Der CTRD Postdoc Award 2020 geht an Dr. Julieta Aprea and Dr. Kenneth Peuker! Herzlichen Glückwunsch!

Im diesem Jahr wurde zum ersten Mal der CRTD Postdoc Award verliehen – der Preis, der die exzellenten wissenschaftlichen Leistungen am CRTD anerkennt. Das Preiskomitee bewertete eine Reihe beeindruckender Bewerbungen und wählte nach langer Beratung nicht nur einen, sondern zwei Preisträger aus!

Dr. Julieta Aprea arbeitet in der Arbeitsgruppe von Prof. Dr. Federico Calegari. “I study brain development and I am currently working on two different lines of research. One focuses on the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in the development of the brain, particularly the cerebral cortex. More specifically, I am looking at what role a novel lncRNA plays in the expansion of different populations of stem cells and progenitor cells - cells that have more limited potency and self-renewal capacities than stem cells. Through the other research line, I have identified novel discrete progenitor domains in the developing cerebral cortex. These domains have sharply defined boundaries and are characterized by the expression of a specific transcriptional cofactor, which might be important for arealization - the process in which the cortex subdivides into areas with a defined function,” erklärt Dr. Aprea.

Dr. Kenneth Peuker arbeitet in der Arbeitsgruppe von Prof. Dr. Sebastian Zeißig. “My postdoctoral work focuses on the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the cells lining up the intestine - the intestinal epithelium. I am analyzing this intestinal compartment under healthy and pathological conditions, as many diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and cancer dysregulate the intestinal epithelium. Through my work, I characterized novel pathways that are critical for the control of epithelial regeneration. I also showed how changes in epithelial regeneration could lead to diseases. Moreover, my research revealed pathways amenable to therapeutic targeting. Therefore, my work could provide a basis for future therapeutic strategies, e.g., promoting epithelial regeneration in case of defects in wound healing, which is common for inflammatory bowel disease, or interfering with the uncontrolled regeneration, which happens in intestinal tumors,” sagt Dr. Peuker.

Unsere herzlichen Glückwünsche gehen an beide Forscher, die jeweils ein Budget in Höhe von 10.000 Euro erhalten, um eigene Projekte voran zu treiben und ihre wissenschaftliche Karriere gezielt zu fördern.