News & Events

Cells continually renew themselves by “digesting” unused cellular material. This mechanism is called autophagy – an area in which immunologist Katja Simon has specialized. She has devised ways to use it to slow down the aging of immune cells.

Patricia Krüger works in the library at the Max Delbrück Center. She is responsible for acquiring new books and publications and is involved in the topic of Open Access. She also spends a lot of time reading literature in her free time.

EASI-Genomics, an EU-funded project designed to facilitate researchers’ access to cutting-edge DNA sequencing technologies, is nearing completion after four years. Janine Altmüller, head of the Genomics Platform, takes stock of what has been accomplished.

Studies conducted by research teams at the Max Delbrück Center and its partner institutions used a total of 54,402 animals in 2022. The Center has now submitted these figures to the Berlin State Office for Health and Social Affairs (LaGeSo).

Genes are not the only drivers of evolution. The iconic fins of skates are caused by changes in the non-coding parts of the genome and its three-dimensional structure, a research team including Darío Lupiáñez at the Max Delbrück Center reports in “Nature”.

Critically ill COVID-19 patients often have antibodies in their blood that bind to the body’s own structures. But these autoantibodies frequently bind to multiple targets, Kathrin de la Rosa’s team reports in “European Journal of Immunology.” This calls into question their role in disease progression.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have been working on mucosal vaccines that can be administered through the nose. Now, scientists in Berlin have developed a live attenuated vaccine for the nose. In “Nature Microbiology”, they describe the special immune protection it induces.

Reflections on equity in science: How can the progress that has been made teach us to overcome the challenges that remain? Professor Maike Sander, Scientific Director of the Max Delbrück Center, and Raeka Aiyar, PhD, Vice President, Scientific & DEIB Outreach of the NYSCF Research Institute chatted about how far we’ve come and the road ahead.

Uwe Ohler explores how gene regulation enables the development of complex organisms. Besides bioinformatics, he sings in a choir - and loves to read. For you, he has chosen a novel about two black boys in Florida: a story about injustice and racism based on an authentic case.