Principal Investigators

- Elucidation of the function of anti- and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members / Characterization of components of RNA-virus (SFV)- and DNA-virus (HSV-1)-induced apoptosis signaling / Elucidation of the apoptotic and pro-inflammatory signaling pathways of the Aspergillus fumigatus toxin gliotoxin to prevent human Aspergillosis.

- Our main scientific interest is to understand the mechanisms by which cells convert the information of extracellular signals, e.g. hormones, growth factors or antigens, into intracellular signals and how these events steer physiological and pathological processes such as cancer.

- Understanding molecular mechanisms of lung cancer and metastasis / Focus on RNA Biology and long non-coding RNAs / Approaches of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Bioinformatics

- Inflammatory skin diseases, dermato-immunology, interaction of lymphocytes and resident skin cells, molecular classification.

- Malignant and normal cell homing, microenvironment, cytoskeleton, integrins, leukemia.

- GPCR signaling in the cardiovascular system / Cell-type specific signaling mechanisms in the heart / Epigenetic mechanisms of physiological and pathological gene expression / Cardiovascular pharmacology

- Research in our lab aims at a better understanding of cellular and molecular drivers of sarcoma initiation and maintenance through: i. characterization of the sarcoma-initiating capacities of mesodermal precursor cell populations; ii. investigation of the genetic basis of sarcoma susceptibility / Development of sarcoma test platforms in vitro and in mice

- Regulation of plant biochemical pathways to investigate central metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, signalling and stress response / Metabolomics to unravel molecular mechanisms involved in Parkinson's disease and neurodegeneration / Biomarker identification in cancer / Analysis of the mitochondrial metabolome/ Metabolomics of prostate cancer.

- Physiological and pathological functions of proteins involved in monogenic and complex genetic diseases, polycystic kidney disease, gout, TRP channels, calcium signaling, biology of cilia.

- Pathophysiology of heart failure / mouse models with experimentally induced heart failure (e.g. myocardial infarction or viral myocarditis) / interplay of cardiac inflammation and fibrotic remodelling / in vitro cell culture experiments to elucidate the molecular mechanisms.

- Molecular markers in Myeloproliferative Disorders / The role of transcription factor NF-E2 -Molecular etiology of NF-E2 and PRV-1 Overexpression in MPD / Molecular heterogeneity in Essential Thrombycythemia / Mouse models of myeloproliferative disorders

- Pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and the resulting adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (EAC)

- Structural and functional properties of atrial and ventricular T-tubules / Nano-to-micro scale investigation of the impact of mechanical activity on cardiac T-tubular system and other subcellular domains / Interactions between myocytes and non-myocytes in the heart (structural and functional) / Structural remodelling during heart disease and reverse remodelling

- We apply innovative proteomic and degradomic techniques to understand how proteolysis contributes to physiological and pathological processes. With over 560 proteases in man, this enzyme family ranks among the most abundant protein classes, illustrating its ubiquitous importance in human biology. We understand proteolysis as a post-translational modification that regulates protein location, function, and abundance.

- Design and implementation of new optogenetic tools for modulating the activity of excitable cells and tissues / Development of optogenetic approaches for functionally dissecting electrical interactions between cardiac cell populations / Electrophysiological characterization of cardiac non-myocytes / 3D reconstruction of cellular networks in healthy and diseased hearts.

- Pathogenesis of renal cystic disease