
Prof. Dr. med. Josef Priller
Department of Neuropsychiatry
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 17209
Email: josef.priller@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Regenerative medicine
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Neuroimmunology
Project Description
• Adult stem cells, transplantation, gene therapy, intravital imaging
• Investigator-initiated clinical trials in neurodegenerative diseases
University Education
1988 - 1996
Studies in Medicine (University of Bochum, Technical University of Munich, Université de Lausanne, Georgetown University and Harvard University)
Professional Experience
2011 - now
Vice Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité
2008 - now
Tenured Professor (W2) and Director, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Charité
2006 - now
Consultant, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité
2004 - 2007
Professor (C3) of Psychiatry and Head, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Charité
1998 - 2004
Resident in Neurology and in Psychiatry, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2011
Chair, Neurology Committee, International Society for Cellular Therapy
2010
Founding Member, Global Young Academy
2008
‘Distinguished Young Scientist’, IAP, World Economic Forum, Tianjin, China
2007
JSPS fellowship
2004
Elected member of the Junge Akademie, Berlin Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Leopoldina (-2009)
2003
Robert Feulgen Prize
2002
EMBO fellowship
2001
Novartis Prize for Therapeutic Research
Selected Publications
Priller J, Flügel A, Wehner T, Böntert M, Haas CA, Prinz M, Fernández-Klett F, Prass K, Bechmann I, de Boer BA, Frotscher M, Kreutzberg GW, Persons DA, Dirnagl U (2001) Targeting gene-modified hematopoietic cells to the central nervous system: use of green fluorescent protein uncovers microglial engraftment. Nat. Med. 7:1356-1361.
Priller J, Persons DA, Klett FF, Kempermann G, Kreutzberg GW, Dirnagl U (2001) Neogenesis of cerebellar Purkinje neurons from gene-marked bone marrow cells in vivo. J. Cell. Biol. 155:733-738.
Priller J, Prinz M, Heikenwälder M, Zeller N, Schwarz P, Heppner FL, Aguzzi A (2006) Early and rapid engraftment of bone marrow-derived microglia in scrapie. J. Neurosci. 26:11753-11762.
Mildner A, Schmidt H, Nitsche M, Merkler D, Hanisch U - K, Mack M, Heikenwälder M, Brück W, Priller J*, Prinz M* (2007) Microglia in the adult brain arise from Ly-6ChiCCR2+ monocytes only under defined host conditions. Nat. Neurosci. 10:1544-1553 (*equal contribution).
Fernández-Klett F, Potas JR, Hilpert D, Blazej K, Radke J, Huck J, Engel O, Stenzel W, Genové G, Priller J (2013) Early loss of pericytes and perivascular stromal cell-induced scar formation after stroke. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab . 33:428-439.
PhD Angela Relógio
Institute for Theoretical Biology (ITB), Charité-CCM and Molecular Cancer Research Centre (MKFZ), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK)
Address: Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 2093 6044
Email: angela.relogio@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Circadian clock
- Systems biology
- Oncology
Project Description
Scope: In my group we investigate the coupling of the circadian system to tumour progression. All cells hold an internal clock able to generate daily rhythms in gene expression and to adapt molecular processes to specific day-times. Malfunctions of the circadian clock have been reported in the context of many diseases such as cancer, although the mechanisms involved are not yet clear. We aim to answer the following questions: How are the pathways, which connect the circadian clock to cancer, regulated? Is this regulation specific for different stages of tumour progression? Can a circadian signature for tumour progression be defined?
With our research, we expect to be able to provide valuable insights into the mechanism of circadian regulation of tumourigenesis per se and to contribute to a better understanding of the cancer-clock system.

Special Techniques: We use a systems biology approach involving wet-lab experiments including genome wide screening of gene expression of human and murine cells and tissues, circadian measurements (luminescence and fluorescence) in living cells at the RNA and protein levels, bioinformatics and computational models, to understand the dynamic interplay between cancer and the clock.

Translational Perspective: With mathematical models and wet-lab circadian studies we aim to a) find optimal time windows for drug administration in cancer therapy which allows to diminish the toxic effects to healthy cells and tissues while keeping treatment efficacy (Chronotherapy) and b) identify key clock-controlled genes which are directly involved on the regulation of malignant proliferation and could be further investigated as potential novel targets for therapy.
University Education
1999 - 2003
Joint PhD in Biomedical Sciences Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, and the International PhD Programme of the EMBL, Heidelberg
1993 - 1998
Diploma in Technological-Physics Engineering, Superior Technical Institute (IST), University of Lisbon
Professional Experience
2014 - now
Group leader (Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin )
2012 - 2014
Rahel-Hirsch fellow (Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin),
2007 - 2012
Project leader (Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin)
2003 - 2006
Post Doctoral fellow (European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg)
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2013
Female Independency Award (FIA) from the Berlin School of Integrative Oncology (BSIO), Charité Medical University of Berlin, Germany.
2012
Rahel-Hirsch-excellence award, Charité Medical University of Berlin, Germany.
2003
Postdoctoral fellowship from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Germany.
Selected Publications
Lehmann R., Childs L., Thomas P., Abreu M., Fuhr L., Herzel H., Leser U., Relógio A*. (2015). Assembly of a comprehensive regulatory network for the mammalian circadian clock: a bioinformatics approach. Plos One.
Relógio A*., Medina-Pérez P., Thomas P., Gloc E., Bervoets S., Maier B., Schaefer R., Leser U., Herzel H., Kramer A., Sers C*. (2014). Ras – mediated deregulation of the circadian clock in cancer. PLoS Genetics.
Relógio A*., Westermark P., Wallach T., Schellenberg K., Kramer A., Herzel H. (2011). Tuning the Mammalian Circadian Clock: Robust Synergy of Two loops. PLoS Computational Biology.
Bozek K*, Relógio A*, Kielbasa SM, Heine M, Dame C, Kramer A, Herzel H. (2009). Regulation of clock-controlled genes in mammals. PLoS One.
Relógio A., Ben-Dov C., Baum M., Ruggiu M., Gemund C., Benes V., Darnell RB., Valcarcel J. (2005). Alternative splicing microarrays reveal functional expression of neuron-specific regulators in Hodgkin lymphoma cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Dr. rer. nat. Oliver Rocks
Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC)
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 3610
Email: oliver.rocks@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Rho GTPases RhoGEFs/RhoGAPs
- Signal transduction
- Cytoskeleton
Project Description
We work on Rho family GTPases, the master regulators of the cytoskeleton. Rho proteins control fundamental processes such as morphogenesis or wound healing and need to be precisely controlled in space and time. Their deregulation contributes to cancer metastasis and numerous other diseases. We investigate the control mechanisms that define the Rho signaling environment and thereby ensure specific cell shape changes and proper cellular responses. This signaling specificity is achieved by the 145 RhoGEF and RhoGAP regulatory proteins. We have assembled a unique cDNA expression library of all these regulators and a complementary lentivirus shRNA library for their downregulation. Using this toolbox, we have systematically screened their binding partners by mass spectrometry, their subcellular localization, their overexpression and knockdown phenotypes and their substrate specificities. We now use this resource to further characterize the function of (novel) RhoGEFs and GAPs in specific signaling contexts (e.g. cell-cell or cell-matrix adhesion, guided cell migration, angiogenesis, cell polarity), in health and disease.
University Education
1994 - 2000
University of Bielefeld, Studies in Biochemistry
Professional Experience
2007 - 2010
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Postdoctoral Fellow with Tony Pawson
2005 - 2007
EMBL, Heidelberg, Postdoctoral Fellow with Philippe Bastiaens
2001 - 2005
Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Doctoral Fellow with Alfred Wittinghofer
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2005
Otto-Hahn Medal by the Max-Planck Society
Selected Publications
Rocks O, et al. (2010) The Palmitoylation Machinery Is a Spatially Organizing System for Peripheral Membrane Proteins. Cell 141(3):458-471
Rocks O, et al. (2005) An Acylation Cycle Regulates Localization and Activity of Palmitoylated Ras Isoforms. Science 307:1746-1752
Dekker FJ, Rocks O*,et al. (2010) Small-molecule inhibition of APT1 affects Ras localization and signaling. Nature Chem Biol 6(6):449-56 *equal contribution
Lorentzen A, Kinkhabwala A, Rocks O, Vartak N, Bastiaens PI. (2010) Regulation of Ras localization by acylation enables a mode of intracellular signal propagation. Science Signal 3(140)
Rocks O, Peyker A & Bastiaens PI. (2006) Spatio-temporal segregation of Ras signals: one ship, three anchors, many harbors. Curr Op Cell Biol 18(4):351-7
Dr. Leif Erik Sander
Dept. of Infectious Diseases & Pulmonary Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CVK
Address: Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 450 653034 / 553034
Email: leif-erik.sander@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccines
Project Description
We dissect molecular checkpoints that allow the immune system to scale infectious threats. In particular, we study the process of signal detection and integration in the innate immune system and its impact on ensuing adaptive immune responses. In doing so, we hope to identify novel targets for adjuvant immunotherapies against infectious diseases and candidate adjuvants for protective vaccines. Secondly, we study mechanisms of immune regulation, particularly during and after infection.
University Education
1998 - 2005
Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany, Medical school
1997 - 1998
University of Oslo, Norway – Examen philosophicum
Professional Experience
2008 - 2011
Postdoc, Immunology Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
2006 - 2008
Postdoc & clinical resident, Dept. of Medicine, RWTH University Hospital Aachen
2002 - 2005
Doctorate, Dept. of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Hannover Medical School
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Theodor-Frerichs-Preis 2012 (DGIM)
2012
Emmy-Noether-Group 2012 (DFG)
Selected Publications
Blander JM & Sander LE: Beyond pattern recognition: five immune checkpoints for scaling the microbial threat. Nat Rev Immunol 2012;12(3):215-25.
Dr. rer. nat. Patrick Scheerer
Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics (IMPB), AG Protein X-ray Crystallography
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 24178
Email: patrick.scheerer@charite.de
Fields of Research
- G-Protein-coupled receptors
- Membraneproteins, Protein expression, purification, crystallisation and X-ray-crystallography
- Photoreceptors and Metalloenzymes
Project Description
(1) Signal transduction pathways - Signalling of G-Protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and other membrane proteins
• G-Protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) – Membrane proteins
• Crystal structures of various GPCRs (rod and cone rhodopsin, melanopsin, histamine-H2 receptor, thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), adrenoreceptor) with agonists, inverse agonists or antagonists
• Receptor activation or inactivation and its implication as a molecular cause of a certain disease.
• Crystal structures alone and in complex with their receptor partners (GPCR pathway proteins - e.g., G-protein, arrestins and phosphodiesterases)
• Bacterial Cpx sensor regulator system

