GRK 1873:  Pharmacology of 7TM-Receptors and Downstream Signalling Pathways

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: from 2013 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 214362475

The RTG "Pharmacology of 7TM-receptors and downstream signaling pathways"studies the pharmacology of signaling pathways. The focus lies on seven-transmembranereceptors and downstream intracellular signaling pathways. The key scientific questions ofthe program are how signaling pathways are linked and how specificity of the cellularresponse is achieved as well as how signaling pathways can be modulated with (novel)drugs. New aspects of the second funding period include the analysis of neglected/not wellstudied 7TM receptors like orphan- und fatty acid receptors, new model systems includingthe lung and zebrafish as well as the study of immunological signaling pathways.For this purpose, the RTG offers state-of-the-art in vitro and in vivo assays, experimentaltools and model systems. The high-profile researchers have expertise in solving importantproblems in the area of cell signaling and come from the Institutes of Pharmacology andToxicology, Pharmaceutical Biology und Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Physiologyand Immunology. The scientific success of the RTG is reflected by 24 publications of PhDstudents (ten first and co-first author ships) in international leading journals including Nature, Nature Communications, and Journal of Clinical Investigation, as well as the activeparticipation in national and international conferences during the first three years of funding.The RTG has created an outstanding qualification program that is oriented on an efficientexchange of knowledge. An important goal of the RTG is to foster independent andsuccessful doctoral research as well as to prepare the young researchers for their futurecareers. An important feature of the program is the unique international program, which isbased on cooperation with leading pharmacologists, a lecture series with international guestlecturers, international symposia. Most importantly, within the laboratory exchange programPhD students work on their projects in laboratories of our strategic partners for up to threemonth. Our strategic partners are graduate schools and departments of pharmacology ofVanderbilt University, the University of California San Diego, the University of Glasgow andthe University of Tokyo. Moreover, to foster exchange between young pharmacologists inGermany, the RTG started - together with the German Society of Pharmacology - a series of"Pharmacology Summer Schools".

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Alexander Pfeifer
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Jens Claus Brüning; Professor Dr. Bernd Fleischmann; Professorin Dr. Evi Kostenis; Professorin Dr. Elvira Mass, from 4/2019 until 9/2019; Professorin Dr. Christa E. Müller; Professor Dr. Benjamin Odermatt, since 3/2017; Professor Dr. Philipp Sasse; Professor Dr. Andreas Schlitzer, since 3/2017