Research

Elena Conti’s research interests lay in the molecular mechanisms that govern the transport of RNAs from their site of synthesis to their site of function, and its connection to RNA surveillance and degradation. Conti’s group studies the molecular mechanisms of these basic cellular processes at the atomic level using X-ray crystallography in combination with biochemical/biophysical methods. Her group has determined the atomic structures of key macromolecular complexes including the RNA export factor complexes, the exon junction complex and the exosome complex, which she continues to study.

Photo: © Axel Griesch

Career

• since 2007 Honorary professor, Chemistry and Pharmacology, LMU München
• since 2006 Director and Scientific Member, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Department Structural Cell Biology, Martinsried
• 1999-2007 Group leader, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Structural and Computational Biology Unit
• 1999-2005 Collective appointment with Gene Expression Unit, EMBL
• 1997-1999 Postdoc with Prof. Dr. John Kuriyan, The Rockefeller University, New York, USA
• 1996 PhD, Prof. Dr. Peter Brick, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK, „Crystal structure of firefly luciferase”
• 1992-1996 Doctoral Studies in Biophysics, Imperial College, London/UK
• 1986-1991 Studies in Chemistry, University of Pavia, Italy

Functions

• 2009-2011 Member of the Board of Directors of the RNA Society
• Co-chair of The EMBO Meeting 2012
• Member of the RNA Society
• Member, Editorial Board RNA Journal
• Member of the RNPnet initiative

Projects

• since 2022 ERC Advanced Grant „Understanding the molecular principles governing mRNP architecture (GOVERNA)“
• since 2012 SFB 1035, „Kontrolle von Proteinfunktion durch konformationelles Schalten“
• 2012-2017 ERC Advanced Grant: "DEAD2THEEND"
• 2010-2012 CIPSM DFG, Cluster of excellence: „Center for protein science“
• since 2005 SFB 646 „ Regulatorische Netzwerke in Expression und Erhalt des Genoms ”Member of the Exzellenzcluster „Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM)“
• QBM Quantitative Biosciences Munich
• DFG Graduiertenkolleg 1721 “Integrated Analysis of Macromolecular Complexes and Hybrid Methods in Genome Biology”

Honours and Memberships

• 2021 Gregori-Aminoff-Prize, Königlich Schwedische Akademie der Wissenschaften
• since 2021 Foreign Member Royal Society
• 2019 Schleiden-Medal of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• 2017 Lumen Claro Prize
• 2017 Merrifield Distinguished Lecture of the Rockefeller University
• 2016 Weigle Lecture of the University of Geneva
• 2016 Chiron Lecture of the Berkeley University
• 2016 Theodor Bücher Medal of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS)
• since 2014 Member of the Academia Europaea
• 2014 Louis Jeantet-Price for Medicine
• 2011 Sir Hans Krebs Medal of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS)
• 2010 Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Knight
• since 2009 Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
• since 2009 Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• 2008 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Price, together with Elisa Izaurralde
• 2007 Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) Anniversary Award
• 2006 Dorothy Hodgkin Memorial Lecture
• 2005 European Life Scientist Organization (ELSO) Early Career Award
• 1998-1999 Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Postdoctoral fellowship
• 1997-1998 European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Postdoctoral fellowship