This cluster is medically oriented, studying pathomechanisms ofdiseases on the molecular level. A keyaim of this cluster is to gain understanding of the elementary processes that underlie disease. The detailed knowledge of such mechanisms then allows the development and characterization of effective drugs and therapies.
Research groups in this cluster study a wide variety of diseases ,including metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, hepatitis C, systemic inflammation, cancer, and neurological disorders.
Approaches include genetics, epigenetics, proteomics and metabolomics as well as bacterial and microbiological studies. In vitro studies are complemented by in vivo tests on animal models. This broad array of analytical techniques also isused to develp and test novel drugs and drug candidates.
The research activities in this cluster complement the activities of clusters I and II, which focus on synthesis and isolation of pharmaceuticals. Here, the biological aspects of pharmacy andtherapy areprovided.
Participating Research Groups:
B.1 Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology, Metabolomics
B.2 Photobiology and Photochemistry
B.3 Stem Cells
C.1 Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neuroprotection
GUC Alzheimer’s Disease Unit (GADU)
C.2 Molecular Pathology and Genetics
D.1 Clinical Biochemistry
D.2 Neurobiochemistry/Ion Channel Pharmacology
F.1 Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology