Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe, November 25, 2024 – Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS) is awarding three grants from the funding line Else Kröner Schools for Medical Scientists in 2024, each of which is funded with 1.1 million euros over a term of four years. The foundation is awarding them for the third time.
Chronic inflammatory processes triggered by metabolic changes, known as “metaflammation", are key factors in the development and progression of various chronic diseases as well as cancer development. Unhealthy lifestyles, environmental factors, chronic infections, and genetic predisposition drive these metabolic changes and lead to disruption of the balance in many organs. However, the precise interactions between chronic inflammation and metabolic changes remain largely unknown.
The increase in immune-mediated and autoimmune diseases poses a significant challenge for healthcare systems. However, understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains limited. The iPRIME College adopts a research approach that integrates three levels: organ-specific immunity, systemic immune response, and inter-organ communication. In this context, the College aims to analyze immune processes to identify new therapeutic targets.
Hieran forschen Sybelle Goedicke-Fritz und ihr Team in der Arbeitsgruppe von Professor Michael Zemlin an der Universitätskinderklinik. Ziel ist, Infektionen anhand von Geruchs-Mustern aufzuspüren, die individuell sind wie Fingerabdrücke. Die Forscherinnen und Forscher trainieren Gassensorik-Messgeräte darauf, diese Muster in der Umgebungsluft ausfindig zu machen.
Migraine is a widespread and disabling headache disorder that affects women three times more often than men. Hormonal changes might trigger migraine attacks but the exact processes are not well understood.
Caveolae are small membrane invaginations in the cell membrane of fat and muscle cells that support the uptake of lipids into the cells. The project aims to investigate how caveolae change during the intake of high-energy diets and whether caveolae can contribute to the development of obesity. To this end, mice will be fed a highly enriched carbohydrate diet or a high-fat diet for up to 16 weeks, and the caveolae will be analysed by electron microscopy and at the gene and protein level in terms of number, structure and behaviour.
Medical doctor Andrea Ablasser has been awarded the acclaimed Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize. She contributed in a decisive manner toward co-discovery of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, a kind of alarm within the innate immune system. This signaling pathway responds to DNA in the cytoplasm, which occurs in the case of infections, cancer or cellular stress and triggers defensive mechanisms. The discovery is deemed to be a fundamental advance in the field of immunology and opens up new possibilities for treating infections, cancer and inflammatory disorders.
