GRK 2599:  FAIR - Fine-Tuners of the Adaptive Immune Response

• Subject Area: Microbiology, Virology and Immunology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 421758891

The goal of the proposed Research Training Group is to establish an internationally competitive research and training program to promote young scientists and medical students in the field of immunology. The analysis of defined molecular regulators using genome-wide transcriptome analysis, modern imaging techniques, transgenic mouse technologies and CRISPR-mediated genome editing will identify and characterize new fine-tuners of adaptive immune responses and immune memory. To reach our goal, we have recruited five female and 12 male researchers with an internationally recognized expertise in the field of adaptive immunity from eight institutes and clinical departments at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). All researchers are supported by third-party funding and experienced in graduate training. We also offer an innovative training program for Dr. rer. nat. candidates with a master’s degree in life sciences. This program consists of a bi-weekly RTG Paul-Ehrlich-Club, research-specific as well as interdisciplinary hard skill and soft skill workshops, internal RTG research retreats and RTG network meetings, the RTG guest speaker series, and the RTG’s public relation program. Furthermore, we have developed a fast-track program that will lead six fellows with a bachelor’s degree to the Dr. rer. nat. degree without the need to obtain a master’s degree. During their one-year qualification phase, the fast-track candidates will be prepare for their dissertation phase and receive extensive training in molecular biology and immunology within the Master’s program “Integrated Immunology,” attend RTG-specific events, and participate in a research-oriented rotation in a laboratory outside of Germany. To motivate medical students for basic research, we will set up an innovative and structured 18-month-long doctoral program. Highlights of this program are an 8-month lab phase and a curriculum tailored to the educational needs of each medical student. A three-member thesis advisory committee will mentor all doctoral candidates through-out their entire thesis project. To internationally position our doctoral candidates, they will organize the 7th International RTG Symposium on "Regulators of Adaptive Immunity" and do research rotations in laboratories outside of Germany. We are convinced that our innovative training and research concept with hypothesis-driven projects will better prepare our doctoral candidates for a professional post-graduate career as an immunologist and help them to develop into critically thinking scientists, to complete their thesis in 3-4 years, and to build an international network.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Aline Bozec; Professorin Dr. Diana Dudziak, until 9/2023; Professor Dr. Udo Gaipl; Professor Dr. Kai Hildner; Professor Dr. Gerhard Krönke, until 3/2023; Professor Dr. Roland Lang; Professorin Dr. Anja Lux; Professor Dr. Dirk Mielenz; Professor Dr. Dimitrios Mougiakakos; Professor Dr. Lars Nitschke; Dr. Katharina Pracht, since 1/2024; Privatdozentin Dr. Iryna Prots, since 1/2024; Privatdozent Dr. Wolfgang Schuh, since 1/2024; Privatdozentin Dr. Ulrike Steffen; Professor Dr. Alexander Steinkasserer, until 12/2023; Professor Dr. David Vöhringer; Dr. Anja Werner, since 1/2024; Dr. Andreas Wild, since 1/2024; Professor Dr. Thomas Winkler, until 6/2025; Privatdozent Dr. Stefan Wirtz
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Mario M. Zaiss