The strategic research field comprises four research profile areas that investigate the foundations of life and health in humans, nature and the environment. Scholars from the life sciences, natural sciences, economics, the humanities, social sciences and computer science work together to advance basic and applied research and its transfer into society.

Modern Diseases

enlarge the image: Grafik zum Forschungsprofilbereich „Zivilisationserkrankungen“
Image: Daniel Janetzki, Visionauten

The Impact of Civilisation on Humanity

Modern civilisation can contribute to or even cause functional and organic human diseases. We do not yet fully understand the exact mechanisms behind “modern” diseases associated with civilisation. Investigating them is the central goal of this research profile area.

The participating institutions are from the natural and life sciences as well as the humanities and social sciences. Their joint work has interwoven them into large research alliances.

The research focus is on interactions between inflammation, metabolism and regeneration processes, and their significance for modern, lifestyle-related diseases. While Leipzig University’s particular focus is on investigating the modern epidemic of obesity, the Modern Diseases research profile area also unites a number of cancer research projects.

The researchers develop innovative therapies, individually adapted preventive measures and campaign-based health recommendations. The basis for this is excellent collaborative research in the fields of biomedicine, psychology and sociocultural systems. 

enlarge the image: Adipositas-Simulation bei der Langen Nacht der Wissenschaften 2018.
Simulating obesity at the Long Night of the Sciences in 2018. Photo: Christian Hüller
  • CRC 1052: Obesity Mechanisms 
    Spokesperson: Prof. Matthias Blüher (Department of Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine)
    The Obesity Mechanisms Collaborative Research Centre has three main foci in its obesity research: overeating, fat deposition and inflammation, and altered adipokine secretion. The aim is to better understand the mechanisms that lead to extreme obesity. Graduates of the Obesity Mechanisms Integrated Research Training Group can acquire the knowledge gained in obesity research as well as additional practical skills, thus equipping them for successful scientific careers. 
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enlarge the image: Foto: ein Arzt misst mit einem Maßband den Umfang des Bauches einer Frau
SFB spokesperson Professor Matthias Blüher measuring abdominal girth at the obesity outpatient clinic. Photo: Christian Hüller

Clinician Scientist Program

  • Modern Diseases - Leipzig Clinician Scientist Programm (MD-LEICS) 
    Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Ebert (Clinic for Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine)
    The Clinician-Scientist (CS) program MD-LEICS (Modern Diseases LEIpzig Clinician Scientists) aims to advance innovative, disease- and patient-oriented scientific training in civilization diseases. It focuses on obesity, eating disorders and cardiovascular-metabolic diseases. MD-LEICS provides a structured program for scientifically pre-qualified clinicians in specialist training in order to consolidate existing programs at the Faculty of Medicine in Leipzig.
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Clinical Trials

Horizon Europe

  • ERC Advanced grant: Tame thrombo-inflammation
    Prof. Dr. Berend Isermann (Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Faculty of Medicine)
  • CREATIC – Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre 
    Project director: Dr. Dr. Maik Friedrich (Institute for Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine)
  • CERTAINTY – A CEllulaR immunoTherapy virtuAl twin for personalIsed cancer treatmeNT
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Thomas Neumuth (ICCAS - Innovation Center Computer Assisted Surgery)
  • ARTEMIS – AcceleRating the Translation of virtual twins towards a pErsonalised Management of fatty lIver patients 
    Project director: Dr. Stefan Höhme (IZBI - Interdisciplinary Centre for Bioinformatics)
  • PREPARE-TID – Pipeline for Rapid Diagnostics of Emergency Transboundary Infectious Diseases
    Project director: Dr. Ahmed Abd El Wahed (Institute ffor Animal Hygiene and Public Veterinary Services, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine)

Horizon 2020 

  • ERC Starting grant: AxoMyoGlia – Spatio-functional cellular interplay in peripheral nerve diseases
    Prof. Dr. Ruth Stassart (Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine)
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  • ImSAVAR – Immune Safety Avatar: nonclinical mimicking of the immune system effects of immunomodulatory therapies 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Markus Löffler (Institute for Medical Informatics, Statisctics, and Epidimiology, Faculty of Medicine)

