Leibniz Institute for Environmental Medicine Research
| Leibniz Institute for Environmental Medicine Research (IUF) at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf |
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|---|---|
| Category: | research Institute |
| Carrier: | Society for the Promotion of Environmental Medicine Research eV |
| Seat of the wearer: | Dusseldorf |
| Membership: | Leibniz Association , associated |
| Facility location: | Dusseldorf |
| Type of research: | Basic research |
| Subjects: | Natural sciences , medicine |
| Areas of expertise: | Cell Biology , Molecular Immunology , Molecular Toxicology , Particle Research , Molecular Aging Research, and Epidemiology |
| Basic funding: | State of North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Management: | Jean Krutmann (Scientific Director) , Alexander Beaucamp (Commercial Director) |
| Employee: | approx. 120 (as of January 2010) |
| Annotation: | Affiliated institute |
| Homepage: | www.iuf.uni-duesseldorf.de |
The Leibniz Institute for Environmental Medicine Research (IUF) at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf is a legally independent, non-university research institution, a member of the Leibniz Association and is assigned to application-oriented basic research in the field of life sciences. The central task of the IUF is preventive medical research into the molecular mechanisms of environmentally induced disorders of human health ( molecular preventive medicine ). By analyzing and evaluating the health risk from exogenous noxae , preventive health care should be improved with regard to environmental pollution and preventive and therapeutic approaches developed.
history
The institute was founded in 2001 in the legal form of a non-profit GmbH. The sole shareholder is the Society for the Promotion of Environmental Medicine Research - an association of seven renowned medical societies. The IUF is institutionally funded by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia through the Ministry for Innovation, Science, Research and Technology.
On March 8th and 9th, 2007 the institute was appraised by the Science Council. As a result, the inclusion of the Institute for Environmental Medicine Research into joint funding by the federal and state governments was recommended according to the implementation agreement for research institutions. The IUF has been an associated member of the Leibniz Association since autumn 2007. The joint funding of the IUF by the federal and state governments within the Leibniz Association was decided in 2009 and began on January 1, 2011. The institute is connected as an affiliated institute with the University of Düsseldorf via a cooperation agreement.
research
Since the institute was founded, the IUF has been working on two main research topics: environmentally induced aging processes and environmentally induced disorders of the immune system, especially allergies. With regard to environmental pollutants, the focus is on particles ( airborne dust , especially nanoparticles) and non-ionizing radiation (UV and infrared radiation). The research work is carried out interdisciplinary and across teams in a total of 15 working groups using cell biological, immunological, toxicological, molecular biological and epidemiological methods. The research approach of the IUF requires one or more interface organs (interface medicine) as experimental models. For this reason, studies are mainly carried out on the skin, the lungs and the intestines - in some cases also on the brain, the cardiovascular system and the liver. In order to make optimal use of the limited scientific resources, the research projects are increasingly focusing on the skin as a model organ that is important for environmental medicine. The studies are carried out both in vitro on cultured cells and in vivo on animal models and humans. The scientific work of the IUF is essentially characterized by cross-group, integrated research approaches. Examples of this are the investigation of the cellular effects of nanoparticles (nano-cell responses) as well as studies on aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated signal transduction in the skin.
Scientific expertise / working groups
Three working groups are currently working on cell biological issues . One focus is the analysis of the photobiological and molecular basis of the induction of gene expression by ultraviolet radiation. Changes in membrane lipids and proteins caused by oxidative stress and the resulting signal processes in the cell that lead to the induction of gene expression are currently in the foreground. In addition, interactions between the UVA and UVB response in the skin model as well as the biological effect of infrared radiation are investigated, paying particular attention to degenerative processes and a potential cancer risk.
More recent studies concern the effects of dusts, especially nanoparticles, on the structure and function of the cell nucleus, especially the protein degradation by the nuclear ubiquitin-proteasome system. Due to the growing industrial and biotechnological use of nanotechnology as well as the increasing spread of nanoparticles, especially in urban centers (traffic), the clarification of biological effects and mechanisms of action of this new environmental pollutant is of great importance.
