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Profile Area Molecular & Translational Medicine

Mission Statement

The Molecular & Translational Medicine Profile Area stands for excellent research in the fields of cardiology, oncology, neuroscience and drug research. The goal of the Profile Area's council is to advise and support Goethe University with respect to the Profile Area's strategic design to further strengthen it in the coming years, especially with regard to the excellence strategy. The main focus lies on connecting scientists in the Profile Area, initiating research alliances, advising on the content-related orientation and strategically relevant recruitment of excellent researchers, as well as promoting young researchers.

Profile Area Spokespersons

The Profile Area 'Molecular and Translational Medicine' brings together basic researchers with physicians and computer scientists to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. We focus on the topics of cardiac cycle, tumor, and neuroscience, which are backed by a strong drug research network. We intend to further strengthen the Profile Area through the development of new cross-sectional topics and the targeted support and integration of excellent junior scientists..

Stefanie Dimmeler (Cardiovascular Regeneration),
Spokesperson of the Molecular & Translational Medicine Profile Area

Thomas Oellerich (Hematology/Medical Oncology),
Spokesperson of the Molecular & Translational Medicine Profile Area

Key Research Areas

The "Molecular & Translational Medicine" Profile Area is characterized by a close interrelationship between basic research and clinical application from the perspective of translational research and reverse translation. The Profile Area enjoys the support of outstanding individual researchers (e.g. two Leibniz Prize winners, seven ERC grantees, two scientists funded by the Emmy Noether Program) and several research networks (e.g. three collaborative research centers, one transregional collaborative research center). In terms of content, the Profile Area currently focuses on the following main research fields:


Cardiovascular Research

Current translational programs focus on the study of RNA-based, metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms. Clinical programs are aimed at assessing the role of myo-vascular and inflammatory interactions in cardiovascular diseases via the development of imaging tools and molecular phenotyping of individual patients, and to define the relevant personalized treatment strategies.

Cancer research

The goal is to develop a tailored individual therapy combination. The molecular mechanisms of pathophysiology and therapy response in cancer are elucidated using molecular profiling, mechanistic research and clinical evaluation. A particular focus lies on the analysis of specific processes and cell types in the tumor microenvironment.

Neuroscience

This area focuses on research into the pathophysiology of neurological, neuro-oncological and psychiatric diseases. The focus is on the molecular investigation of neuronal function (synaptopathies), the characterization of neural networks as the basis of mental diseases, and the translation of basic scientific findings into new treatment methods. Both cell-intrinsic processes as well as changes in the microenvironment of neurons are relevant in this context.

Drug research

A major goal is the development of predictive pharmacological models and innovative therapeutic approaches. The focus is on topics such as protein-degrading drug classes, repositioning of known drugs, validation of disease-relevant targets, preclinical development of new substances and biologics, biomarkers and biosensors, enhancement of IIT studies and the development of efficient biobanking structures.
The Profile Area is to be further developed through horizontal research fields, including the ones on "Inflammation & Infection" and "Cellular quality control pathways", as well as a methodological and content-related advancement in "Data Science in Medicine", which is essential for translational research.


Cluster of Excellence

Associations

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BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Reseach)