(2) Light-induced signalling and photoreceptors
• Rhodopsins (visible light-inducible membrane photoreceptors from rods and cones)
• Phytochromes (infrared light-inducible multi-domain photoreceptors in plants and bacteria)
• Photolyases (ultraviolet light-inducible enzymes)

(3) Signalling to and Repair of DNA
• Photolyases (DNA repair enzymes)
• Cpx sensor regulator (two - component regulatory systems)

(4) Metallo-proteins - Catalytic conversion of H2 in hydrogenases
• Membrane-bound [NiFe]-hydrogenase (MBH) - Conversion of H2 in the presence of O2
• Soluble [NiFe]-hydrogenase (SH) - H2-driven production of NADH
• Photolyases (novel class of DNA repair enzymes with FeS-clusters)

Current technique topics:
• Advanced protein crystallisation methods (e.g. bicelle and lipid cubic phase (LCP) methods)
• X-ray structure analysis and crystallography Dynamics and function of proteins, molecular modelling
• Methodological development of a combined crystallographic and spectroscopic approach on crystals
• GPCR expression and crystallisation platform
• Development of SEIRA spectroscopy on GPCR s (with Prof. P. Hildebrandt (TU - Berlin)
• Neutron diffraction experiments on [NiFe]-hydrogenases
• Protein and photoreceptor engineering

Translational Perspective:
• Understanding and controlling of G-Protein-coupled receptors: GPCR activation or inactivation and its implication as a molecular cause of a certain disease
University Education
2012
Doctorate (doctor rerum naturalium) with "summa cum laude" in biophysical and physical chemistry at the Technische Universität Berlin (Berlin, Germany)
2010 - 2011
Health Care Manager, Certificate, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin – ESF (Europäische Sozialfonds)
2008 - 2012
PhD thesis (2), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics (with Prof. K. P. Hofmann (Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin) and Prof. P. Hildebrandt (Technische Universität Berlin)
2005 - 2007
PhD thesis (1, discontinued), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Berlin, Germany), Institute of Biochemistry (with Prof. W. Höhne and Dr. N. Krauß (Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin)
2004
Diploma thesis in biophysics, Humboldt-University Berlin (with Prof. W. Höhne)
1994 - 2004
Studies of biophysics at the Humboldt-University Berlin (Berlin, Germany)
Professional Experience
2013 - now
Principal Investigator - Collaborative Research Centre 1078 (SFB 1078) "Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function"
2012 - now
Principal Investigator - Core Team - Cluster of Excellence "Unifying Concepts in Catalysis" (UniCat)
2012 - now
Research Group Leader of AG Protein X-ray Crystallography, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2010
Radiation Protection Manager, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics
2010 - 2012
Research Associate - Responsible Scientist for crystallography and X-ray structure analysis - Full-position with Lectureship (Teaching performance 4 SWS per semester), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics (Director: Prof. C. M. Spahn)
2008 - 2010
Research Associate – Responsible Scientist for crystallography and X-ray structure analysis - Full-position with Lectureship (Teaching performance 4 SWS per semester), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics (Director: Prof. K. P. Hofmann (2008 – 2010))
2006 - 2008
Scientific Member (PhD student) - Collaborative Research Centre 498 (SFB 498-B2) (with Prof. T. Lamparter/ Dr. N. Krauß)
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Doctorate (doctor rerum naturalium) with "summa cum laude" in biophysical and physical chemistry
Selected Publications
Scheerer P*, Park JH*, Hildebrand PW, Kim YJ, Krauss N, Choe HW, Ho fmann KP, Ernst OP. Crystal structure of opsin in its G-protein-interacting conformation. Nature 2008 Sep; 455 (7212):497-502. (~565 citations - source „Scopus“) (*These first authors contributed equally to this work)
Park JH*, Scheerer P*, Hofmann KP, Choe HW, Ernst OP. Crystal structure of the ligand-free G-protein-coupled receptor opsin. Nature 2008 Jul; 454 (7201):183-187. (~529 citations) (*These first authors contributed equally to this work)
Choe HW, Kim YJ, Park JH, Morizumi T, Pai EF, Krauß N, Hofmann KP, Scheerer P, Ernst OP. Crystal structure of Metarhodopsin II. Nature 20 11, Mar 31; 471(7340):651-5. (~205 citations)
Fritsch J*, Scheerer P*§, Frielingsdorf S, Kroschinsky S, Friedrich B, Lenz O§ , Spahn CM§. The crystal structure of an oxygen-tolerant hydrogenase uncovers a novel iron-sulphur centre. Nature 2011, Oct 16; 479(7372):249-52. (~82 citations) (*These first authors contributed equally to this work) (§ Correspondence author)
Kim YJ, Hofmann KP, Ernst OP, Scheerer P§ , Choe HW§ , Sommer ME§. Crystal structure of pre-activated arrestin p44. Nature 2013, May 2; 497 (7447):142-6. (~16 citations) (§ Correspondence author)
Prof. Dr. med. Kai Schmidt-Ott
Department of Nephrology, Charité / Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 2512
Email: kai.schmidt-ott@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Kidney development and disease
- Clinical and molecular nephrology
- Acute kidney injury, kidney transplantation
Project Description
We study the molecular mechanisms of kidney development and kidney disease. We focus on the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. We conduct clinical and experimental studies to analyze the developing and diseased urogenital system both in patients and in experimental model systems. We apply a wide spectrum of molecular and cell biology techniques, mouse genetics, as well as systems biology and bioinformatics. Our translational goal is to develop novel personalized and disease-specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in nephrology, focusing on patients with acute kidney injury, kidney transplantation, and renal neoplasia.
University Education
1999 - 2000
Medical School, Free University of Berlin
1998 - 1999
Visiting Scholar, Department of Physiology, University of Florida (Prof. M. I. Phillips)
1992 - 1998
Medical School, Free University of Berlin
Professional Experience
2014 - now
Project leader DFG research unit 1368: “Therapeutic implications and pathophysiological role of calprotectin in acute kidney injury" (with Prof. Dr. T. Westhoff)
2014 - now
Project leader DFG research unit 1368: “Molecular physiology and epigenetics of NF-κB/BMP interactions in the post-ischemic kidney (with PD Dr. D. N. Müller and Dr. R. Schmidt-Ullrich)
2014 - now
Professorship of Urogenital Research at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine
2012 - now
Attending physician, Department of Nephrology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte
2011 - 2013
Project leader DFG research unit 1368: " NF-κB and BMP signaling in acute kidney injury“ (with PD Dr. D. N. Müller und Dr. R. Schmidt-Ullrich)
2010 - 2012
Board certified physician in Internal Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte
2009 - 2013
Project leader, DFG research unit 667 “Epithelial mechanisms of renal volume regulation“
2009 - 2014
Junior Professor of Molecular Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2008 - now
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
2007 - 2009
Clinical resident/nephrology fellow, Department of Nephrology and Hypertensiology (Prof. Dr. F. C. Luft), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Buch
2007 - 2013
Junior research group leader (Emmy Noether Program, Phase II) at the Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin
2003 - 2007
Stipend of the German Research Foundation (Emmy Noether Program, Phase I, DFG), Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, PI: Prof. Dr. Jonathan Barasch, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York
2001 - 2003
Clinical resident/nephrology fellow, Department of Nephrology and Hypertensiology (Prof. Dr. F. C. Luft), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Buch
1998 - 1999
Visiting Scholar (Gottfried Daimler and Carl Benz Foundation), Department of Physiology, Prof. Dr. M. I. Phillips, University of Florida
1996 - 2002
Medical dissertation, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Freie Universität Berlin, Prof. Dr. Martin Paul, Title: “Endothelin-dependent morphological transformation of hypoxic astrocytes“ (summa cum laude)
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2007
Emmy Noether stipend of the DFG (Phase II)
2003
Ernst Reuter Award of the Free University of Berlin (Best doctoral thesis of the year 2002)
2003
Emmy Noether stipend of the DFG (Phase I)
Selected Publications
Aue A*, Hinze C*, Walentin K, Ruffert J, Yurtdas ZY, Werth M, Chen W, Rabien A, Kilic E, Schulzke JD, Schumann M, Schmidt-Ott KM. A grainyhead-like 2/ovo-like 2 pathway regulates renal epithelial barrier function and lumen expansion. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2015, published ahead of print March 18, 2015.* Equal contribution.
Walentin K, Hinze C, Werth M, Haase N, Varma S, Morell R, Aue A, Pötschke E, Warburton D, Qiu A, Barasch J, Purfürst B, Dieterich C, Popova E, Bader M, Dechend R, Staff AC, Yurtdas ZY, Kilic E, Schmidt-Ott KM. A Grhl2-dependent gene network controls trophoblast branching morphogenesis. Development. 2015;142:1125-36.
Paragas N*, Kulkarni R*, Werth M*, Schmidt-Ott KM*, Forster C, Deng R, Zhang Q, Singer E, Klose AD, Shen TH, Francis KP, Ray S, Vijayakumar S, Seward S, Bovino ME, Xu K, Takabe Y, Amaral FE, Mohan S, Wax R, Corbin K, Sanna-Cherchi S, Mori K, Johnson L, Nickolas T, D'Agati V, Lin CS, Qiu A, Al-Awqati Q, Ratner AJ, Barasch J. α-Intercalated cells defend the urinary system from bacterial infection. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2014, 124:2963-76. *Equal contribution.
Nickolas TL*#, Schmidt-Ott KM*#, Canetta P, Forster C, Singer E, Sise M, Elger A, Maarouf O, Sola-Del Valle DA, O’Rourke M, Sherman E, Lee P, Geara A, Imus P, Guddati A, Polland A, Rahman W, Elitok S, Malik N, Giglio J, El-Sayegh S, Devarajan P, Hebbar S, Saggi SJ, Hahn B, Kettritz R, Luft FC, Barasch J. Diagnostic and Prognostic Stratification in the Emergency Department Using Urinary Biomarkers of Nephron Damage - A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2012, 59:235-44. *Equal contribution. #Corresponding authors.
Singer E, Elger A, Elitok S, Kettritz R, Nickolas TL, Barasch J, Luft FC, Schmidt-Ott KM. Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin distinguishes pre-renal from intrinsic renal failure and predicts outcomes. Kidney International. 2011;80(4):405-14.
Paragas N, Qiu A, Zhang Q, Samstein B, Deng SX, Schmidt-Ott KM, Viltard M, Yu W, Forster CS, Gong G, Liu Y, Kulkarni R, Mori K, Kalandadze A, Ratner AJ, Devarajan P, Landry DW, D'Agati V, Lin CS, Barasch J. The Ngal reporter mouse detects the response of the kidney to injury in real time. Nature Medicine. 2011;17(2):216-22.
Werth, M.*, Walentin, K.*, Aue, A., Schonheit, J., Wuebken, A., Pode-Shakked, N., Vilianovitch, L., Erdmann, B., Dekel, B., Bader, M., Barasch, J., Rosenbauser, F., Luft, F.C., Schmidt-Ott, K.M. 2010. The transcription factor grainyhead-like 2 (Grhl2) regulates the molecular composition of the epithelial apical junctional complex. Development. 2010;137(22):3835-45. *Equal contribution.
Lu BC, Cebrian C, Chi X, Kuure S, Kuo R, Bates CM, Arber S, Hassell J, Macneil L, Hoshi M, Jain S, Asai N, Takahashi M, Schmidt-Ott KM, Barasch J, D'Agati V, Costantini F. Etv4 and Etv5 are required downstream of GDNF and Ret for kidney branching morphogenesis. Nature Genetics. 2009;41(12):1295-1302.
Schmidt-Ott KM, Masckauchan TN, Chen X, Hirsh BJ, Sarkar A, Yang J, Paragas N, Wallace VA, Dufort D, Pavlidis P, Jagla B, Kitajewski J, Barasch J. β-catenin/TCF/Lef controls a differentiation-associated transcriptional program in renal epithelial progenitors. Development. 2007;134(17):3177-90.
Schmidt-Ott KM, Yang J, Chen X, Wang H, Paragas N, Mori K, Li JY, Schiffer M, Bottinger E, Barasch J. Novel Regulators Of Kidney Development From The Tips Of The Ureteric Bud. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2005;16(7):1993-2002.
Dr. med. Thomas Schmitz
Neonatology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Address: Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 59548
Email: thomas.schmitz@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Brain development
- Neuroprotection
- Oligodendroglia
Project Description
Mouse model of postnatal brain injury caused by oxygen toxicity resembling neurological injury phenotype of preterm infants. Primary oligodendroglial cultures, in vivo immunohistochemistry for oligodendroglial markers and myelination, confocal microscopy, electron microscopy, small animal MRI.

Collaboration with Professor H. Kettenmann, Cellular Neuroscience, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine.
University Education
1998 - 1999
Experimental medical thesis at the Institute of Pharmacology, Director Prof. Göthert, University of Bonn
1991 - 1998
Studies of Medicine, University of Bonn
Professional Experience
2009 - now
Professor C. Bührer, Neonatology, Charité
2007 - 2009
Neuroscience: Research Fellow, Dr. V. Gallo, Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington DC, USA
1999 - 2006
Paediatrics: University Hospital Düsseldorf, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, German Heart Center Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Science Award 2012 of the “Gesellschaft für Neonatologie und Pädiatrische Intensivmedizin – GNPI“; 5,000 €
Selected Publications
Endesfelder S, Zaak I, Weichelt U, Bührer C, Schmitz T. Caffeine protects neuronal cells against injury caused by hyperoxia in the immature brain. Free Radic Biol Med. 2013 Oct 12; 67C:221-234.
Schmitz T, Endesfelder S, Reinert MC, Klinker F, Müller S, Bührer C, Liebetanz D. Adolescent hyperactivity and impaired coordination after neonatal hyperoxia. Exp Neurol. 2012 May; 235(1):374 - 9.
Schmitz T, Endesfelder S, Chew LJ, Zaak I, Bührer C. Minocycline protects oligodendroglial precursor cells against injury caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation. J Neurosci Res. 2012 May; 90(5):933-44.
Schmitz T , Ritter J, Mueller S, Felderhoff-Mueser U, Chew LJ, Gallo V. Cellular changes underlying hyperoxia-induced delay of white matter development. J Neurosci. 2011 Mar 16; 31(11):4327-44.
Schmitz T, Heep A, Groenendaal F, Hüseman D, Kie S, Bartmann P, Obladen M, Felderhoff-Müser U. Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-18, and Interferon-γ Expression in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Premature Infants with Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus — Markers of White Matter Damage? Pediatr Res. 2007 Jun; 61(6):722-6.
Dr. med. Michael Schumann
Department of Gastroenterology
Address: Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 8445 2792
Email: michael.schumann@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Inflammatory bowel diseases and Celiac disease
- Epithelial polarity
- Mucosal barrier
Project Description
Relevance of epithelial polarity for epithelial barrier in intestinal inflammation and also for carcinogenesis.

Development of strategies to reconstitute epithelial polarity.
University Education
2000
Medical doctor degree, Julius-Maximillians-Universität zu Würzburg
1995 - 2000
Clinical studies, Julius-Maximillians-Universität zu Würzburg
1993 - 1995
Preclinical studies, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Professional Experience
2012 - now
Clinical Scientist
2003 - 2012
Dept. of Gastroenterology, Charité, Berlin
2000 - 2003
Visiting research fellow at National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2003
Forschungs-AiP
Award of the Deutsche Zöliakie Gesellschaft (DZG)
NIH Visiting Fellow Award
Selected Publications
Schumann M, Kamel S, Pahlitzsch ML, Lebenheim L, May C, Krauss M, Hummel M, Daum S, Fromm M, Schulzke JD. Defective tight junctions in refractory celiac disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2012 Jul; 1258:43-51.
Schumann M*, Winter S*, Wichner K, May C, Kühl AA, Batra A, Siegmund B, Zeitz M, Schulzke JD, Lipp M, Höpken UE. CCR7 deficiency causes diarrhea associated with altered ion transport in colonocytes in the absence of overt colitis. Mucosal Immunol. 2012 Jul; 5(4):377-87.
Ménard S, Lebreton C, Schumann M, Matysiak-Budnik T, Dugave C, Bouhnik Y, Malamut G, Cellier C, Allez M, Crenn P, Schulzke JD, Cerf-Bensussan N, Heyman M. Paracellular versus Transcellular Intestinal Permeability to Gliadin Peptides in Active Celiac Disease. Am J Pathol. 2012 Feb; 180(2):608-15.
Schumann M, Günzel D, Buergel N, Richter JF, Troeger H, May C, Fromm A, Sorgenfrei D, Daum S, Bojarski C, Heyman M, Zeitz M, Fromm M, Schulzke JD. Cell polarity-determining proteins Par-3 and PP-1 are involved in epithelial tight junction defects in coeliac disease. Gut. 2012 Feb; 61(2):220-8.
Schumann M , Richter JF, Wedell I, Moos V, Zimmermann-Kordmann M, Schneider T, Daum S, Zeitz M, Fromm M, Schulzke JD. Mechanisms of epithelial translocation of the alpha(2)-gliadin-33mer in coeliac sprue. Gut. 2008 Jun; 57(6):747-54.
Prof. Dr. Matthias Selbach
Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 3574
Email: matthias.selbach@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Quantitative proteomics
- Gene expression control
- Cell signalling and protein-protein interaction
Project Description
• Analysis of proteome dynamics in health and disease
• Functional characterization of disease-associated protein variants by quantitative interaction proteomics
University Education
2000 - 2003
PhD thesis at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology / Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
1992 - 1998
Diploma in Biology, Münster University, Germany
Professional Experience
2007 - now
Group leader at the MDC
2004 - 2007
Postdoc in the lab of Matthias Mann at the Center for Experimental BioInformatics (CEBI), University of Southern Denmark in Odense, Denmark and at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2010
Analytica research award (http://www.roche.de/analytica2010)
2010
EMBO Young Investigator Award (http://www.embo.org/programmes/yip.html)
2008
Research award of the German Society of Gene Therapy (with N. Rajewsky)
Selected Publications
Schwanhausser, B., Busse, D., Li, N., Dittmar, G., Schuchhardt, J., Wolf, J., Chen, W., and Selbach, M. (2011). Global quantification of mammalian gene expression control. Nature 473, 337-342.
Sury, M.D., Chen, J.X., and Selbach, M. (2010). The SILAC Fly Allows for Accurate Protein Quantification in Vivo. Mol Cell Proteomics 9, 2173-2183.
Schwanhausser, B., Gossen, M., Dittmar, G., and Selbach, M. (2009). Global analysis of cellular protein translation by pulsed SILAC. Proteomics 9, 205-209.
Selbach, M., Schwanhausser, B., Thierfelder, N., Fang, Z., Khanin, R., and Rajewsky, N. (2008). Widespread changes in protein synthesis induced by microRNAs. Nature 455, 58-63.
Selbach, M., and Mann, M. (2006). Protein interaction screening by quantitative immunoprecipitation combined with knockdown (QUICK). Nat Methods 3, 981-983.
Dr. med. Frank Siebenhaar
Dept. of Dermatology and Allergy
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4506 18295
Email: frank.siebenhaar@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Mast cells
- Mast cell-mediated diseases
- Inflammation
Project Description
Scientific Interest and Activities:

Characterization of physiological and pathological functions of mast cells and mast cell progenitors, investigation of the role of mast cells in innate and acquired immunity, in host defense responses against bacteria, parasites, fungus and viral infections, as key effector cells in allergic and other inflammatory reactions, as modulators of the development and growth of skin tumors as well as their interactions with sensory nerves and neuropeptides.

