Our doctoral researchers Malte Rühlemann, research group Genetics & Bioinformatics, and Stephanie Stengel, research group Cell Biology, were awarded the ZMB Grant 2017 for doctoral researchers, both endowed with 10,000 € at the 3rd of November, 2017.
Malte Rühlemann
The project aims to establish and enhance nanopore-based amplicon sequencing at the IKMB using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION device. This will help getting a deeper and more informative insight into Metaorganism-associated microbial communities. Investigating these over a broad spectrum of hosts nested in the Collaborative Research Center 1182 will give an insight into the performance and possibilities this vanguard technology can offer and to which extend this can be translated to further amplicon-based applications, targeting e.g. other microbial member of communities like Archaea and Fungi.
Technical support and establishment of the protocols will be performed in close collaboration with the Microbiome Lab led by Corinna Bang (IKMB) and the next-generation sequencing facilities led by Sören Franzenburg (IKMB).
Stephanie Stengel
The project aims to characterize the crosstalk between ORMDL3 and newly identified ATF6 regulators in inflammatory bowel disease IBD. By the integration of RNAi screening data, bioinformatic methods and cutting edge imaging methods, this project aims to identify a regulatory network around IBD related risk genes in vitro and in vivo.
Access to freshly collected patient samples will be possible by collaborating with clinician Konrad Aden (University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Gastroenterology/IKMB). High-resolution microscopy of IBD patient tissue will be performed in collaboration with Martin Jahn (Geomar Kiel, CRC 1182). Together with bioinformatician/statistician Frauke Degenhardt (IKMB) we will analyze whether ATF6 modulators are differently regulated in IBD patient cohorts.
Building bridges between life science disciplines and enabling cutting edge technology are the main ideas of the Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB). The ZMB award is thus meant to foster inter- and transdisciplinary work of young scientists from all areas of Kiel Life Science. The successful applicants are expected to combine expertise from different fields and/or faculties. Ideally, this also involves networking with partners from the ZMB.