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

  • NAKO – German National Cohort (GNC) – National Cohort Study Centre for Research on Widespread Diseases
    Project director: Professor Markus Löffler (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
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  • DZD Munich – German Center for Diabetes Research 
    Project directir: Prof. Dr. Michael Stumvoll (Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology)
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  • SMITH – Smart Medical Information Technology for Healtcare
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Markus Löffler (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
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  • ToSEE – Treatment of Benzodiazipine-Refractory Status Epilepticus in the Elderly Population
    Project director: Professor Joseph Claßen (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, University Hospital)
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  • HerediCaRe – Establishment of a national registry to evaluate and improve risk-adapted prevention for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer 
    Project director:  Dr. Christoph Engel (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
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  • MR-Thromboses – MR-supported minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of thromboses 
    Subproject: Research into an optimized manufacturing process for MR-compatible nitinol constructs
    Project director:  Prof. Dr. Andreas Melzer (Innovation Center Computer Assisted Surgery (ICCAS))
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  • ELVIS-Study – Nasal high-flow versus non-invasive ventilation in the treatment of acute acidotic hypercapnic exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. med. Hubert Wirtz (Medical Department II – Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Pneumology; Center for Clinical Studies)
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  • CORALA II – Long-term need for Ranibizumab injections with or without early targeted peripheral laser photocoagulation for the treatment of macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. med. Matus Rehak (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology)
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  • SUCEED-F – Study of frequent environmental exposures and diseases in childhood and adolescence: feasibility 
    Project director:  Prof. Dr. med. Antje Körner (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics)
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  • SYMPATH – Systems medicine of pneumonia-aggravated arteriosclerosis
    Project director:  Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
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  • LiSymKrebs – DEEP-HCC – Detailed analysis of the spatial organization of the development of hepatocellular carcinoma 
    Project director:  Prof. Dr. Daniel Seehofer (Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Visceral, Transplantation, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery)
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  • LiSymKrebs – SMART-NAFDL – A systems medicine approach for the early detection and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease 
    Project director:  Prof. Dr. Thomas Berg (Faculty of Medicine,  Medical Department II – Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Pneumology) 
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  • SaxoCell – Living medications
    Project directors: Prof. Dr. Uwe Platzbecker, Dr. Vladan Vucinic, Dr. Beatrice Sara Berneck, Prof. Dr. Jan C. Simon, Dr. Kristin Reiche, Prof. Dr. Achim Aigner, Prof. Dr. Thomas Neumuth, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hacker (Faculty of Medicine)
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  • SmartBWL – Smartphone-assisted behavioral therapy for weight loss in adults with severe obesity
    Project director:  Prof. Dr. Anja Hilbert (Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy)
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  • @ktivPLUS – Obesity and depression- development, acceptance, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a self-help strengthening online coach
    Project director: Dr. Margit Löbner (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Social Medicine, Work Medicine and Public Health)
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  • CAP-TSD – Causal analysis and predictive modeling of molecular and clinical time series data of pneumonia patients: Subproject A
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
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  • 3MP-FUS – Neuromodulation in rare neuropsychiatric disorders with focused multi-modal-multi-parameter ultrasound 
    Sub project: Experimental technical and pre-clinical evaluation of the FUS system, clinical requirements definition and integration
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Andreas Melzer (Innovation Center Computer Assisted Surgery (ICCAS))
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  • 6G Health 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Markus Löffler (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
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  • FOMO – Nanoporous shape-matched glass monoliths as drug depot systems for drug targeting in dentistry 
    Project director: PD Dr. rer. nat. Andreas König (Faculty of Medicine, Polyclinic for Dental Prosthetics and Materials Science)
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  • PROGNOSIS – Pandemic-related resource requirements of hospitals modeling of incidence, bed occupancy, personnel planning and supply chains  
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Markus Scholz (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
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  • GeMTeX MII – Cross-consortia use case of the medical informatics initiative: Automated processing of German clinical texts 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Martin Boeker / Prof. Dr. Markus Löffler (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
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  • LE-REP – Interdisciplinary junior research center for reproductive health 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Bahriye Aktas (Faculty of Medicine, Division of Obstetrics)
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  • INTERPOLAR – Reducing medication problems and drug interactions (USE Case) 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Markus Löffler (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
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  • PrivateAIM – Privacy-protecting analytics in medicine 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Toralf Kirsten (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
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  • NUM DIZ – Network of data integration centers of university medicine 
    Project director: Dr. Thomas Wendt (Faculty of Medicine, Data Integration Center)
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  • ADAPT – African "One Health"-Network for Disease Prevention 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Uwe Truyen (Institut for Animal Hygiene and Public Veterinary Services, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine)
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  • DZKJ – German Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Development Funding, Leipzig/Dresden site
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Antje Körner (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics)
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  • ScaDS.AI – Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Dresden/Leipzig 
    Scientific Coordinator: Professor Wolfgang E. Nagel (TU Dresden)
    Deputy: Professor Erhard Rahm (Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Institute of Computer Science)
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  • Integrated Resesarch and Treatment Center (IFB) Obesity Diseases
    Director: Professor Michael Stumvoll (Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Clinic for Endocrinologyie, Nephrology, Rheumatology)
    The IFB researched and treated morbid overweight (obesity) and its accompanying diseases in children, adolescents and adults. It was a joint center of the Leipzig University and University of Leipzig Medical Center.
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Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action