Two working groups have expertise in the field of molecular immunology . These investigate the mechanisms by which environmental pollutants can cause immunotoxic effects or are involved in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. The focus is on questions of immune regulation by dendritic cells, the disruption of T cell maturation in the thymus caused by activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the further characterization of UVB-induced immunosuppressive effects. In addition, there is special expertise in the generation of transgenic mouse models .
Three working groups are distinguished by their expertise in the field of molecular toxicology . They focus on the characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying the tumor-promoting effects of dioxin, particles and UV radiation as well as the endocrine effects of environmental chemicals. The main focus of the research is the analysis of the function of the AhR in the modulation of cell growth and differentiation induced by UV radiation or dioxin. In addition, the molecular mechanisms of particle-induced tumor formation are examined with in vitro models in order to clarify whether genotoxic or cytotoxic processes lead to tumor development. Furthermore, a model with human neuronal cells was developed to test the developmental neurotoxicity of chemical substances, which is now used to test environmental toxins.
Two working groups deal with particle research and examine the molecular mechanisms of harmful effects that result from exposure to environmental particles . Real-life particles such as fine dust from the outside air, inhalable quartz particles and nanoparticles as well as carefully developed model particles are used. Current research projects focus on the particle-induced activation of signaling pathways that play a role in the development of inflammatory and proliferative processes, as well as on the effects of particles on DNA damage and repair.
An epidemiological working group investigates the emergence and development of respiratory diseases and allergies in childhood as well as aging processes and associated health impairments (skin aging, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases) by means of cohort and panel studies as well as in repeated cross-sectional studies. In particular, it is examined to what extent these processes are caused or modified by particle emissions from road traffic, UV radiation, biogenic (pollen) and / or genetic factors.
Three working groups have expertise in the field of molecular aging research . They characterize the mechanisms through which environmental pollutants lead to a premature aging process. Of particular interest are the ability of environmental pollutants to trigger what is known as "mitochondrial aging" in human cells, the ability of infrared radiation to cause premature aging of human skin, the effects of environmental pollutants on protein oxidation, protein degradation processes and protein translocation and the importance of environmentally induced signal cascades for cellular aging processes. These examinations are essentially carried out on three model organs: the skin, the nervous system and the cardiovascular system. In addition, together with the epidemiology department, it is investigated whether certain age groups are characterized by a specific sensitivity to environmental noxa.
Infrastructure
The total budget in 2009 was 9.1 million euros, of which 4.5 million euros were acquired as third-party funding.
The IUF is headed by the scientific director Jean Krutmann . Commercial director is Dr. Alexander Beaucamp .
The IUF has around 120 employees, including around 70 scientists. Almost two thirds of the employees are financed by project-related funds from the DFG, the BMBF, the EU and other third-party funds.
Cooperations
The research groups of the IUF are closely linked to one another through their working methods and topics. The interdisciplinary approach is characteristic of research at the IUF and forms the basis for a large number of national and international collaborations with other research institutions.
A cooperation agreement with the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) gives the IUF the status of an affiliated institute. The director of the institute is also the professor for environmental medicine at HHU. Other IUF scientists are involved in teaching at HHU. In terms of content, the IUF contributes significantly to the research focus " Environmental Medicine and Aging Research " of the Medical Faculty with its research program . The IUF is involved in four DFG-funded special research areas, three graduate schools and one research group. In addition, there is a liaison group each with the HHU and RWTH Aachen.
The IUF cooperates with a number of non-university research institutions. These include the National Institute for Public Health on the Environment in Bilthoven, the Helmholtz Zentrum München , the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research , the Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology , the Leibniz Institute for Labor Research at TU Dortmund University, and the Leibniz Institute for Aging Research in Jena and the Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research in Düsseldorf.
Web links
Footnotes
- ^ Statement of the Science Council of July 13, 2007 (PDF)
- ↑ Rebekka Kötting: Leibniz Association is growing. Joint Science Conference (GWK), press release from November 2, 2009 from the Science Information Service (idw-online.de), accessed on September 15, 2015.
- ↑ see research institutions at the Medical Faculty ( memento of the original from June 26, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
