GRK 2098:  Biomedicine of the acid sphingomyelinase/acid ceramidase system

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259317790

The past 25 years have completely changed our view of sphingolipids, which were previously considered to be primarily structural elements of cellular membranes. We now know that sphingolipids are central to many fundamental cellular processes. Very recent efforts translated these insights into clinical applications directed at treating, for example, multiple sclerosis, cancer, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, major depression, neuro-degenerative diseases, or macular degeneration. The RTG aims to provide training for PhD, MD/PhD, MD, and high school students in the emerging field of the biomedicine of sphingolipids. The proposed dissertation projects focus strictly on the acid sphingomyelinase (Asm)/ceramide/acid ceramidase (Ac)/sphingosine/sphingosine kinase (SPK)/sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) pathway and will investigate the significance of this pathway in inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and Graves' Orbitopathy; in infectious diseases, for example in systemic and pulmonary mycobacterial and P. aeruginosa infection; in cystic fibrosis; in cancer, in particular in the role of this pathway in both resistance to radiation and successful treatment of malignancy; and in cardiovascular disease, including arteriosclerosis, ischemic infarct, and aneurysm formation. All projects translate basic science through pre-clinical projects into clinical applications. To achieve our goals, we have developed 11 truly synergistic projects that will be conducted by partners working together in Essen and New York. Thus, students will be able to work on their own projects in both groups. A plethora of teaching elements, ranging from regular seminars and presentations, to retreats, summer schools, and conferences, will provide doctoral students with excellent training opportunities in both partner countries.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Erich Gulbins
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Katrin Anne Becker-Flegler; Privatdozentin Dr. Utta Berchner-Pfannschmidt; Professor Dr. Jan Buer; Professorin Dr. Anja K. Eckstein; Professor Dr. Joachim Fandrey; Dr. Heike Grassmé; Professorin Dr. Wiebke Hansen; Professor Dr. Dirk M. Hermann; Dr. Petra Keul; Professor Dr. Burkhard Kleuser; Professor Dr. Karl Sebastian Lang; Professor Dr. Bodo Levkau; Professorin Dr. Astrid M. Westendorf