  • KIKS – Artificial Intelligence for Clinical Studies
    Project director: Professor Thomas Neumuth (Faculty of Medicine, Innovation Center Computer Assisted Surgery – ICCAS)
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  • KliNet5G – Clinical network via 5G 
    Project director: Professor Thomas Neumuth (Faculty of Medicine, Innovation Center Computer Assisted Surgery – ICCAS)
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Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

  • LIPSY – Leipziger Individual Placement and Support for mentally ill people 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Steffi G. Riedel-Heller (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Social Medicine, Work Medicine and Public Health)
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  • Endowed Chair of Social Psychiatric Participation Research, Department of Sociology 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Georg Schomerus (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center)
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Joint Committee of the Federal Government

  • HITS – Heart failure - Individual Training, Telemonitoring and Selfmanagement
    Project director: Professor Martin Busse (Faculty of Sport Science, Institute of Sport Medicine and Prevention)
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Saxon State Ministry of Science and the Arts

  • Lung microbiome model - A modular microbiome host model of the lung from the 3D printer to study the pharmacokinetics of pulmonary drugs and xenobiotics
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Leonard Kaysser (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Drug Design)
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  • MALT-Patch
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Michaela Schulz-Siegmund (Institut for Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine)
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  • Transfer Technologies for the Validation of Proteine- and Peptide Therapeutics
    Project director: Jun-Prof. Dr. Clara Schoeder (Institute for Drug Design, Faculty of Medicine)
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  • Tina Malti: Alexander von Humboldt-Professorship for Developmental Psychology
    Tina Malti has been awarded the Humboldt Professorship for Developmental Psychology in 2022. She conducts research at the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Medicine and as Director of the newly founded Humboldt Research Center for Child Development (Humankind). In addition to basic research on the socio-emotional development of children, Tina Malti would also like to transfer her research findings into clinical practice.
  • Sayan Mukherjee: Alexander von Humboldt-Professorship for Artificial Intelligence
    Sayan Mukherjee has received the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship for Artificial Intelligence in 2022. The mathematician, statistician and computer scientist has taken up his professorship at the Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Dresden/Leipzig (ScaDS.AI) and has also established a working group at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences. His expertise in topological data analysis should pave the way for new ways of analyzing biological and medical data and thus open up an innovative branch of research in precision medicine.
  • Jens Meiler: Alexander von Humboldt-Professorship for Pharmaceutcal Chemistry
    Jens Meiler was awarded the Humboldt Professorship in 2019. As a pharmaceutical chemist and bioinformatician, he conducts research at the interface of biology, physics, chemistry and computer science. At the new Institute for Drug Discovery, Meiler brings together computer-aided processes and experimental methods to develop new pharmaceuticals.He has also established a “European Center for ROSETTA Therapeutic Design” in Leipzig with the further development of the ROSETTA program.
Prof. Dr. Matthias Blüher

Prof. Dr. Matthias Blüher

Universitätsprofessor

Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27
04103 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 15984
Fax: +49 341 97 - 16109

Sustainable Systems and Biodiversity

enlarge the image: Emblematische Grafik für das Forschungsprofilfeld "Nachhaltige Systeme und Biodiversität"
Image: Daniel Janetzki, Visionauten

Two major challenges of our time, the transformation of energy systems and the sustainable handling of biodiversity as a resource, are the focus of the research activities in this profile area.

The research interests lie in developing environmentally friendly catalytic processes, identifying innovative technologies and solution strategies for energy production, as well as the fundamentals of biodiversity conservation. The aim is to link these three areas of sustainability research:

  1. How can economically efficient energy landscapes be designed to maximise biodiversity and ecosystem services?
  2. How can the use of biomass as a raw material base be optimised by new catalytic processes?
  3. How can new catalytic processes optimise the use of biomass as a raw material base?

The spectrum of approaches ranges from laboratory development and prognosis models to major ecological experiments on the landscape scale.

The German Research Foundation (DFG) supports a large number of projects at our university in cooperation with other scientific institutions. The following are the most important collaborative projects in the field of Sustainable Systems and Biodiversity:

enlarge the image: Arktisexpedition mit einem Forschungsschiff in 2017
Arctic expedition in 2017 with the icebreaker Polarstern. Photo: Dr Marlen Brückner, Institute for Meteorology
  • RTG 2939: Economics of Connected Natural Commons: Atmosphere and Biodiversity - Eco-N
    Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Martin Quaas (Faculty of Economics and Management Science, and iDiv)
    The RTG 2939 “Economics of Connected Natural Commons: Atmosphere and Biodiversity - Eco-N” develops an integrative perspective on the sustainable use of natural commons in the area of the atmosphere - namely aerosols, regional climate and urban air - and biodiversity - namely forests and soils. The RTG will begin its research work in fall 2024.
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  • RTG 2324: TreeDi – Tree Diversity Interactions 
    Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Helge Bruelheide (Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institut für Biologie)
    The International Research Training Group “TreeDi – Tree Diversity Interactions: The Role of Tree-Tree Interactions in Local Neighbourhoods in Chinese Subtropical Forests” led by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig together with the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) in China is investigating how tree-tree interactions in local neighbourhoods translate into the observed positive tree species richness effects on key ecosystem functions at the community level. The international qualification programme provides for intensive Chinese-German cultural exchange during a six-month research stay in the partner country. There is also a joint doctoral candidate advisory committee with Chinese and German project leaders and close cooperation with leading figures of biodiversity research.
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  • FOR 5000: Biotic Interactions, Community Assembly, and Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics as Drivers of Long-Term Biodiversity–Ecosystem Functioning Relationships 
    Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Nico Eisenhauer (Faculty of Life Sciences, iDiv)
    The central aim of Research Unit 5000 – Biotic Interactions, Community Assembly, and Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics as Drivers of Long-Term Biodiversity–Ecosystem Functioning Relationships – is to find out which mechanisms influence biodiversity–ecosystem functioning in the short and long term. To this end, it applies new experimental and analytical methods in one of the world’s longest-running biodiversity experiments: the Jena Experiment. Professor Nico Eisenhauer from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig heads the research group, in which scientists from the fields of ecology, biochemistry and microbiology work together on an interdisciplinary basis.
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  • Atmospheric and Earth System Research with the “High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft” (HALO) (Infrastructure SPP 1294)
    Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Manfred Wendisch (Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences, Leipzig Institute for Meteorology)
    The Infrastructure Priority Programme 1294, Atmospheric and Earth System Research with the “High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft” (HALO), has received DFG funding since 2017. The HALO research aircraft is used to study atmospheric and geophysical processes. The focus is on answering questions of climate and environmental science.
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  • SPP 2361: On the Way to the Fluvial Anthroposphere
    Spokesperson: Professor. Dr. Christoph Zielhofer (Faculty for Physics and Earth System Sciences, Institute of Geography)
    Priority Programme 2361, On the Way to the Fluvial Anthroposphere, explores the interactions between human societies and pre-industrial floodplains in Central Europe. The core research question of this Priority Programme is the extent to which humans have had an influence on changes to floodplains, and since when. Leipzig University, the University of Tübingen and the Technical University of Darmstadt developed the framework programme together. 
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enlarge the image: Blick über die Wolken vom Forschungsflugzeug HALO
Above the clouds: atmospheric research with the research aircraft HALO. Photo: Manfred Wendisch
  • ERC Starting Grant: „Forest vulnerability to compound extremes and disturbances in a changing climate”
    Director: Professor Dr. Ana Bastos (Faculty for Physics and Earth System Sciences)
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  • SOLO Soils for Europe
    Coordinator: Dr. Carlos António Bastos de Morais Guerra (iDiv)
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Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

  • ZK-FA – Faktencheck Artenvielfalt 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Christian Wirth (Faculty for Life Sciences and iDiv)
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  • ValuGaps – Comprehensive valorization of natural capital in Germany: approaches and methods for dealing with scarce information and uncertainties
    Project director: Dr. Jasper Nikolaus Meya (iDiv)
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  • ScaDS.AI – Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Dresden/Leipzig
    Scientific Coordinator: Professor Wolfgang E. Nagel (TU Dresden)
    Deputy: Professor Erhard Rahm (Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Institute of Computer Science)
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  • marEEshift – Marine Ecological-Economic Systems in the Western Baltic Sea and Beyond: Generic Models, Coordination and Communication
    Project director: Professor Martin Quaas (Faculty of Economics and Management Science, Institute for Resource Management)
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  • T!Raum-Initiative: ReWass  – Regional development and water management under water scarcity
    Project director:Dr. Stefan Geyler (Faculty of Economics and Management Science, Institute for Infrastructure and Resource Management)
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  • InnoLogBat – E-mobility warehouse logistics: innovation lab for battery logistics in e-mobility 
    Sub-project: Studies in the field of the automotive circular economy and ML-based service portfolio for the storage logistics of batteries for e-mobility
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Bogdan Franczyk (Faculty of Economics and Management Science, Institute Systems Services)
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  • Junior Research Group: MultiplEE: Sustainable Deployment of Renewable Energies with Multiple Environmental impacts – Policy Strategies to Address Environmental Trade-Offs of the German Energy Transition
    Project director: Dr Paul Lehmann (Faculty of Economics and Management Science, Institute for Infrastructure and Resource Management)
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Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action

  • b-ACT matter – Research- und Transfer Center for Bioactive Matter
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Tilo Pompe (Faculty for Life Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry); Prof. Dr. Frank Cichos (Fakulty for Physics and Earth Systems Sciences, Peter-Debye-Institute for Physics of Soft Matter)
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  • MoLeWa – Regional Transformation Network - Development and Implementation of a Regional Transformation Strategy in the Automotive and Supplier Industry and Industry-Related Service Sectors in the Transformation Region Leipzig
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Bogdan Franczyk (Faculty of Economics and Management Science, Institute for Information Systems)
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Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

  • Lebendige Luppe – Promoting ecosystem services and biodiversity through floodplain revitalization in an urban context 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Sylke Nissen (Faculty for Social Sciences and Philosophy, Institute for Sociology); Prof. Dr. Christian Wirth (Faculty for Life Sciences and iDiv)
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Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture

  • Miro – Central German innovation region for fruit growing 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Bogdan Franczyk (Faculty of Economics and Management Science, Institute for Information Systems)
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The Volkswagen Foundation is supporting Dr Carsten Meyer, a Leipzig University researcher based at iDiv, with one of its ‘Freigeist’ Fellowships.

  • ‘Freigeist’ Fellowship: Modelling the Socioeconomic Forces behind 21st-Century Biodiversity Loss: A Macroscopic Approach to Turn Complexity into Opportunities for Action
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The Leibniz ScienceCampus "Smoke and Bioaerosols in Climate Change (BioSmoke)" investigates the links between wildfires and climate change. Collaboration partners are the Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, the German Institute for Biomass Research and Leipzig University.

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The International Max Planck Research School “The Leipzig School of Human Origins” (IMPRS LSHO) is a unique postgraduate programme that combines different disciplines to study the evolutionary history and origins of humans and other primates. The Leipzig School of Human Origins is a collaboration between Leipzig University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Bruckner

Professor

Energiemanagement und Nachhaltigkeit
Grimmaische Straße 12
04109 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 33516
Fax: +49 341 97 - 33538

Prof. Dr. Roger Gläser

Professor

Heterogene Katalyse
Linnéstraße 3
04103 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 36301
Fax: +49 341 97 - 36349

Prof. Dr. Christian Wirth

Professor

Spezielle Botanik und funktionelle Biodiversität
Johannisallee 21
04103 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 38591
Fax: +49 341 97 - 38549

Molecular and Cellular Communication

enlarge the image: Grafik zum Forschungsprofilbereich „ Molekulare und zelluläre Kommunikation in Therapie und Diagnostik“
Image: Daniel Janetzki, Visionauten

The research profile area of Molecular and Cellular Communication in Therapy and Diagnostics is devoted to investigating complex cell processes.

Communication between molecules, and interactions between cells and between molecules and cells, are essential foundations for the biochemical exchange of information. The research profile area aims to identify, characterise and understand these interactions. The researchers approach this from different angles: why does a cell change? How does it react to certain external influences? The research considers both human and animal cells. For example, the scientists are investigating clinical pictures of cancer and obesity as well as wound healing. Their research results should contribute to the development of new drugs and therapies.

  • CRC1423: Structural Dynamics of GPCR Activation and Signal Transduction 
    Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Annette Beck-Sickinger (Faculty for Life Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry)
    Cells communicate with each other and their environment via receptors. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest group of membrane receptors and found in almost all living organisms. In CRC 1423, “Structural Dynamics of GPCR Activation and Signal Transduction”, Leipzig University researchers from the life sciences, medicine, pharmacy and bioinformatics are investigating interactions between peptide receptors and adhesion receptors – GPCRs that have so far been the subject of little research. To this end, they are collaborating with partners at the Charité university hospital in Berlin, the Helmholtz Association’s Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. One of the CRC’s goals is to clarify the dynamic structural states of these GPCRs in order to understand their functions. This could lead to the development of novel therapeutics for this class of GPCRs. Doctoral candidates at this CRC are trained in its integrated Research Training Group.
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  • CRC 1052: Obesity Mechanisms 
    Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Matthias Blüher (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology) 
    The Obesity Mechanisms Collaborative Research Centre has been examining three main research foci since 2013: overeating, fat deposition and inflammation, and altered adipokine secretion. In cooperation with three partner institutions – the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Israel) – the researchers aim to enhance our understanding of obesity as a multifactorial and socially relevant disease.
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  • Emmy Noether Junior Research Group: Antigen Identification and Characterization of Adaptive Immune Responses in Severe Equine Asthma
    Group leader: Dr. Christiane Schnabel (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine)
    This Junior Research Group does research on the causes severe asthma in horses. The name of the project is ”Antigen Identification and Characterization of Adaptive Immune Responses in Severe Equine Asthma.“ It focuses on the one hand on anitgen identification. On the other, the researchers are seeking adaptive immune responses to specific components from hay dust for the pathogenesis of severe equine asthma.
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enlarge the image: Research work at the Research Training Group “Matrix Engineering”. Photo: Anett Albrecht
Research work at the Research Training Group “Matrix Engineering”. Photo: Anett Albrecht
  • Jens Meiler was awarded a Humboldt Professorship in 2019. A pharmaceutical chemist and bioinformatics researcher, he conducts research where biology, physics, chemistry and computer science meet. At the new Institute for Innovation in Rational Drug Design, Meiler will carefully combine computer-aided processes with experimental methods in order to develop new pharmaceuticals. This will directly support the research profile area of Molecular and Cellular Communication in Therapy and Diagnostics – with whose scientists he already cooperated extensively before the award. Joint projects will further expand this cooperation in the future. 
  • ERC Consolidator Grant: PreSynPlast – Molecular mechanisms of prsynaptic plasticity
    Professor Dr. Stefan Hallermann (Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology)
  • ERC Starting Grant: AxoMyoGlia – Spatio-functional cellular interplay in peripheral diseases
    Professor Dr. Ruth Stassart (Faculty of Medicine, Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Neuropathology)

