Research

Research Priorities: Molecular biology, human genetics, DNA replication, molecular virology

Ellen Fanning was a professor of biological sciences. She was notable for her many important contributions to molecular virology and chromosome replication in mammals. Fanning did much of this work at the Institute of Biochemistry at the LMU München in Munich, Germany, before she transferred to Vanderbilt University in the United States. Alongside her research on the regulation of DNA replication, which delivered discoveries regarding the causes of illnesses, she received special recognition for her long-term commitment to her students.

Ellen Fanning became renowned primarily for her research on T antigens, regulatory proteins encoded by SV40 and tumour antigens of the polyomavirus simian virus 40. By means of genome mapping and structure-function analyses of SV40 DNA replication proteins, her laboratory was able to learn more about the damage to host DNA during a virus infection. Fanning’s research focused on chromosome replication in mammal cells. The control of DNA replication is one of the key processes in cell cycle regulation. A dysregulation is a significant causal factor for a variety of human diseases, including cancer. The goal of her research was to understand the mechanisms controlling DNA replication in mammals down to the molecular level.

Alongside her research achievements, she excelled in her commitment to students as part of the Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Program and was able to pass on practical research experience. Many of her former graduate students went on to pursue careers in science and medicine.

Career

• 1999-2002 Chair, Department of Molecular Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
• since 1995 Team Leader and Stevenson Professor of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
• 1981 Team Leader, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, Munich, Germany
• 1977-1981 Lecturer and Habilitation in Biological Sciences, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
• 1977 PhD in Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
• 1971-1977 Scientist, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
• 1971-1974 Degree in Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
• 1968-1971 Scientist, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA
• 1968 Degree in Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA

Functions

• since 2010 Member, American Academy of Microbiology, USA
• since 2008 Member, Shaw Scientist Advisory Board, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Milwaukee, USA
• since 2007 Member, American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS), USA
• since 2006 Member, Editorial Board, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, USA
• since 1995 Member, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Heidelberg, Germany

Projects

• since 2002 Founder and Head, Undergraduate Research Program “Community of Scholars”, Vanderbilt University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute-Initiative, Chevy Chase, USA

Honours and Memberships

• 2010 Member, American Academy of Microbiology, USA
• 2008 Humboldt Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation, Bonn, Germany
• 2007 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• 2006 Chancellor’s Award for Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
• 2005 Chancellor’s Cup, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA