GRK 1871:  Molecular Pathogenesis of Male Reproductive Disorders

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: from 2013 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 214322699

The proposed renewal application for the second funding period of the International Research Training Group (IRTG) in “Molecular Pathogenesis of Male Reproductive Disorders” between Justus Liebig University Giessen and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia will continue the successful cooperation between both partners in training the next generation of scientists and clinicians to address key questions in biomedicine relating to men’s reproductive health and disease. There is strong continuity in the programme and projects themes, supported by the entry of 3 new applications into the programme to take the total number of applications to 11 projects. Emphasis to involve new and young investigators has been undertaken on both sides. The research continues to focus around the following two thematic areas (infertility incl. testis and epididymis disorders, prostate disorders) investigation key regulatory mechanisms (local factors incl. activin/TGFβ; inflammation and immunity; sex steroid hormones; genes/epigenetics). Each project is jointly studied by Australian-German investigator pairs (‘tandem projects’). Consequently, all students recruited to this programme will be mutually supervised by scientists from Monash University and Justus Liebig University. PhD studies will require a reciprocal visit to the partner institution. Based on a cotutelle agreement each student will receive a joint badged PhD awarded by both universities for a research exchange of 12 months. Importantly, the research training programme builds on strong translational/clinical exposure and disease models in Germany and on advanced method platform training and technologies at Monash University (e.g. Medical Genomics, Flowcore, Imaging and Bioinformatics Platform Facilities) and access to important and unique transgenic mouse models. Projects in this application encompass reproductive immunology as a window to health and disease progression in the testis, epididymis and prostate. In addition, the importance and mechanisms of genetics/epigenetics as well as growth factor actions to male reproductive health, with a special emphasis on activin/TGFβ superfamily and hormone signalling, underpins several projects. Our key project themes and individual projects are highly complementary in design, and we have built an integrated team with the demonstrated capacity to capitalise on each partner’s research strength and expertise.

• DFG Programme: International Research Training Groups
• International Connection: Australia
• Applicant Institution: Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
• IRTG-Partner Institution: Monash University
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Andreas Meinhardt
• Participating Researchers: Dr. Sudhanshu Bhushan; Privatdozent Dr. Thorsten Diemer; Dr. Daniela Fietz; Dr. Monika Fijak; Privatdozent Dr. Lutz Konrad; Professor Dr. Thomas Linn; Professor Dr. Ralf Middendorff; Professor Dr. Adrian Pilatz; Professorin Dr. Undraga Schagdarsurengin; Professor Dr. Georgios Scheiner-Bobis; Professor Dr. Hans-Christian Schuppe; Professor Dr. Klaus Steger; Professor Dr. Florian Wagenlehner
• IRTG-Partner: Spokesperson: Professorin Kate Loveland, Ph.D.