Newsletter 06/2016: Research, Prizes, Alumni

Dear reader,

Would you have guessed that the picture of a mouse embryo wins a beauty contest? The beauty contest we are talking about is the Best Scientific Images Contest on Campus Buch. This year’s winner photo is the picture you can see below, a mouse embryo with its nervous system glowing green.

This newsletter features news about SORLA: Vanessa Schmidt from Thomas Willnow’s group found out that this protein can be co-responsible for overweight. Another MDC study reveals new facts about preeclampsia.

We are happy to announce that MDC researcher Jan Philipp Juncker won this year’s ARCHES prize. And the MDC was awarded the audit berufundfamilie certificate for its family-friendly policies.

Be sure to check out our new „must reads“ article series about new studies, recommended by our scientists.

Do you like our redesigned newsletter? Tell us what you think.

Enjoy reading,

Your MDC Insights Team

RESEARCH

Science

Insulin-sensitive fat leads to obesity

SORLA is a protein that influences metabolism in adipose tissue. If there is too much of the molecule, fat cells become overly sensitive to insulin and break down less fat. This new link between SORLA and increases in body weight was discovered by MDC researchers. SORLA was previously known for its role in defending the brain against Alzheimer’s disease.
Press Release No. 24 Berlin

Preeclampsia: Inflammation of the placenta interferes with fetal development

In the womb, the fetus receives the nourishment it requires via the placenta. It is here that the...
Rekonstruktion von Nervenzellen des primär-sensorischen Kortex aus Schicht L2/3 (rot) und L5 (blau).
Press Release No. 25 Berlin

Wiretapping the senses

An ultimate goal of neurobiological research is to understand how a brain integrates a constant flow...

PRIZES & AWARDS

Max Delbrück Center once again awarded family-friendly status
Press Release No. 28 Berlin

Max Delbrück Center once again awarded family-friendly status

On June 23, 2016, the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) was awarded the audit berufundfamilie (”Work and Family“) certificate for the third time for its family-friendly policies. Some of the MDC’s new measures include health promotion offers and a service for employees who have to care for family members.
Stock Photo newspapers
Press Release No. 26 Berlin

ARCHES award for MDC researcher: High-resolution maps of genetic modifications

Physicist Jan Philipp Junker knows exactly when which genes are active in which region of the body...

ALUMNI

Sonya Dumanis as a guest at the MDC
Science

Outside of academia – still on the forefront of curiosity-driven thinking

MDC Alumna Sonya Dumanis came to one of the MDC's Career Talks to discuss and reflect on her experiences at the MDC, in and outside research.

OUT OF THE BOX

folder
Science

Must Read: Nikolaus Rajewsky recommends a paper on mRNA localization

Nikolaus Rajewsky recommended a number of papers during his recent lecture series on RNA. This one from the Burge lab at MIT also involves neurons. Have you recently read an important paper from your field that you'd like to recommend to your colleagues?