Heisenberg program

RNA molecules travel long distances through nerve cells. To reach their destination, they need one thing more than any other – a long life – as a research team led by Marina Chekulaeva from MDC-BIMSB reports in the journal “Molecular Cell.”

Researchers suspect that neurodegenerative diseases occur when messenger RNA (mRNA) goes astray in the neuron. With a new method, Marina Chekulaeva is able to identify “zipcodes” that assign a destination to mRNAs. She has now presented her method in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Errors in cellular RNA metabolism are dangerous for nerve cells. For her work in this area, Marina Chekulaeva has now been accepted into the DFG Heisenberg program.

Mikhail Kudryashev's scientific career has been defined by his intensive work on the structure of proteins, those tiny building blocks of life. He has now been appointed to a Heisenberg Professorship at the Charité as of August 1, 2022.

Once again three MDC scientists – Nikolaus Rajewsky, Sofia Forslund and Alexander Mildner – have been named to the global list of Highly Cited Researchers.

Alzheimer’s is linked to metabolic dysfunction. Thomas Willnow is looking for disruptions in the balance of fats in the brain that accelerate the breakdown of neurons – and has discovered important risk factors that offer new therapeutic approaches for treating Alzheimer’s at an early stage.

Previous approaches to treat multiple sclerosis have focused on T and B cells. A group at the MDC now presents a new strategy in "Nature Immunology". According to this strategy, it may be more effective to fight another form of immune cells - certain monocytes.

Dr. Sandra Blois and her new group at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) are investigating how sugar chains in the cell influence placental development and complications during and after pregnancy. The immunologist started her work at the MDC at the beginning of 2019.