Research

My group works on differentiation and activation mechanisms of B lymphocytes of the mammalian immune system. Our work resulted in a better description of the B cell antigen receptor and we discovered several critical signal elements in B lymphocytes. Since 1998 we are applying synthetic biology approaches for a better study of signaling processes in lymphocytes. With this approach we made several key discoveries that resulted in a new hypothesis for B cell activation, namely the dissociation-activation model (DAM). In our signaling studies we are currently combining biochemical, genetic, molecular biology and synthetic biology techniques. We also have developed a modification of the proximity ligation assay (PLA) which allows us to study the molecular interactions around receptors of lymphocytes at the 10-20 nanometer range. With this technique we discover a new world of nanoscale molecular interaction in and at the membrane and open a venue to the field of Nanobiology.

Career

• since 2007 Scientific director of BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, funded by the excellence programme of the German government
• since 1996 Professor of Molecular Immunology, University of Freiburg, Germany
• 1996-1998 Associate Professor (C3), MPI for Immunobiology, Freiburg, Germany
• 1988 Habilitation, University of Cologne, Germany
• 1985-1988 Group Leader, Institute of Genetics, University of Cologne, Germany
• 1982-1985 Visiting Research Fellow, Columbia University, New York, USA
• 1981 Ph.D. University of Cologne, Germany
• 1971-1977 Diploma, University of Cologne, Germany

Projects

(Selection)

• 2014-2017 TRR130 The resting state of B lymphocytes
• 2007-2014 CRC746, Modifications and adaptor function of the B cell signalling proteins Syk and SHP-1 (P7)
• 2007-2012 BMBF, Freiburg Initiative for Systems Biology (FRISYS)
• 2007-2017 BIOSS EXC294, Center for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS): from analysis to synthesis
• 2002-2013 CRC620, Production and analysis of B-cell mutant mice with the Cre/loxP method (B5)

Functions

(Selection)

• 2008 Honorary Member of the American Association of Immunologists
• since 2005 Member of the Advisory Board of the of the IDI Institute, Harvard University, USA
• since 2003 Editorial Board, Annual Review of Immunology
• 1992-2007 Editorial Board, European Journal of Immunology
• since 1990 Transmitting Editor, International Immunology

Honours and Memberships

(Selection)

• since 2018 Member of the National Academy of Sciences, USA
• 2015 Research Professorship for Experimental Infection Medicine, Jürgen Manchot Foundation
• 2014 Paul Ehrlich Prize
• 2012-2017 ERC Advanced Grant
• 2009 Schering-Plough Prize
• since 2006 Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• 1995 Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz Prize of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
• 1995 Elected as EMBO-member
• 1988 Heinz Maier Leibnitz Prize for Immunogenetics
• 1982 German Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship