Molecular and Cellular Communication  

Themes of the Research Area

Development of new kinds of therapeutic agents and diagnostics

Several internationally competitive groups at the Universität Leipzig are carrying out research in the area of biomolecular and cellular communication. The focus lies on the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics which is achieved by the application of methods coming from the fields of biotechnology, biomedicine and bioinformatics.

Based on evolutionary and bioinformatic approaches molecular and cellular communication patterns are identified and their relevance for novel therapeutic concepts is investigated.

One main emphasis, thereby, is the tissue regeneration. From the results and the further developments of these activities we expect basic knowledge about cellular communication, especially in the context of protein interactions and their control on the RNA level. The given informations will then be included in the investigation of new protein and/or cell therapeutics. With the help of novel nanobioelectronic and bioanalytic techniques we want to sustain diagnostic procedures and to transfer them into clinical applications.

Furthermore, our intention is to work on cellular and molecular biological as well as protein chemical and protein analytical fundamentals in terms of clinical and biotechnological utilization. The aims are to effect a smooth transition of clinically relevant results from basic research to clinical trials and the improvement of diagnosis, therapy and prevention.

The variety of existing areas of expertise in the life sciences at the University of Leipzig and the non-university research institutions, which are also part of the biotechnology and genetic engineering initiative of the Free State of Saxony, are of central significance in this Top-Level Research Area.