GRK 886:  Molecular imaging methods for the analysis of gene + protein expression

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: from 2004 to 2006
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273611

The functional expression analysis comprises the cell-free and cell-based analysis of gene alterations, gene activities and gene expression patterns as well as of protein activities in the context of intracellular signal transduction. In the future, the evidence of illness-relevantly molecules will not only lead to a better understanding of disease processes, but also allow diagnoses at an earlier time in the disease process. The realisation of this concept requires the comprehensive use of fluorescence-spectroscopical and -microscopical high resolution proceedings on the three relevant levels of gene expression (DNA, RNA, Protein). The functional expression analysis has the task to affiliate the kinetics of transcription and translation proceedings and to identify and characterise the cellular proceedings in the homeostasis respectively at illness. Knowledge of the activity respectively the expression of regular and mutant genes and proteins is essential for understanding the pathogenesis of diseases with the aim of developing diagnostic marker-systems and designing rational forms of therapy.The Research Training Group tries to show the complexity of gene expression through several methodical and thematic "state of the art" approaches. On the three relevant levels of gene expression (DNA, RNA, protein) different structural and functional aspects shall be investigated, which are most suitable to illustrate the biological importance of molecular interrelation and to lead to innovating diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The Research Training Group is based on the collaboration of the University of Heidelberg with the Fachhochschule Mannheim, Hochschule für Technik und Gestaltung, with following scientific institutions: University Hospital of Mannheim, Kirchhoff-Institut für Physik der Universität Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory Heidelberg (EMBL). The members of the group cooperate already for years successfully scientifically.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Co-Applicant Institution: Hochschule Mannheim
• Participating Institution: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ); European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Norbert Gretz
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Philippe Bastiaens; Professor Dr. Christoph Cremer; Professor Dr. Roland Eils; Professor Dr. Hermann-Josef Gröne; Professor Dr. Mathias Hafner; Dr. Jörg Hoheisel; Professorin Dr. Petra Kioschis-Schneider; Professor Dr. Peter Lichter; Professor Dr. Matthias Mack; Professor Dr. Karsten Rippe; Professor Dr. Lothar Schilling