Clinical Interest and Activities:

Allergic and other mast cell-mediated diseases, clinical care of patients with mastocytosis, chronic urticaria, angioedema, chronic pruritus and autoinflammatory disorders, initiation and design of clinical trials, investigation of novel diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Head of the mastocytosis clinic and establishment of the Interdisciplinary Mastocytosis Center Charité, coordinator of international network activities on mast cell and mastocytosis research.
University Education
1996 - 2003
Medical School, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Germany
Professional Experience
2012 - now
Consultant and Senior Scientist, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany (Prof. Dr. M. Maurer, Directors: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h. c. T. Zuberbier)
2009 - 2012
Resident and Senior Scientist, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany (Prof. Dr. M. Maurer, Directors: Prof. Dr. T. Zuberbier, Prof. Dr. W. Sterry)
2007 - 2009
Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge/Boston, MA, USA (Prof. Ulrich H. von Andrian)
2004 - 2007
Internship and Resident and Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
2003 - 2004
Internship at the Department of Dermatology, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Mainz, Germany (Director: Prof. Dr. J. Knop)
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Task Force on Mastocytosis
Hermal Publication Award, Berliner Dermatologische Gesellschaft (BDG)
Selected Publications
Reiter N, Reiter M, Altrichter S, Becker S, Kristensen T, Broesby-Olsen S, Church MK, Metz M, Maurer M, Siebenhaar F. Anaphylaxis caused by mosquito allergy in systemic mastocytosis. Lancet 2013, 382:1380.
Siebenhaar F, Förtsch A, Krause K, Weller K, Metz M, Magerl M, Martus P, Church MK, Maurer M. Rupatadine improves quality of life in mastocytosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Allergy 2013, 68:949-52.
Siebenhaar F, Degener F, Zuberbier T, Martus P, Maurer M. High-dose desloratadine decreases wheal volume and improves cold provocation thresholds compared with standard-dose treatment in patients with acquired cold urticaria: A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Allergy Clin Immunol 2009, 123:672-9.
Siebenhaar F, Magerl M, Peters EMJ, Hendrix S, Metz M, Maurer M. Mast cell–driven skin inflammation is impaired in the absence of sensory nerves . Allergy Clin Immunol 2008, 121:955-61.
Siebenhaar F, Syska W, Weller K, Magerl M, Knop J, Maurer M. Control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Skin Infections in Mice Is Mast Cell-Dependent. Am J Pathol 2007, 170:1910-16.
Prof. Dr. med. Britta Siegmund
Department of Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases - Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Campus Benjamin Franklin (CBF)
Address: Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 14322
Email: britta.siegmund@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Mucosal immunology
- Inflammation
Project Description
• Animal models intestinal inflammation
• Inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis
• Translational models to human disease
• IIT
University Education
2006
Habilitation
1998
MD
1992 - 1998
Medical School Ludwig Maximilians Universität Munich and Harvard Medical School, Boston
Professional Experience
2007
Board Certificate Internal Medicine
2002 - 2007
Residency Medicine
2000 - 2002
Postdoctoral Fellowship at the UCHSC, University of Colorado, Dencer (Lab Prof. C.A Dinarello)
1998 - 2000
Resident in Medicine, Med. Klinik Innenstadt of LMU Munich
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Heisenberg-Professorship from DFG Translationale Gastroenterologie – chronisch entzündliche Darmerkrankungen
2006
“Rising Star in Gastroenterology” ASBMGE, the European Gastroenterology Association
2001
Young Investigator Arward of the Inter national Cytokine Society
1997
Grant of the Harvard-Munich Alliance for Medical Education
Selected Publications
Glauben R, Batra A, Stroh T, Erben U, Fedke I, Lehr HA, Leoni F, Mascagni P, Dinarello CA, Zeitz M & Siegmund B (2008) Histone deacetylases: novel targets for prevention of colitis - associated cancer in mice. Gut, 57, 613 - 22.
Kredel L.I., Batra A., Stroh T., Kühl A.A., Zeitz M., Erben U. & Siegmund B. (2013 ). Adipokines from local fat cells shape the macrophages compartment of the creeping fat in Crohn’s disease. Gut, 62:852 - 62
Schuster, M., Glauben, R., Plaza - Sirvent, C., Schreiber, L., Annemann, M., Floess, S., Kühl, A.A., Clayton, L.K., Sparwasser, T., Schulze - Osthoff, K., Pfeffer, K., Huehn, J., Siegmund, B ., Schmitz, I. (2012) IkB(NS) protein mediates regulatory T cell development via induction of the Foxp3 transcription factor. Immunity, 37:998 - 1008.
Batra, A., Heimesaat, M. M., Bereswill, S., Fischer, A., Glauben, R., Kunkel, D., Scheffold, A., Erben, U., Kuhl, A., Loddenkemper, C ., Lehr, H. A., Schumann, M., Schulzke, J. D., Zeitz, M., Siegmund, B. (2012) Mesenteric fat - control site for bacterial translocation in colitis? Mucosal Immunol 5: 580 - 591
Siegmund B., Lehr H.A., Fantuzzi G. (2002) Leptin: a pivotal mediator of intestinal inflammation. Gastroenterology, 122:2011 - 25.
Dr. med. Volker Siffrin
ECRC, Charité Campus Buch
Address: Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin
Email: siffrinv@gmx.de
Fields of Research
- Neuroimmunology
- Multiple Sclerosis research
- Immune-mediated neurodegeneration
Project Description
• Intravital two-photon microscopy, animal models of MS, clinical and experimental immunology
• Multiple Sclerosis outpatient clinic
University Education
2001 - 2004
Medical School of the Charité - University Medical Center Berlin
2000 - 2001
Medical School of the University of Aberdeen (UK)
1997 - 2000
Medical School of the Philipps University Marburg
Professional Experience
2010 - 2014
Attending physician in Neurology; University Medical Center Mainz
2006 - 2009
Clinical scientist and resident in neurology, Charité Berlin
2005
Clinical resident in neurology, Vivantes Auguste-Viktoria-Klinikum Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
Heisenberg Stipend
Young Researcher’s Award of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF)
Selected Publications
Siffrin V, Radbruch H, Glumm R, Niesner R, Paterka M, Herz J, Leuenberger T, Lehmann SM, Luenstedt S, Rinnenthal JL, Laube G, Luche H, Lehnardt S, Fehling H, Griesbeck O, Zipp F (2010) In vivo imaging of partially reversible th17 cell-induced neuronal dysfunction in the course of encephalomyelitis. Immunity 33: 424-436.
Siffrin V, Vogt J, Radbruch H, Nitsch R, Zipp F (2010) Multiple sclerosis – candidate mechanisms underlying CNS atrophy. Trends Neurosci 33: 202-210.
Siffrin V, Brandt AU, Radbruch H, Herz J, Boldakowa N, Leuenberger T, Werr J, Hahner A, Schulze-Topphoff U, Nitsch R, Zipp F (2009) Differential immune cell dynamics in the CNS cause CD4+ T cell compartmentalization. Brain 132:1247-1258.
Leuenberger, T., M. Paterka, E. Reuter, J. Herz, R. A. Niesner, H. Radbruch, T. Bopp, F. Zipp, and V. Siffrin. 2013. The role of CD8+ T cells and their local interaction with CD4+ T cells in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein35-55-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J. Immunol. 1950 191:4960–4968.
Schulze-Topphoff U, Prat A, Prozorovski T, Siffrin V, Paterka M, Herz J, Bendix I, Ifergan I, Schadock I, Mori MA, Van Horssen J, Schröter F, Smorodchenko A, Han MH, Bader M, Steinman L, Aktas O, Zipp F (2009) Activation of kinin receptor B1 limits encephalitogenic T lymphocyte recruitment to the central nervous system. Nature Med 15:788-793.
PD Dr. med. Uta Syrbe
Med. Klinik für Gastroenterolgie, Infektiologie und Rheumatologie
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 8445 4547
Email: uta.syrbe@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Clinical Immunology
- Rheumatology
- T cell migration
Project Description
The work in our rheumatology laboratory is focused on elucidating the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis in order to improve diagnosis and management of the disease. Ankylosing spondylitis, the prototype of spondyloarthritis (SpA), is mainly characterized by inflammation within the spine, which leads to chronic back pain but can also involve peripheral joints and entheses. In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis, reactive new bone formation is commonly seen in SpA - promoting impairment of spinal mobility and disability.

