Graduate and research colleges

Research colleges

Current research colleges with speakers at the Faculty of Medicine:

Else Kröner research school
Transplantation medicine – strategies for ex vivo repair of donor livers and kidneys
Speaker
Prof. Dr. Christian Lange
Institution
Department of Medicine II
Funding
since 2024
Deputy speaker
Dr. Dionysios Koliogiannis;
Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Anders
Website
Project description
Topics
This research school is devoted to researching new strategies towards the molecular repair of organ transplants. Numerous patients on the waiting list for an organ transplantation die due to the shortage of donor organs. This lack of donor organs is exacerbated because many of the organs donated are unable to be transplanted due to pre-existing defects. The recent development of machine perfusion-based organ conservation, which enables perfusion of explanted organs with blood or optimized perfusion solutions via pump, has opened the possibility to repair donor organs with therapeutic agents ex-vivo. As a result of this, the quality of donor organs could be improved by administering medications into the pumping cycle. The enthusiasm of young Clinician Scientists for this subject matter is going to be aroused in the research school while they are trained using a concept designed for long-term implementation.

Source: EKFS
Else Kröner research school
IOLIN - Immunooncology and local interventions
Speaker
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Kobold
Institution
Division of Clinical Pharmacology
Funding
since 2022
Deputy speaker
Prof. Dr. Kirsten Lauber,
Prof. Dr. Dr. Michael von Bergwelt
Website
Projectdescription EKFS
Topics
Immunotherapies can help many. However, a significant number of patients will not benefit from these. A major reason for treatment failure is the suppressive tumor environment. Oncologists are more and more making use of local treatments for metastasis (surgery, radiotherapy, radiology) which appear to have an important immunological impact. Along these lines, such local interventions are predestined for combinations with immunotherapies. This is the focus of IOLIN which aims at generating evidence for the synergy of such combined modalities to the benefit of cancer patients.

Source: EKFS
DFG Clinician Scientist Programm
PRIME - Clinician scientist pogram in vascular medicine
Spreaker
Prof. Dr. Steffen Massberg
Institution
Department of Medicine I
Funding
since 2018
Website
Project descrption DFG
Topics
Vascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. This leads to enormous problems in health care and has negative socio-economic effects. A better understanding of the pathophysiological basis of vascular diseases, the identification of new therapeutic targets and the transfer of research concepts into clinical applications are important prerequisites for the treatment and prevention of vascular diseases. Clinician scientists are of outstanding importance for the identification and successful clinical establishment of new therapies. However, there is a significant shortage of doctors working at both “bench” and “bedside”. This is in part due to the fact that the combined clinical-scientific training of clinician scientists is only inadequately regulated. Following the tender of the German Research Foundation (DFG) in 2018, we applied for the establishment of a research and training program with the title “Clinician Scientist PRrogram In Vascular Medicine (PRIME)” for young licensed doctors. The central goal of the program is the targeted promotion of clinical and scientific competencies of young physicians active with a vascular focus. Over a period of 3 years, medical professionals in specialist training have the opportunity to flexibly use 50% of their working hours as protected research time. The program is accompanied by interdisciplinary and individually adapted training within a structured curriculum as well as close supervision by research-experienced mentors. The program promotes the successful implementation of experimental, translational and clinical research, and at the same time ensures clinical training as a specialist without significant delay. The training program is accessible to vascular-interested researching doctors from all specialist disciplines, and also takes into account smaller specialist disciplines (e.g. cardiac surgery, laboratory medicine), for which participation in such programs has often been difficult up to now. In summary, we established an interdisciplinary, vascular-focused training program termed “PRIME”, which makes an important contribution to the structured, scientifically sound training of researching doctors. The program has been integrated into the framework of the Munich Clinician Scientist Program (MCSP). With the accompanying sustainability concept of the LMU Medical Faculty, we are opening up new career paths and ensure that talented doctors are promoted beyond their specialist qualification. PRIME will therefore make an important contribution to the research, treatment and prevention of vascular diseases.


Quelle: DFG

Graduate colleges

Current graduate colleges with speakers at the Faculty of Medicine:

Else Kröner graduate school
FöFoLe Inflammation
Speaker
Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Anders
Institution
Department of Medicine IV
Funding
since 2021
Deputy speaker
Prof. Dr. Barbara Schraml (Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology
at the Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine),
Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Gudermann (Walter Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology), and
Prof. Dr. med. Veit Hornung (Immunobiochemistry, Gene Center at LMU)
Website
Project description EKFS
Topics
Besides infectious pathogens, a broad spectrum of non-infectious causes for inflammatory reactions exists as well. The graduate study program “FöFoLe-Inflammation” makes this the starting point and is going to strengthen the outstanding research on inflammation on the LMU campus in the case of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The opportunity to take part in “FöFoLe-Inflammation” is provided to project managers in many specialized areas and to students with very different clinical interests. The graduate study program also offers a training program based on educational research and includes inter alia activities toward the further development of students’ personalities in becoming researching physicians.

Source: EKFS
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network
T-OP - Training network for optimizing adoptive T-cell therapy of cancer
Speaker
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Kobold
Institution
Division of Clinical Pharmacology
Funding
since 2021
Website
Project description CORDIS
Topics
Adoptive T cell therapy, which employs the patient's own cells as a weapon, is considered a breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. However, the production of such immunotherapy products lacks harmonisation with clinical studies. The EU-funded T-OP project aims to bridge this gap by bringing together interdisciplinary teams of scientists working in cell therapy, immunology, protein engineering and bioinformatics alongside large and medium-sized enterprises. The scientific work will focus on cytokines and their role in the therapeutic outcome of adoptive cell therapy, aiming to determine the optimal combination. The project's results will lead to the development of safer and improved immunotherapeutics.

