Project Details
Projekt
GRK 1331: Cell-based Characterisation of Disease Mechanisms in Tissue Destruction and Repair
Subject Area
Medicine
Term
from 2006 to 2015
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 16011279
The first International Research Training Group in the field of biomedical basic research unites high calibre research institutions on both sides of the German-Swiss border, including two large (ETH and University of Zurich) and a small University (Konstanz), as well as a small (Cytos, Zurich) and a large pharmaceutical enterprise (ALTANA Pharma, now Nycomed, Konstanz) connected to EU research via the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) in Ispra/Italy. Such a consortium possesses a critical mass, which is suitable to attract the best graduate students and scientists. Eighteen German and twelve Swiss graduate students are intended. The groups are led by Prof. Dr. Albrecht Wendel (University of Konstanz), Prof. Dr. Klaus P. Schaefer (ALTANA Pharma) and Prof. Dr. Sabine Werner (ETH Zurich).
The scientific goal of the International Research Training Group is to analyse fundamental disease mechanisms and re-translate them into simplified cellular models which can be used to characterise and examine these mechanisms and all molecular factors involved. Based on the results models will be developed to understand how natural or synthetic materials affect the function and integrity of cells and tissues.
The general design of the experimental programme covers the following modules:
(1) triggering event; interaction between tissue and cell; consequence: dysfunction; cellular responses: destruction or repair;
(2) from molecular events to mechanisms; consequence: intervention, i.e. targeted intervention for pharmacology and toxicology.
Along these two lines the International Research Training Group draws from a knowledge base, which will allow to infer the pharmacologically and toxicologically relevant patterns underlying the observed events in the cellular systems.
The aim of the International Research Training Group is to provide the students with a critical capacity to analyse and understand the molecular interactions and cellular responses. From this experimentally controllable hypotheses can be developed, how therapeutic or toxic agents affect the cellular integrity.
A further module addresses a central topic in the research policy of the European Union:
(3) from knowledge to application: use the power and the limitations of the experimental models and their regulatory implications (in terms of safety issues).
With this point the programme fills a gap, by training exactly those researchers, who decide later on use, permission and application of the advanced cellular methodology. At the end of the doctoral work the students are supposed to be able to critically assess the quality of research programmes, the suitability and relevance of cellular models implied and to acquire and apply adequate methodologies and use them in their own research. Modern research increasingly is only possible as a team endeavour. The programme of the International Research Training Group strives to teach the participants the mandatory ability to work in such an environment.
The scientific goal of the International Research Training Group is to analyse fundamental disease mechanisms and re-translate them into simplified cellular models which can be used to characterise and examine these mechanisms and all molecular factors involved. Based on the results models will be developed to understand how natural or synthetic materials affect the function and integrity of cells and tissues.
The general design of the experimental programme covers the following modules:
(1) triggering event; interaction between tissue and cell; consequence: dysfunction; cellular responses: destruction or repair;
(2) from molecular events to mechanisms; consequence: intervention, i.e. targeted intervention for pharmacology and toxicology.
Along these two lines the International Research Training Group draws from a knowledge base, which will allow to infer the pharmacologically and toxicologically relevant patterns underlying the observed events in the cellular systems.
The aim of the International Research Training Group is to provide the students with a critical capacity to analyse and understand the molecular interactions and cellular responses. From this experimentally controllable hypotheses can be developed, how therapeutic or toxic agents affect the cellular integrity.
A further module addresses a central topic in the research policy of the European Union:
(3) from knowledge to application: use the power and the limitations of the experimental models and their regulatory implications (in terms of safety issues).
With this point the programme fills a gap, by training exactly those researchers, who decide later on use, permission and application of the advanced cellular methodology. At the end of the doctoral work the students are supposed to be able to critically assess the quality of research programmes, the suitability and relevance of cellular models implied and to acquire and apply adequate methodologies and use them in their own research. Modern research increasingly is only possible as a team endeavour. The programme of the International Research Training Group strives to teach the participants the mandatory ability to work in such an environment.
DFG Programme
Research Training Groups
Applicant Institution
Universität Konstanz
Business and Industry
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG; Nycomed Germany Holding GmbH (aufgelöst)
Spokesperson
Professor Dr. Marcel Leist
Participating Researchers
Professor Dr. Gerrit Begemann; Professor Dr. Alexander Bürkle; Professor Dr. Daniel Reto Dietrich; Professor Dr. Marcus Groettrup (†); Professor Dr. Jörg Steffen Hartig; Professor Dr. Christof Robert Hauck; Dr. Suzanne Kadereit; Professorin Dr. Elisa May; Professor Dr. Martin Scheffner; Dr. Tanja Waldmann