The first goal of our research is to understand the immunological dysfunction promoting the spinal and peripheral joint inflammation in SpA. Therefore, we characterized the pathological T cell responses with regard to antigen-specificity and regulatory mechanisms in blood and synovial fluid. For instance, we observed an enrichment of CD4+ Th1 cells specific for mucosal antigens - a suggested trigger of inflammation in SpA - at sites of peripheral joint inflammation in patients with SpA (Syrbe et al 2012). Currently, we characterize the pathogenic synovial CD4+ T cell with regard to the homing phenotype, the extent of in vivo activation and functional exhaustion. To detect potential deficits in immune regulation in SpA, we analysed the frequency, function and stability of regulatory Foxp3+ CD4+ T cells in blood and synovial fluid in patients with SpA and reported enrichment of regulatory T cells at sites of inflammation. The majority of these cells showed demethylation at a T regulatory cell specific demethylated region, indicating their functional imprinting and stability (Appel et al.).

The second goal is to identify the molecular pathways which lead to new bone formation in SpA. To analyse this, we have setup a unique collection of facet joints of patients with SpA acquired during correction surgery for hyperkyphosis. Using immunohistochemical analysis, we provided first evidence for a local activation of the IL-23-IL-17 axis in axial SpA (Appel et al.), which together with data from whole genome association studies, were the basis to explore the efficacy of ustekinumab (anti-p40-mAb) in a pilot trial in our clinic in axSpA patients (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01330901). Histomorphometric analysis of these joints provided first clues on the mechanism of new bone formation and joint ankylosis involving transformation of the bone marrow to a fibrotic pannus (Bleil et al, in revision).

The third goal is identify biomarkers which can improve diagnosis or allow prediction of the disease course. Using the German Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort (GESPIC), which was initiated 10 years ago in our clinic, we identified CRP, VEGF (Poddubnyy et al.) and visfatin (Syrbe et al. submitted) as potential biomarkers which might predict the clinical course, i.e. the progression of structural damage that is new bone formation within the spine. We have candidate biomarkers which might improve diagnosis of SpA in the large cohort of patients with chronic back pain and even allow disease detection at preclinical stages. In a basis science project (cooperation A. Hamann DRFZ) we explore the importance of selectin ligands on CD4+ T cells for immune responses and mechanisms of induction and fixation of the homing phenotype of CD4+ T cells, which may be beneficial in settings of infection but also contribute to chronification of pathological T cell-dependent (autoimmune) responses (Hoffmann et al, Doebis et al., Jennrich et al).
University Education
2013
Habilitation in Internal Medicine, Charité
1996
Doctoral Thesis, Immunology, Charité
1988 - 1994
Studies of Medicine, Charité, Humboldt University, Germany
Professional Experience
2011 - now
Rheumatologist and senior research fellow at the Charité, Department of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases and Rheumatology, Head of the Rheumatology - Group: J. Sieper - research Topic: Immunology and Osteoimmunology of rheumatic diseases
2004 - now
Guest scientist at the DRFZ, research Topic: Molecular and epigenetic control of homing receptor expression in CD4+ T cells
1998 - 2004
Postdoctoral research fellow and resident at the Charité, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, research Topic: Impact and regulation of P-selectin ligand expression in CD4+ T cells; Supervisor: A. Hamann
1996
Doctoral Thesis “Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with septic disease” Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité, Supervisor H.D. Volk
1996 - 1998
Postdoctoral research fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA, research Topic: Burn-induced immunodepression, Supervisor: J. Fishman
1993 - 1996
Assistant physician at the Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
1996
Research Award of the Charité for studies about regulation of IL-10 in sepsis associated immunodepression
1996
Scholarship of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (-1998)
Selected Publications
Hoffmann U, Pink M, Lauer U, Heimesaat MM, Winsauer C, Kruglov A, Schlawe K, Leichsenring C, Liesenfeld O, Hamann A, Syrbe U. Regulation and migratory role of P-selectin ligands during intestinal inflammation. PLoS One. 2013 Apr 22; 8(4):e62055.
Syrbe U, Scheer R, Wu P, Sieper J. Differential synovial Th1 cell reactivity towards Escherichia coli antigens in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2012 Sep; 71(9):1573-6.
Doebis C, Menning A, Neumann K, Ghani S, Schlawe K, Lauer U, Hamann A, Huehn J, Syrbe U. Accumulation and local proliferation of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in antigen-bearing tissue. Immunol Cell Biol. 2011 May; 89(4):566-72.
Appel H, Wu P, Scheer R, Kedor C, Sawitzki B, Thiel A, Radbruch A, Sieper J, Syrbe U. Synovial and Peripheral Blood CD4+FoxP3+ T Cells in Spondyloarthritis. J Rheumatology 2011 Nov; 38(11):2445-51
Jennrich S, Ratsch B A, Hamann A, Syrbe U. Long-Term Commitment to Inflammation-Seeking Homing in CD4+ Effector Cells. J Immunol. 2007 Jun 15; 178(12):8073-80.
Dr. rer. nat. Baris Tursun
Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC)
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 94061730
Email: baris.tursun@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Cell Fate Specification and Maintenance
- Direct Reprogramming
- Aging
Project Description
Cell fate safeguarding mechanisms
Identifying barriers for Direct Reprogramming of cellular identities
Tissue and cell fate homeostasis during Aging
Whole-genome forward and reverse genetics using C. elegans as a gene discovery tool
Characterization of epigenetic factors involved in cell fate protection and Aging
University Education
2002 - 2005
Ph.D. thesis, Centre for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, University Clinic Eppendorf, Hamburg
1996 - 2002
Diploma thesis in Biology, University of Hamburg
Professional Experience
2013 - 2015
Member of the MDC Board of Trustees (Kuratorium), Berlin
2012 - now
Research Group Leader at BIMSB / MDC, Berlin
2008 - 2012
Francis Goelet Research Scientist at Columbia University Medical Center, New York
2006 - 2008
Postdoc with Prof. Dr. Oliver Hobert at the Columbia University Medical Center, New York
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2015
ERC Starting Grant - Acronym: REPROWORM; Horizon 2020, European Commission
2013
Marie Curie CIG Grant; FP7, European Commission
2008
Francis Goelet Scientist Award for Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research; USA
Selected Publications
Cochella L*, Tursun B*, Hsieh YW, Johnston RJ, Chunag CF, Hobert O. Two distinct types of neuronal asymmetries are controlled by the Caenorhabditis elegans zinc finger transcription factor die-1. Genes & Development 2014; 34-48 *equal contribution
Patel T*, Tursun B*, Rahe, DP, Hobert O. Removal of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 makes C. elegans germ cells susceptible to direct conversion into specific somatic cell types. Cell Reports 2012; 1178-1186 *equal contribution
Tursun B#, Patel T, Kratsios P, Hobert O#. Direct conversion of C. elegans germ cells into specific neuron types. Science 2011; 304-308 #corresponding author
Tursun B#, Cochella L, Carrera I, Hobert O#. A toolkit and robust pipeline for the generation of fosmid-based reporter genes in C. elegans. PLoS ONE 2009; 4:e4625 #corresponding author
Tursun B, Schluter A, Peters MA, Viehweger B, Ostendorff HP, Soosairajah J, Drung A, Bossenz M, Johnsen SA, Schweizer M, Bernard O, Bach I. The ubiquitin ligase Rnf6 regulates local LIM kinase 1 levels in axonal growth cones. Genes & Development 2005; 2307-19
Dr. rer. medic. Sonia Waiczies
Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC)
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 94064542
Email: sonia.waiczies@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Fluorine MRI
- Immune cell migration
- Drug Distribution
Project Description
Scientific Scope: Investigating immune cell migration (immunology) and drug distribution (pharmacology) using Magnetic Resonance (MR) Methods

