Sonderforschungsbereich 415:
"Specifity and Pathophysiology of Signal Transduction Pathways"

Research Program

The research program of the collaborative research project SFB 415 "Specificity and Pathophysiology of Signal Transduction Pathways" focusses on the molecular characterization of receptor-mediated signal transduction and intracellular signalling pathways. Moreover, we intend to analyse these pathways in the context of pathophysiologically relevant disease models. In principle, all human genes including those involved in signalling pathways have been deciphered. Nevertheless, the complexity of intracellular signalling pathways still remains unsolved in many aspects. Since its establishment in 1998, a major aim of our SFB 415 has been to verify the discoveries of basic science in experimental disease models in vivo and to develop clinical applications as soon as possible. Therefore, the participation of research groups from clinical departments is a central feature of the SFB 415. Major research topics of the SFB 415 address the significance of specific signalling pathways in the context of cellular differentiation, cancer development, infection, and differentiation. 17 groups from various University Institutes (Immunology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology), the Section of Molecular Oncology, the Department of Internal Medicine, the Dermatology Department, and the near-by Research Center Borstel contribute to the SFB 415. Moreover, we have established a central facility for gene expression analysis. Please refer to the individual research projects for further information.

Project Groups

The National Research Center 415 is divided into four groups of projects:

A »Apoptosis and Anti-Apoptosis« with eight projects

B »Differentiation and Regeneration« with six projects

C »Inflammation and Infection« with four projects

Z »Systematic expression analysis«