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EXC 294:  Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (bioss) - From Analysis to Synthesis

Subject Area Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
Term from 2007 to 2018
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 39236281
 
Final Report Year 2019

Final Report Abstract

We are living in the age of information, and information or signal processing are also of fundamental importance for the development and maintenance of cellular live on this planet. The Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS) in Freiburg was founded to reach a more comprehensive understanding of the composition and function of biological signalling systems by addressing the seven basic questions of signalling science: “Who is involved and interacts with whom and what is the result of signalling? How does this signalling work and where does it take place? When does the specific signalling event occur and how much signals are necessary for a defined response?” The BIOSS scientists addressing these questions by applying a new research strategy “from analysis to synthesis” combining biological signalling studies with synthetic biology. For this, BIOSS set up a highly interdisciplinary research program bridging 5 faculties of the University of Freiburg and 2 non-university institutions. BIOSS funded 130 research projects over the last 11 years. In its second funding period BIOSS also established two new focus areas on nanoscale membrane signalling and oncogenic signalling. The productivity of the BIOSS signalling research community is indicated by the ca. 200 BIOSS publications each year. With the Signalhaus Freiburg, BIOSS has established a new research building at the University of Freiburg that is by now fully equipped and harbours most of the BIOSS infrastructure such as the BIOSS office, the BIOSS toolbox and the BIOSS signalling factory. Furthermore, the laboratories of the iGEM student teams and the teaching rooms for the “biology meets engineering” program are part of this building. BIOSS has successfully implemented most of its planned measures. BIOSS supported the work of 4 independent postdocs, 8 Junior groups and established 9 new professorships at the University of Freiburg. Importantly, as promised in the initial application BIOSS reached gender equality in these recruitments. Project funding and new personnel have established BIOSS as a highly visible research centre combining signalling science with synthetic approaches. Four of the new professors are working in the field of synthetic and chemical biology at the Faculty of Biology and two at the Faculty of chemistry and two more at the Faculty of Medicine. With the help of BIOSS, the University of Freiburg is now one of the nationally and internationally recognized centres for biological signalling research.

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