Horizon Europe:

  • CREATIC – Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre
    Project director: Dr. Dr. Maik Friedrich (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for CLinical Immunology)
  • CERTAINTY – A CEllulaR immunoTherapy virtuAl twin for personalIsed cancer treatmeNT
    Project director: Professor Dr. Thomas Neumuth (ICCAS - Innovation Center Computer Assisted Surgery)

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

  • RiboAss – Specific inhibition of the ribosomal 50S subunit assembly in bacteria as novel bactericidal mechanism unexploited by current Antibiotics
    Project director:  Professor Ralf Hoffmann (Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine)
    Learn more
  • SaxoCell – Living Medications
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Uwe Platzbecker, Dr. Vladan Vucinic, Dr. Beatrice Sara Berneck, Prof. Dr. Jan C. Simon, Dr. Kristin Reiche, Prof. Dr. Achim Aigner, Prof. Dr. Thomas Neumuth, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hacker (Faculty of Medicine)
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  • FOMO – Nanoporous shape-matched glass monoliths as drug depot systems for drug targeting in dentistry 
    Project director: PD Dr. rer. nat. Andreas König (Faculty of Medicine, Department for Dental Prosthetics and Materials Science)
    learn more
  • INTERPOLAR – Reducing medication related problems and drug interactions (USE Case) 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Markus Löffler (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology)
    learn more

Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action

  • b-ACT matter – Research and Transfer Center for Bioactive Matter
    Project directors: Prof. Dr. Tilo Pompe (Faculty for Life Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry); Prof. Dr. Frank Cichos (Faculty of Physics and Earth Systems Sciences, Peter-Debye-Institute for Soft Matter Physics)
    learn more

Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture

  • In-Ovo-LC-MS — Application of endocrinological in-ovo sex determination in the domestic chicken using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for the development of marketable concepts 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Almuth Einspanier (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Physiological Chemistry)
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Saxon State Ministry of Science and the Arts

  • Innovative Strategies for bIoactive / antibacterial advanceD prosthEses
    Project director: Professor Anette Beck-Sickinger (Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry)
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  • Lung microbiome model - A modular microbiome host model of the lung from the 3D printer to study the pharmacokinetics of pulmonary drugs and xenobiotics
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Leonard Kaysser (Institute for Drug Design, Faculty of Medicine)
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  • Transfer Technologies for the Validation of Proteine- and Peptide Therapeutics 
    Project director: Jun-Prof. Dr. Clara Schoeder (Institute for Drug Design, Faculty of Medicine)
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Prof. Dr. Annette Beck-Sickinger

Professor

Biochemie/Bioorganische Chemie
Brüderstraße 34
04103 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 36901
Fax: +49 341 97 - 36909

Prof. Dr. Torsten Schöneberg

Universitätsprofessor

Johannisallee 30
04103 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 22150
Fax: +49 341 97 - 22109

Brain Dynamics

enlarge the image: Grafik zum Forschungsprofilbereich „Mensch und Gehirn“
Image: Daniel Janetzki, Visionauten

This research profile area investigates the basics of nervous system function, including movement control, speech, attention, perception and memory, and their variability.

