Next Generation of Researchers starting out
In 2020, young scientists from the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut received the Langen Junior Science Award for outstanding research achievements.
Every year, the Association for the Promotion of the Langen Science Award honors talented scientists for their successful research at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut. The prize is funded by the Sparkasse Langen-Seligenstadt.
1st prize 2020: Dr Saskia Kohlscheen discovered that the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) promotes the proliferation of blood stem cells. This can contribute to the success of a stem cell transplantation – an important therapy option for patients with haematopoietic disorders such as leukaemia.
2nd prize 2020: Dr Bingfu Jiang described a new form of the hepatitis B virus – a previously unknown form of semi-enveloped viral particles. In chronic HBV diseases, mutations often occur in the part of the virus described by Dr Jiang. This is of major significance for the occurrence and development of liver infections.
3rd prize 2020: Dr Simone Dudek has been conducting research into the monoclonal antibody TGN1412, which in 2006 led to life-threatening adverse reactions in a clinical trial. Dr Dudek’s results show that the strength of the interaction between the antibody and the receptor does not necessarily determine the size of the effect. This calls into question a previously accepted postulate of immunology.
On the photo
Prof. Johannes Löwer; Prof. Ute Modlich p.p. Dr Saskia Kohlscheen; Frieder Gebhardt; Dr Bingfu Jiang; Walter Metzger; Dr Simone Dudek; Prof. Klaus Cichutek
Literature
Kohlscheen S, Schenk F, Rommel M, Cullmann K, Modlich U (2019): Endothelial protein C receptor supports hematopoietic stem cell engraftment and expansion in Mpl-deficient mice.
Blood 133: 1465-1478.
Jiang B, Wu Q, Kuhnhenn L, Akhras S, Spengler C, Boller K, Pfeiffer KH, Hildt E (2019): Formation of semi-enveloped particles as a unique feature of a hepatitis B virus PreS1 deletion mutant.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther 50: 940-954.
Dudek S, Weißmüller S, Anzaghe M, Miller L, Sterr S, Hoffmann K, Hengel H, Waibler Z (2019): Human Fcγ receptors compete for TGN1412 binding which determines the antibody's effector function.
Eur J Immunol 49: 1117-1126.