Prof. Dr. Klaus Schulze-Osthoff Universitätsstraße  1 40225  Düsseldorf Tel.:  +49 (0) 2 11/811 58 94 Fax: +49 (0) 2 11/811 58 92 kso@uni-duesseldorf.de

Molecular medicine is a new, future-oriented discipline, which employs the fast-paced progress of knowledge in modern life sciences to combine current questions in medicine with modern methods of science. The challenge of molecular medicine is to explain and therapeutically influence pathological alterations of the whole organism on a cellular and molecular basis. Of special interest in this context are alterations and dysfunctions concerning cell structure, proteins as well as the genetic information.

Molecular medicine employs methods of DNA analysis, protein structure/function relationship and cellular biology. Know-how and technical methods of basic sciences such as molecular biology, cell biology, physiology and developmental biology are taken into account and applied on clinical topics of human medicine. Under the influence of these different subjects molecular medicine has become increasingly independent as an own work and research direction at the interface of medicine, biochemistry, and genetics. With new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, this young discipline has entered daily clinical life and will gain further impact in the future.

After the successful mapping of the human genome, which heralded a new era of research, the combination of molecular genetics and functional analysis has led to a better insight into the causes of disease and novel strategies for more efficient therapies. The exponential increase of biological and medical knowledge goes along with a rapid development of molecular biological research methods. For optimal usage and further development of these insights a well-founded understanding of fundamental scientific principles and relevant medical questions is necessary. To improve basic medical research, the Medical Faculty at the University of Düsseldorf has decided to install a new interdisciplinary Centre of Molecular Medicine.

Research and teaching

The Institute of Molecular Medicine wants to bridge the gap between biomedical basic research and applied clinical research. In particular, structure, function, and interaction of disease related genes and proteins are investigated. This includes the design of vectors, vehicles of gene transfer, in regard to gene therapy and disease models. Further research projects are bioinformatics and the investigation of the human proteome, which comprises the entirety of proteins in a cell. Furthermore, the analysis of therapeutically interesting target molecules, whose inhibition or activation could influence the course of disease, belongs to the research contents.

The Institute of Molecular Medicine aims at further developing innovative and forward looking research for the basic science and clinical working areas in Düsseldorf. To date, the Institute comprises two divisions, whose central research themes are focussed on the mechanisms of transmission of information and signals on a cellular basis, termed cellular signal transduction. Research engages in the deciphering of mechanisms controlling different processes including cell division, cell death, differentiation or the immunological and anti-viral defence.

A major research topic of the institute are studies on apoptosis, a physiological form of cell death, through which an organism eliminates unwanted cells. In the immune system apoptosis serves for the elimination of virally infected and transformed cells and for the negative selection of auto-reactive immune cells. A disturbed balance of apoptosis versus proliferation is presumed to underlie a variety of different diseases. A reduced rate of apoptotic cell death is found in tumor development, whereas neurodegenerative and several viral diseases like AIDS and hepatitis are associated with exaggerated apoptosis. Aims of research are the elucidation of apoptotic processes and the identification of genes involved therein to design new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of diseases, which are caused by increased or reduced apoptotic cell death.

A further research avenue is devoted to protein kinases, in particular the so-called MAP-kinases. This is a group of signal transducers cooperating in a tight network. They transduce signals inside a cell via phosphorylation of other proteins. The institute specifically investigates the functions of MAP kinases during cell division, immune responses and the regulation of inflammation. Several projects are currently analyzing the impact of MAP kinases on the differentiation of epidermal, muscle or endothelial cells.

A dysregulation of such processes plays an essential role in very diverse diseases. Single MAP kinases are therefore most interesting targets for therapeutic interference. Recently, it has been demonstrated that a specific inhibition of MAP kinase signalling cascades can rescue cells from infection by influenza viruses.

Curriculum vitae Prof Dr. Klaus Schulze-Osthoff