Program Overview

Research Training Group "TJ-Train" GRK 2318

The Research Training Group "TJ-Train" (GRK 2318) is a Research Training Group (Graduiertenkolleg) of the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG), located in Berlin at sites of the Charitť, MDC, and FMP.

Description

Our first cohort of PhD doctoral students will finish this year. We also offer doctoral thesis projects for Charitť medical students. The DFG provides one-year student grants for financing the necessary interception of the MSM study.

Research Focus

The tight junction (TJ) connects neighbouring epithelial or endothelial cells and is the central element of barrier function, as it controls paracellular passage of solutes and water. Whether the TJ simply increases tightness or selectively mediates permeability varies greatly in different tissues and is determined by the TJ protein composition. TJs underlie extensive extra- and intracellular signalling, but also regulate epithelial functions and cellular differentiation. Furthermore, numerous TJ proteins serve as receptors for certain pathogens. Thus, TJ proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Alterations in TJ composition and architecture may cause unwanted leak flux or antigen passage and may thus maintain disease activity or even directly trigger disease onset.

Coordinators

• Coordinator: Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. JŲrg-Dieter Schulzke
• Deputy Coordinator: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Dorothee GŁnzel
• Scientific Coordinator: Priv.-Doz. Dr. rer. medic. Rita Rosenthal
• Scientific Coordinator: Dr. rer. nat. Danielle Cardoso da Silva

Location

CharitťCentrum fŁr Innere Medizin mit Gastroenterologie und Nephrologie (CC 13), Graduiertenkolleg "TJ-Train" GRK 2318, Charitť Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin