Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Pediatric Molecular Biology

The clinical research group "Pediatric Molecular Biology" was established in 1995. The main scientific interests cover topics in haematology, oncology and immunology, reflecting the primary clinical activities of the department. Research in the experimental oncology group focuses on the functional analysis of two transcription factors: the newly cloned E2F-like factor EMA and the human cytomegalovirus immediate early 2 protein. Our particular interest in these two factors is based on their function in cell cycle control and the regulation of apoptosis. The haematology group works on a newly defined mechanism of quality control in gene expression: the decay of non-sense mediated mRNAs is believed to be a protection mechansism from dominant negative functions of truncated polypeptides. In this respect the main interest lies on a subform on b-thalassemia. A second project examines the importance of APC resistance in childhood. A large prospective study aims at evaluating the importance of this clotting disorder during the first three years of childhood. Finally the immunology group has a long standing interest in autoimmune disease. Particular interest here focuses on thrombocytopenia and the role of autoantibodies in the development of the disease as well as autoantibodies as diagnostic and possibly therapeutic tools.

Participating Departments of Humboldt-Universität Berlin:
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Clinic of General Pediatrics

Spokesperson:
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Gaedicke
Humboldt-Universität Berlin
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Clinic of General Pediatrics
Augustenburger Platz 1
D-13353 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 450-566161/566161
Fax: +49 30 450-566916
E-Mail: gerhard.gaedicke@charite.de

Head of the Research Group:
Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Hagemeier, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Laboratories of Pediatric Molecular Biology, Clinic of General Pediatrics

Participating Scientists of Humboldt-Universität:
Project leader: PD Dr. Peter Fischer, Prof. Dr. Gerhard Gaedicke, Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Hagemeier, Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Kulozik, Dr. Martina Uttenreuther-Fischer, Dr. Sabine Ziemer
Participating scientists: Patrick Booms, Ann-Christine Hecker, Katrin Knoll, Heidrun Lemke, Stephan Leucht, Natascha Milardovic, Gaby Neu-Yilik, Nicole Neveling, Awuku Osei, Michael Pohlers, Rolf Thermann, Dr. Frank Tiecke, Dr. Matthias Truss, Dr. Barbara Vetter, Lüder Wiebusch
Technical assistants: Ute Frede, Iris Gruska, Heike Lerch, Anneliese Lingelbach
Office: Patricia Elsner

Duration:
10/1998 - 7/2004