Special Techniques: Fluorine (19F) MR Methods in animal models of disease and humans
Translation Perspective: MRI is a gold standard imaging modality in clinical practice. MR methods that go beyond diagnostic (functional, anatomical) imaging and allow a quantification of therapy (drugs, cellular ATMPs) distribution should form a vital part of personalized medicine. Studying therapy distribution alongside disease progression and therapy outcome (theranostics) will be a valuable aspect for advancing current standard treatment regimens (precision medicine) as well as accompanying the development of new therapeutic strategies.
University Education
1999 - 2003
Phd in Neuroimmunology (Dr.rer.medic., Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin)
1997 - 1999
Pharmacology (M.Phil., Faculty of Medicine, University of Malta)
1990 - 1994
Pharmacy (B.Pharm.Hons.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Malta)
Professional Experience
2013 - now
Principal Investigator (Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine)
2010 - 2013
Project Group Leader (Experimental and Clinical Research Center , Charité – Universitätsmedizin and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine)
2006 - 2008
Principal Investigator (Rahel Hirsch Fellow), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
2003 - 2005
Postdoc in Neuroimmunology
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2015
Editorial Board Membership (Scientific Reports)
2006
Rahel Hirsch Fellow (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin),
Selected Publications
Waiczies, S., Lepore, S., Sydow, K., Drechsler, S., Ku, M. C., Martin, C., Lorenz, D., Schutz, I., Reimann, H. M., Purfurst, B., Dieringer, M. A., Waiczies, H., Dathe, M., Pohlmann, A. and Niendorf, T. Anchoring dipalmitoyl phosphoethanolamine to nanoparticles boosts cellular uptake and fluorine-19 magnetic resonance signal. Scientific reports. 2015, 5: 8427.
Waiczies, H., Lepore, S., Drechsler, S., Qadri, F., Purfurst, B., Sydow, K., Dathe, M., Kuhne, A., Lindel, T., Hoffmann, W., Pohlmann, A., Niendorf, T. and Waiczies, S. Visualizing brain inflammation with a shingled-leg radio-frequency head probe for 19F/1H MRI. Scientific reports. 2013, 3: 1280.
Lepore, S., Waiczies, H., Hentschel, J., Ji, Y., Skodowski, J., Pohlmann, A., Millward, J. M., Paul, F., Wuerfel, J., Niendorf, T. and Waiczies, S. Enlargement of cerebral ventricles as an early indicator of encephalomyelitis. PloS one. 2013, 8(8): e72841.
Leuenberger, T., Pfueller, C. F., Luessi, F., Bendix, I., Paterka, M., Prozorovski, T., Treue, D., Luenstedt, S., Herz, J., Siffrin, V., Infante-Duarte, C., Zipp, F. and Waiczies, S. Modulation of dendritic cell immunobiology via inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase. PloS one. 2014, 9(7): e100871.
Ji, Y., Waiczies, H., Winter, L., Neumanova, P., Hofmann, D., Rieger, J., Mekle, R., Waiczies, S. and Niendorf, T. Eight-channel transceiver RF coil array tailored for (1)H/(1)(9)F MR of the human knee and fluorinated drugs at 7.0 T. NMR in biomedicine. 2015, 28(6): 726-737.
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Gerald Willimsky
Institute of Immunology (Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
Address: Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin
Phone: + 49 30 4505 13607
Email: gerald.willimsky@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Cancer Immunology
- Gene Therapy
- Immunotherapy
Project Description
Research activities include the establishment of experimental cancer models in order to analyze cancer-host interactions, mechanisms involved in tumor rejection and to improve the efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy against various cancer. Novel therapeutic human T cell receptors to target cancer and virus antigens will be identified and TCR gene therapy will be employed in the clinic.
University Education
1990 - 1993
Biochemistry/Microbiology (PhD), Philipps-University Marburg
1985 - 1990
Chemistry (Diploma), Technical University Berlin
Professional Experience
2015 - now
Research Group Leader; Cooperation Unit for Experimental and Translational Cancer immunology; Institute of Immunology (Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
2000 - 2015
Research Group Leader; Institute of Immunology, Charité, CBF/CBB, Berlin
1996 - 2000
Staff Scientist; Max-Delbrück-Center of Molecular Medicine, Berlin
1994 - 1996
Postdoctoral Scientist; Max-Delbrück-Center of Molecular Medicine, Berlin
1993 - 1994
Postdoctoral Scientist; Institut für Genbiologische Forschung, Berlin
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
1993
Studienabschluss-Stipendium, Fonds der chemischen Industrie
Selected Publications
Willimsky G, Blankenstein T. 2005. Sporadic immunogenic tumours avoid destruction by inducing T-cell tolerance. Nature 437:141-46.
Willimsky G, Czéh M, Loddenkemper C, Gellermann J, Schmidt K, Wust P, Stein H, Blankenstein T. 2008. Immunogenicity of premalignant lesions is the primary cause of general cytotoxic T lymphocyte unresponsiveness. J Exp Med 205:1687-700.
Buchner* A, Pohla* H, Willimsky* G , Frankenberger B, Frank R, Baur-Melnyk A, Siebels M, Stief CG, Hofstet ter A, Kopp J, Pezzutto A, Blankenstein T, Oberneder R, Schendel DJ. 2009. Phase 1 trial of allogeneic gene-modified tumor cell vaccine RCC-26/CD80/IL-2 in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Hum Gene Ther 21:285-97 (*equal contrib.).
Schmidt K, Zilio S, Schmollinger JC, Bronte V, Blankenstein T, and Willimsky G. 2013. Differently immunogenic cancers in mice induce immature myeloid cells that suppress CTL in vitro but not in vivo following transfer. Blood 121:1740-1748.
Willimsky G , Schmidt K, Loddenkemper C, Gellermann J, and Blankenstein T. 2013. Virus-induced hepatocellular carcinomas cause antigen-specific local tolerance. J Clin Invest 123:1032-1043.
Prof. Dr. med. Martin Witzenrath
Med. Klinik m. S. Infektiologie und Pneumologie
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4506 53876
Email: martin.witzenrath@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Pneumonia
- Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI)
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
Project Description
Methods are focused on translational aims: mouse ICU; in vivo models of pneumonia, ARDS, VILI, PAH; isolated perfused and ventilated mouse lungs; primary human lung cell cultures; preclinical target / drug evaluation; medical systems biology
University Education
1994 - 2001
Human medicine at JLU Gießen and Mt. Sinai, New York
Professional Experience
2012
Call W2 “Pneumology”, Charité, unico loco (accepted)
2011
Call W3 “Experimental Pneumology”, Universität des Saarlandes, primo loco (declined)
2010
Habilitation (Experimental Medicine)
2003
Dr. med. (JLU Gießen, summa cum laude)
2001 - now
Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Critical Care
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2010
Wissenschaftspreis der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pneumologie
2008
The American Thoracic Society Assembly Award
2007
The American Thoracic Society Assembly Award
patent EPO12181535.1: IL-27 for modulation of immune response in acute lung disease (pending)
patent WO/2010/094491: Means for inhibiting the expression of Ang-2;
ca. 10 poster awards within the last 5 years to members of AG Witzenrath
Selected Publications
Tabeling C, Scheer H, Schönrock S M, Runge F, Gutbier B, Lienau J, Hamelmann E, Opitz B, Suttorp N, Mayer K, Behrens GM, Tschernig T, Witzenrath M. Nucleotide Oligomerization Domain 1 Ligation Suppressed Murine Allergen–Specific T-Cell Proliferation and Airway Hyperresponsiveness. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2013 Nov 26.
Doehn JM, Fischer K, Reppe K, Gutbier B, Tschernig T, Hocke AC, Fischetti VA, Löffler J, Suttorp N, Hippenstiel S, Witzenrath M. Delivery of the endolysin Cpl-1 by inhalation rescues mice with fatal pneumococcal pneumonia. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2013 Sep; 68(9):2111-7.