Source: CORDIS
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network
Cell2Cell heterogeneity - What makes a successfull pathogen? Understanding the impact of cell-to-cell heterogeneity in chromatin structure on infection and adaptation
Speaker
Dr. Sigurd Braun (Lehrstuhl für Physiologische Chemie, Biomedizinisches Centrum, BMC)
Prof. Dr. T. Nicolai Siegel (Experimentelle Parasitologie, Tierärztlichen Fakultät)
Funding
since 2019
Website
Project description CORDIS
Topics
Most pathogens are single-celled organisms, or in the case of viruses, small parasitic particles consisting of nucleic acid and outer protein shells. Once they have successfully invaded our bodies, some within the same community are more successful at establishing infection than others. Extensive research has revealed global mechanisms for pathogen adaptation and survival. However, little is known about local variations or cell-to-cell heterogeneity within the same microbial population. Cell2Cell is studying that heterogeneity at the level of chromatin, the DNA and histone proteins its wound around that make up chromosomes. Ground-breaking studies will help elucidate how chromatin is organised in pathogens and how chromatin heterogeneity might favour successful colonisation by certain cells, providing ammunition in the war against often-deadly invaders.

Source: CORDIS
DFG research training group 2621
POKAL - Predictors and outcomes in primary depression care
Speaker
Prof. Dr. Jochen Gensichen
Institution
Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine
Funding
since 2021
Website
Project description GEPRIS
Topics
With an ageing society and the increasing prevalence of multimorbidity, the prevalence and complexity of mental illness are increasing. Depression is the most common diagnosis. General practitioners (GPs) play an important role in the care of patients with depression, as they make the initial diagnosis and are responsible for treatment. The detection and treatment of depression presents GPs with special challenges. Somatic comorbidities can mask a depression and make it difficult to select a suitable therapy and implementation, endangering both the success of the therapy and the safety of the depression treatment. The implementation of guideline recommendations might be limited. Our goal is to support GPs in coping with these challenges and to improve the care of patients with depression. In three research projects each on diagnosis, treatment and implementation, new instruments adapted to the Primary Care context are systematically developed along the Chronic Care Model (CCM). A new algorithm will be developed to support diagnostics; in its generation process, physiological and GP-related factors will be considered in addition to established parameters. A new approach for the detection of suicidal behaviour will be piloted and optimized. Instruments of psychoeducation, monitoring/case management and medication control will be developed and evaluated. Barriers and potentials for the implementation of innovations in health care are systematically identified and tailored solutions are developed, optimised and evaluated. Promising scientists will be trained who will further develop clinical research in the field of general practice and will support both service providers and health care payers in improving care structures, processes and results. For this purpose, a comprehensive qualification concept has been developed, which enables graduates of relevant subjects with initial work experience, as well as prospective GPs to receive a structured scientific education parallel to their clinical training. The cooperation of two institutes for general medicine with institutes for clinical psychology, psychiatry and psychosomatics at one location, the international award and experience of the PIs and international cooperation partners in research and education distinguish POKAL as a unique project, which can improve the care of patients with depression in Primary Care.

Source: GEPRIS
DFG research traning group 2338
Targets in toxicology - Deciphering therapeutic targets in lung toxicology
Speaker
Prof. Dr. Thomas Gudermann
Institution
Walther Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Funding
since 2018
Website
Project description GEPRIS
Topics
Toxic inhalation hazards (TIH) released in occupational and industrial settings or terrorist scenarios are of utmost public concern. Because of their broad chemical reactivity and the lack of a common mechanism of action, resultant lung injury has been regarded as unspecific, addressable only by symptomatic treatment. However, recent years have witnessed a paradigm shift, because it has been appreciated that toxicants do not harm cells indiscriminately but are detected by distinct chemoreceptors that induce specific signalling pathways thereby mounting a cellular response. The conceptual overall objective of the Research Training Group (RTG) “Targets in Toxicology” is to acquire an in-depth mechanistic understanding of toxic lung injury to decipher new therapeutic targets that can be leveraged to establish the concept of “precision toxicology” in acute and chronic toxic lung injury. A qualification program that combines specialised training in lung pathophysiology with broad coverage of the whole discipline of toxicology has been implemented. The program is designed to attract highly talented graduates of life sciences or medicine. Best practise elements will come to bear in the training curriculum that is scientifically ambitious and aims at attaining professional competence. The educational backbone of the program offers a concise curriculum combining theoretical knowledge with methodological expertise, and research management strategies with teamwork skills in an academic setting. Doctoral candidates participate in the formal training program of the German Society of Toxicology to be eventually registered as certified toxicologists. A unique asset of the qualification program is a strong international network both in academia (Brisbane, Durham, Pittsburgh, New York) and in pharmaceutical and chemical industry (Roche) affording cutting edge internships and training opportunities. The RTG is incorporated into the Munich Medical Research School (MMRS) of the Medical Faculty of LMU Munich and successful graduates are formally be awarded a “PhD” complying with internationally accepted criteria or a “Dr. med.” degree. The continuing long-term goal of the RTG is even more up-to-date and relevant than before and aims at educating a new generation of highly qualified and competent toxicologists able to assume leading positions in academia, chemical and pharmaceutical industry as well as public administration and to face emerging societal challenges imposed by the continuously increasing chemical output.

Source: GEPRIS