Molecular Medicine Partnership UnitResearch Groups

One MMPU hallmark is that it is staffed by both institutions, EMBL and the University Hospital Heidelberg, and each research group is headed by two cooperating principal investigators. Currently, the MMPU consists of eight international teams of molecular research-oriented MDs, PhDs, PhD students and technicians.

The research philosophy aims at the molecular understanding of the basis of common human diseases, its applications in diagnosis and therapy, and feedback from 'bedside medicine' into the research laboratory.

Diseases of mRNA metabolism
Prof. Dr. Matthias Hentze and Prof. Dr. Andreas Kulozik

Cystic fibrosis / Chronic Airway Disease
Dr. Carsten Schultz and Prof. Dr. Marcus Mall

Pathogenesis of Colorectal Cancer and Development of Novel Approaches for Early Detection, Diagnosis and Prevention
(Cancer Early Detection, Diagnosis and Prevention CED-DAP)
Dr. Peer Bork and Prof. Dr. Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz

Iron homeostasis in health and disease
Prof. Dr. Matthias Hentze and Prof. Dr. Martina Muckenthaler

Cell biology and disorders of cholesterol homeostasis
Dr. Rainer Pepperkok and Dr. Heiko Runz

Early warning signals of aging in human stem cells
Dr. Anne-Claude Gavin and Prof. Dr. Anthony D. Ho

Interfering with assembly and maturation of infectious HIV-1
Dr. John A.G. Briggs and Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Kräusslich

Molecular mediators of chronic pain
Dr. Paul Heppenstall, Prof. Dr. Rohini Kuner and Dr. Jan Siemens (joining in April 2013)