Dr. Maximina Yun, research group leader at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) at the TU Dresden, jointly affiliated with Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), was appointed TUD Young Investigator. The recognition offers support for the development of her academic career and will strengthen her integration into the Biology Faculty of TU Dresden.

“The TUD Young Investigator status will allow me to integrate further within the German academic landscape. It should provide me with tools to develop my professorial track and help me forge new connections within the Faculty of Biology and beyond,” says Dr. Maximina Yun.

TU Dresden grants a TUD Young Investigator status to the excellent junior research group leaders. It provides opportunity to strengthen their position within the faculty and develop as mentors and leaders. TUD Young Investigators are given the opportunity to assess and examine doctoral theses, participate in teaching, and other faculty activities. They are also supported by a custom-tailored training that aims to advance their academic career.

Dr. Maximina Yun and her group study the cellular and molecular basis of regeneration of complex structures with the help of salamanders. These vertebrates have exceptional regenerative abilities. In contrast to humans, salamanders such as newts and axolotls are capable of regenerating tissues, and even entire organs, to a remarkable extent. Therefore, they offer unique insights into what molecular mechanisms must be in place for achieving quasi-perfect regeneration.

Research in the Yun group focuses on three main aspects: describing cellular and molecular mechanism driving regeneration, their connection with cellular aging, and the role the immune system plays in regenerative context. “Overall, our research seeks to expand the understanding of how adult regeneration can take place, why certain animals can repair their tissues whereas others cannot, and how to promote regeneration in non-regenerative organisms,” explains Dr. Yun. The research in Yun group combines advanced molecular biology methods with state-of-the-art microscopy. Most recently the group has established Salamander-Eci, a novel method that enables the three-dimensional visualization of salamander tissues for a more comprehensive understanding of regenerative processes.