Project Details
Projekt
GRK 1302: The PI3K Pathway in Tumour Growth and Diabetes
Subject Area
Medicine
Term
from 2006 to 2015
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 12447501
The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway and antagonistic signalling elements such as the phosphatase PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) are crucial elements of the signalling cascade triggered by insulin and growth factors. On the one hand, the PI3K pathway serves to protect cells against apoptosis. This effect is considered to be important for the survival of tumour cells. As a matter of fact, the PI3K pathway is constitutively activated in many tumour cells and, thus, presumably participates in the generation of tumours. On the other hand, the pathway plays a pivotal role for the effects of insulin, and impaired signalling through PI3K may predispose to the development of diabetes.
Research on the signalling of tumour growth and diabetes requires profound expertise in the biochemistry of signalling pathways, molecular physiology of ion channel regulation, animal experimentation and clinical expertise. The partners in Dundee are internationally leading scientists in the biochemistry and molecular biology of the PI3 kinase pathway. The scientists in Tuebingen are experts in cell physiology, apoptosis research, oncology and diabetes. A large genomic DNA bank (of 1500 metabolically well-characterised individuals with a family history of type 2 diabetes) has been established in Tuebingen which can be used to screen for mutations in novel identified candidate genes. The partner laboratories in Tuebingen and Dundee are, thus, ideally complementary and, taken together, are unique in equipment, resources and scientific supervision.
Students joining the Research Training Group will have the opportunity to share in this truly interdisciplinary expertise. The combined training in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, physiology and experimental medicine will allow the students to gain an outstanding qualification for research of this important signalling pathway. Moreover, the training will provide the students with the ability to pursue their research on an interdisciplinary and international level. The goal will be achieved by the temporary exchange of students with the respective partner laboratories, where they have the explicit opportunity to be trained in specific techniques and know-how of the particular laboratories. The scientific training and interaction will be further fostered by exchange of scientists, common meetings, seminars and workshops organised by the respective groups in Tuebingen and Dundee.
Research on the signalling of tumour growth and diabetes requires profound expertise in the biochemistry of signalling pathways, molecular physiology of ion channel regulation, animal experimentation and clinical expertise. The partners in Dundee are internationally leading scientists in the biochemistry and molecular biology of the PI3 kinase pathway. The scientists in Tuebingen are experts in cell physiology, apoptosis research, oncology and diabetes. A large genomic DNA bank (of 1500 metabolically well-characterised individuals with a family history of type 2 diabetes) has been established in Tuebingen which can be used to screen for mutations in novel identified candidate genes. The partner laboratories in Tuebingen and Dundee are, thus, ideally complementary and, taken together, are unique in equipment, resources and scientific supervision.
Students joining the Research Training Group will have the opportunity to share in this truly interdisciplinary expertise. The combined training in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, physiology and experimental medicine will allow the students to gain an outstanding qualification for research of this important signalling pathway. Moreover, the training will provide the students with the ability to pursue their research on an interdisciplinary and international level. The goal will be achieved by the temporary exchange of students with the respective partner laboratories, where they have the explicit opportunity to be trained in specific techniques and know-how of the particular laboratories. The scientific training and interaction will be further fostered by exchange of scientists, common meetings, seminars and workshops organised by the respective groups in Tuebingen and Dundee.
DFG Programme
International Research Training Groups
International Connection
United Kingdom
Applicant Institution
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
IRTG-Partner Institution
University of Dundee
Cooperation Partners
Professor Dr. Dario Alessi; Professor Dr. Simon Arthur; Professorin Dr. Doreen A. Cantrell; Professor Dr. Nicholas R. Leslie; Professorin Dr. Carol MacKintosh; Professor Dr. Kei Sakamoto; Dr. Calum Sutherland
IRTG-Partner: Spokesperson
Professor Dr. Philip Cohen
Participating Researchers
Professor Dr. Stephan Michael Huber; Privatdozent Dr. Reiner Lammers; Professor Dr. Florian Lang; Professor Dr. Nisar Peter Malek; Professor Dr. Alfred Nordheim; Professorin Dr. Birgit Schittek; Professor Dr. Erwin Schleicher; Professor Dr. Klaus Schulze-Osthoff; Professor Dr. Mahmoud Toulany; Professorin Dr. Susanne Julia Ullrich; Professorin Dr. Cora Weigert; Professor Dr. Sebastian Wesselborg, from 10/2010 until 8/2011
Spokesperson
Professor Dr. Bernd Nürnberg
