Receptor Dynamics
The International Doctorate Program “Receptor Dynamics“ connects different life sciences like pharmacy, biochemistry, pharmacology, and physics in order to use their respective methods for elucidating the unknown processes of receptor dynamics within the cell membrane and for unraveling the processes inside the cells.
| Degree | PhD |
| Duration of study | Six semesters |
| Place of study | Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg |
| Admission requirements | Master’s Degree in life sciences, State Exam in pharmacy (Germany), human medicine |
| Language | English |
| Application deadline | According to advertisement |
| Head | Prof. Dr. Michael Decker Prof. Dr. Martin J. Lohse |
| Coordinator | Dr. Ludwig Höllein Contact the coordinator |
Investigate receptor dynamics and make use for therapies
On their surface, cells have specialized structures, so-called receptors, which are able to communicate external stimuli into the inner compartments of the cell. The group of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) plays a very important role for such processes. Because they represent the central switch for almost all functions and processes inside of the human body, nowadays about 40 per cent of all active pharmaceutical ingredients constitute chemical entities which are able to selectively activate or block GPCRs (“ligands”). However, only little is known about the dynamics of these processes. How are these processes mediated at all and why do certain ligands e.g. activate a single distince signaling pathway only?
To answer these and other questions, novel molecular tools are being developed and synthesized chemically within the Graduate program “Receptor Dynamics”. They can be used for investigating a huge number of processes of signaling pathways, e.g. compounds which can be switched “on” and “off” by light or other ones being able to produce a single, distinct cell answer only. Besides such fundamental research activities, another type of molecules is being synthezied which is totally different from the aforementioned: so-calles isotope labeled ligands of the investigated GPCRs. They can be used for in vivo imaging in animals and humans, e.g. positron-emission tomography to visualize different types of receptors. Thus, dynamic processes being responsible for GPCR activation or attenuation during certain diseases could be used as diagnostic vehicles.
The scientific work is completed by developing novel techniques within the field of fluorescence microscopy or innovative biosensors. Consequently, the term „Receptor Dynamics“ is being embraced at different levels and thoughout all of its meanings, i.e. on the molecular level as well as its role during the incidence of a disease. Research groups from the fields of pharmacy, nuclear medicine, biophysics, and bioanalytics are working together closely to achieve these goals.
Of note, providing an international integration of all PhD students facilitates working on the actual are of research within an excellent and highly interdisciplinary surrounding and promotes the individual qualification of young up-and-coming scientists.
Prof. Dr. Michael Decker
Of note, the PhD students complement their studies with a stay abroad at leading research institutions, in the past e.g. in Vienna, Oxford, New York, or Barcelona. Regular national and international meetings, e.g. short “Retreats“ or “Summer Schools“ facilitate networking inside and outside of the group, like e.g. so far in Prague, Montpellier, and Rehovot in Israel.
Workshops, excursions, and seminars complete the Graduate Program, enabling the students to not only qualify themselves for responsibilities in the field of science.
