GRK 288:  Structures and Mediators of the Interaction of Cells

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: from 1997 to 2005
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271645

It is the aim of the research training group to encourage bonds of cooperation in molecular biology and medical research and to promote interdisciplinary collaboration thus to improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory, allergic and repair processes. The college focuses on three major projects: A) the biophysical and immunological characterization of bacterial lipopolysaccharides, B) the elucidation of signal transduction pathways involved in the action of chemokines, proinflammatory cytokines and antigens and their interaction with T-helper and T-killer cells, and C) clinical studies of mechanisms of allergic reactions and maternal-fetal immune tolerance. Students of natural sciences will acquire theoretical knowledge and experimental experience in molecular and cellular reactions underlying diseases. This will qualify the participants for positions in biomedical research. In turn, physicians participating in the program will be enabled to improve their knowledge of molecular pathogenetic mechanisms of diseases and may succeed in developing novel therapeutic concepts for treatment of chronic inflammatory and degenerative disorders.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Lübeck
• Participating Institution: Forschungszentrum Borstel; Leibniz Lungenzentrum
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Jelkmann
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Andreas Böhle; Professor Dr. Stefan Ehlers; Professor Dr. Hans-Dieter Flad; Privatdozent Dr. Helmut Haas; Professorin Dr. Dörthe M. Katschinski; Professor Dr. Matthias Klinger; Privatdozentin Dr. Andrea Kruse; Professor Dr. Tamás Laskay; Privatdozent Dr. Buko Lindner; Professor Dr. Holger Notbohm; Professor Dr. Arnd Petersen; Professor Dr. Frank Petersen; Professor Dr. Werner Solbach; Professor Dr. Stefan Uhlig; Professor Dr. Artur Jochen Ulmer