The researchers investigate specific aspects of human behaviour and the human brain, early childhood and evolutionary development as well as neurological and psychiatric diseases such as depression, dementia, stroke, and attention and behavioural disorders. How is the release of neurotransmitters controlled? How does the brain recover from a stroke? What do hibernation and Alzheimer’s disease have in common? The Brain Dynamics research profile area concentrates research into the brain, its diseases and new treatment options.

  • CRC 1052: Obesity Mechanisms
    Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Matthias Blüher (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology)
    The Obesity Mechanisms Collaborative Research Centre has been examining three main research foci since 2013: overeating, fat deposition and inflammation, and altered adipokine secretion. In cooperation with three partner institutions – the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Israel) – the researchers aim to enhance our understanding of obesity as a multifactorial and socially relevant disease.
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  • ERC Consolidator Grant: The Flexible Brain: (Re-)shaping Adaptation in Semantic Cognition
    Awardee: Professor Dr. Gesa Hartwigsen (Faculty for Life Sciences, Wilhelm Wundt Institute for Psychology)
  • ERC Consolidator Grant: PreSynPlast - Molecular mechanisms of presynaptic plasticity
    Awardee: Professor Dr. Stefan Hallermann (Faculty of Medicine, Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology) 
  • ERC Starting Grant: ​​​​​​​AxoMyoGlia – Spatio-functional cellular interplay in peripheral nerve diseases
    Awardee: Professor Dr. Ruth Stassart (Faculty of Medicine, Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Neuropathology)

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

  • ToSEE – Treatment of Benzodiazipine-Refractory Status Epilepticus in the Elderly Population
    Project director: Professor Joseph Claßen (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology)
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  • AMIS II – Analysis of developmental pathways from child maltreatment to internalizing symptoms and disorders in childhood and adolescence: from longitudinal trajectories to intervention 
    Project director:  Prof. Dr. Kai von Klitzing; since 2021/01/10 Dr. Lars Otto White (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatric Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics)
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  • CORALA II – Long-term need for Ranibizumab injections with or without early targeted peripheral laser photocoagulation for the treatment of macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. med. Matus Rehak (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology )
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  • @ktivPLUS – Obesity and Depression - Development, Activeness, Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of a Self-Help Strengthening Online Coach
    Project director: Dr. Margit Löbner (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Social Medicine, Work Medicine and Public Health)
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  • 3MP-FUS – Neuromodulation in rare neuropsychiatric disorders with focused multi-modal-multi-parameter ultrasound
    Subproject: Experimental technical and pre-clinical evaluation of the FUS system, clinical requirements definition and integration
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Andreas Melzer (Innovation Center Computer Assisted Surgery (ICCAS))
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  • LINC – Lipid Immune Neuropathy Consortium
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Ruth Martha Stassart (Faculty of Medicine, Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Neuropathology), Prof. Dr. Robert Fledrich (Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy)
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Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

  • LIPSY – Leipziger Individual Placement and Support for mentally ill people 
    Project director: Prof. Dr. Steffi G. Riedel-Heller (Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Social Medicine, Work Medicine and Public Health)
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  • Endowed Chair of Social Psychiatric Participation Research, Department of Sociology 
    Chair: Prof. Dr. Georg Schomerus (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatric Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics)
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Prof. Dr. Stefan Jens Hallermann

Universitätsprofessor

Liebigstraße 27
04103 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 15500
Fax: +49 341 97 - 15509

Prof. Dr. Marc Schönwiesner

Professor

Allgemeine Zoologie und Neurobiologie
Talstraße 33
04103 Leipzig

Phone: +49 341 97 - 36723
Fax: +49 341 97 - 36848

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