Wang L, Yin J, Nickles HT, Ranke H, Tabuchi A, Hoffmann J, Tabeling C, Barbosa-Sicard E, Chanson M, Kwak BR, Shin HS, Wu S, Isakson BE, Witzenrath M, de Wit C, Fleming I, Kuppe H, Kuebler WM. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction requires connexin 40–mediated endothelial signal conduction. J Clin Invest. 2012 Nov 1; 122(11):4218-30.
Witzenrath M, Pache F, Lorenz D, Koppe U, Gutbier B, Tabeling C, Reppe K, Meixenberger K, Dorhoi A, Ma J, Holmes A, Trendelenburg G, Heimesaat MM, Bereswill S, van der Linden M, Tschopp J, Mitchell TJ, Suttorp N, Opitz B. The NLRP3 inflammasome is differentially activated by pneumolysin variants and contributes to host defense in pneumococcal pneumonia. J Immunol. 2011 Jul 1; 187(1):434-40.
Haberberger RV, Tabeling C, Runciman S, Gutbier B, König P, Andratsch M, Schütte H, Suttorp N, Gibbins I, Witzenrath M. Role of sphingosine kinase 1 in allergen-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling and hyperresponsiveness. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Nov; 124(5):933-41.
Dr. rer. nat. Susanne A. Wolf
Cellular Neuroscience / Max-Delbrück-Center
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 3260
Email: susanne.wolf@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Neurogenesis
- Psychoneuroimmunology
- Gut-brain-Axis
Project Description
Animal models, behaviour, cell culture, brain slice culture, crosstalk immune system – central nervous system
University Education
1998 - 2002
PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) Institute of Anatomy, Charite Berlin/HU Berlin Neuroimmunology
1992 - 1998
Diploma Biology / Ethology Humboldt-University Berlin
Professional Experience
2011 - now
Senior Researcher, MDC, Cellular Neurosciences
2007 - 2011
Vice head Neuroimmunology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
2006 - 2007
Postdoc Stanford University, Biological Sciences/Neurosurgery. Stanford, CA, USA
2003 - 2006
Postdoc MDC, adult neurogenesis, Berlin, Germany
2001 - 2003
Postdoc NIH, NIAID, ghost lab, Bethesda, MD, USA
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2010
Poster prize Annual meeting of the German Society for Anatomy
2006
Winner of the route 28 challenge
Selected Publications
Wolf, S. A. et al. CD4-Positive T Lymphocytes Provide a Neuroimmunological Link in the Control of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis. Journal of immunology 182, 3979-3984, (2009).
Wolf, S. A. et al. Cognitive and Physical Activity Differently Modulate Disease Progression in the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)-23 Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Biol Psychiatry 60, 1314-1323, 004 (2006).
Wolf, S. A., Melnik, A. & Kempermann, G. Physical exercise increases adult neurogenesis and telomerase activity, and improves behavioral deficits in a mouse model of schizophrenia. Brain, behavior, and immunity 25, 971-980, (2011)
Mattei, D., A. Djodari-Irani, R. Hadar, A. Pelz, L. F. de Cossio, T. Goetz, M. Matyash, H. Kettenmann, C. Winter and S. A. Wolf. Minocycline rescues decrease in neurogenesis, increase in microglia cytokines and deficits in sensorimotor gating in an animal model of schizophrenia. Brain Behav Immun 38, 175-184, (2014)
Kristin Stock, Alexander Garthe, Felipe de Almeida Sassi, Rainer Glass, Susanne A. Wolf* and Helmut Kettenmann*: The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 as a novel modulator of neural precursor cell proliferation. Stem Cells 2014 Dec; 32(12):3183-95, (2014)
Dr. rer. nat. F. Gregory Wulczyn
Institute for Cell and Neurobiology
Address: Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 4505 28459
Email: gregory.wulczyn@charite.de
Fields of Research
- Post-transcriptional gene regulation
- miRNA biogenesis
- neural stem cells
Project Description
The miRNA-mediated regulatory pathways we are studying are at the cutting edge between basic research and new clinical applications: we helped show let-7 can act as TLR-7 ligand in neuroinflammation, for example, and are actively studying the relevance of neural miRNAs for brain cancer and for epilepsy. As part of SFB665 we have proposed a screen of miRNA pathway genes in human patients.
University Education
1987 - 1991
Free University and Inst. für Genbiologische Forschung, PhD
1975 - 1979
Tufts University, Bachelor of Science
Professional Experience
2002 - now
Group leader, Charité
1997 - 2001
Assistant Professor, Thomas Jefferson University
1991 - 1997
MPI and MDC post-doc
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2012
Fulbright Scholarship to Marlis Gnirke
2011
Collegio Ghislieri Research Prize to Eleonora Franzoni
2008
Thesis Award of the Berlin Scientific Society to Lena Smirnova
Selected Publications
Rybak A, Fuchs H, Hadian K, Smirnova L, Wulczyn EA, Michel G, Nitsch R, Krappmann K and Wulczyn FG (2009) The let-7 target gene mouse lin-41 is a stem cell specific E3 ubiquitin ligase for the miRNA pathway protein Ago2. Nature Cell Biology 11 1411-1420.
Rybak A, Fuchs H, Smirnova L, Brandt C, Pohl EE, Nitsch R, and Wulczyn FG (2008). A feedback loop comprising lin-28 and let-7 controls pre-let-7 maturation during neural stem-cell commitment. Nature Cell Biology 10, 987-993.
Wulczyn FG, Naumann M, and Scheidereit C (1992). Candidate proto-oncogene bcl-3 encodes a subunit-specific inhibitor of transcription factor NF-kappa B. Nature 358, 597-599.
Wulczyn F G and Kahmann R (1991). Translational stimulation: RNA sequence and structure requirements for binding of Com protein. Cell 65, 259-269.
Wulczyn FG, Bölker M, and Kahmann R (1989). Translation of the bacteriophage Mu mom gene is positively regulated by the phage com gene product. Cell 57, 1201-1210.
Ph.D. Robert Zinzen
BIMSB
Address: Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 9406 1840
Email: robert.zinzen@mdc-berlin.de
Fields of Research
- Systems Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Neurogenesis
Project Description
• Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics
• Isolation of tissue-specific materials from developing in-vivo systems
University Education
2006
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
2001
B.A., University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
2001
B.S., University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
Professional Experience
2013 - now
Research Group Leader at BIMSB / MDC, Berlin, Germany
2011 - 2013
Staff Scientist, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
2007 - 2011
Postdoctoral Fellow, Furlong Lab, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
Selected Awards, Honours, Scientific Achievements
2007
Long-Term Postdoctoral Fellowship, Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) (other postdoctoral fellowships awarded, but declined)
1998
Full scholarships for academic achievements to attend university (UGA)
Selected Publications
Zinzen, R., Bonn, S., Girardot, C., Gustafson, E. H., Perez-Gonzalez, A., Delhomme, N., Ghavi-Helm, Y., Wilczyński, B., Riddell, A., Furlong, E. E. (2012). Tissue-specific analysis of chromatin state identifies temporal signatures of enhancer activity during embryonic development. Nature Genetics, 44(2):148-56.
Zinzen, R., Girardot, C., Gagneur, J., Braun M, and Furlong, E.E. (2009). Combinatorial binding predicts spatio-temporal cis-regulatory activity. Nature, 462(7269): 65-70.
Zeitlinger, J., Zinzen, R., Stark, A., Kellis, M., Zhang, H., Young, R. and Levine, M. (2007). Whole-genome ChIP–chip analysis of Dorsal, Twist, and Snail suggests integration of diverse patterning processes in the Drosophila embryo. Genes & Development, 21(4), 385-390.
Zinzen, R., Cande, J., Ronshaugen, M. and Levine, M. (2006). Evolution of the Ventral Midline in Insect Embryos. Developmental Cell, 11(6), 895-902.
Zinzen, R., Senger, K., Levine, M. and Papatsenko, D. (2006). Computational Models for Neurogenic Gene Expression in the Drosophila Embryo. Current Biology, 16(13), 1358-65.

Weitere Informationen

Satzung BIH Young Science

Prof. Dr. Max Löhning

Med. Klinik m.S. Rheumatologie u. Klinische Immunologie, Charité, CCM

PD Dr. Uta E. Höpken

Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin

Prof. Dr. Britta Siegmund

Medizinische Klinik m.S. Gastroenterologie/ Infektiologie/ Rheumatologie, Charité, CBF