Project start for DZG-overarching research project in Dresden

United against common diseases! This is the mission of the German Centers for Health Research (DZGs). Their scientists are working to optimize the translation of research results into patient care, thereby significantly improving the prevention and treatment of these diseases.

It´s time: project start for the winners of this year's DZG-overarching research project in Dresden. The awardees were honored at the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Dresden by Prof. Mechthild Krause and Prof. Michele Solimena.

At the annual joint symposium, the three Dresden DZGs – the Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), and the aforementioned DKTK – once again announced seed funding for cross-DZG projects this year. The aim of this funding is to enable new translational activities between the DZGs in Dresden that arise at the thematic interfaces of the centers.

This year, one project team received 10,000 EUR in seed funding. In the project "Metabolic-epigenetic crosstalk as a driver of aging, disease and cognitive decline", Sara Zocher (DZNE) and Zeina Nicola (DZD/PLID) want to gain new insights into the causes of brain ageing. In collaboration with Claudia Peitzsch, they are using the Mass Cytometry Facility of CRTD and use metabolic targeting to investigate the neuronal epigenome as a potential therapeutic intervention. The long-term aim is to counteract age-related brain dysfunction in this way.

Diabetes, cancer, and dementia: As different as these diseases may seem, there are often connections that are relevant for the development of therapeutic approaches and diagnostic methods. The active networking of the DZGs thus represents a unique opportunity to develop completely new and innovative research approaches. Dresden is a pioneer in this field, as the three Dresden-based DZGs have been closely connected for several years.

Diabetes, cancer and dementia: as different as these diseases may appear, there are often crosslinks that are relevant for the development of therapeutic approaches and investigative methods. The active networking of different DZGs thus reflects a unique opportunity to develop completely new and innovative research approaches. Dresden is a pioneer in this respect, as the three Dresden-based DZGs have been closely connected for several years.