Bewilligungen im Jahr 2008 - Volkswagen Stiftung

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take the next step in the elucidation of the intricate relationship between psychological
mechanisms and molecular underpinnings, the combination of methods derived from
various disciplines is crucial. By incorporating psychological measurements, peripheral
biomarkers of physiological stress systems, and state-of-the-art functional genomics
technology, a first study will be attempted comprehensively assessing the underlying
pathophysiology of severe chronic fatigue. Further, intervention research will be
implemented in the project, thus allowing definition of biological pathways resulting from
treatment success or failure in this disabling condition.
Universität Marburg
Fachbereich Psychologie
Lichtenberg-Professur für Klinische Biopsychologie
Professor Dr. Urs Markus Nater
Gutenbergstraße 18
35032 Marburg
Tel.: 06421 282 3943
Fax: 06421 282 6949
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Tübingen
Evaluation of cell specific inflammatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of
atherosclerosis
Bewilligung: 01.12.2011 Laufzeit: 5 Jahre
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and one of the most common causes
of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although progress has been made many features of
this complex disease, especially spatiotemporal aspects of disease progression and cellspecific
mechanisms, remain ill-defined. The professorship aims to investigate
atherogenesis with focus on cells of the inflammatory response in atherosclerosis.
Especially the impact of insufficiently characterized cell types affecting atherogenesis will
be the focus of the project. In a first part the presence of inflammatory cells such as
dendritic cells or platelets as well as macrophages serving as "reference cells" will be
assessed systematically at different stages of the disease. Furthermore, the differential
regulation of inflammatory molecules will be studied. Newly identified candidates as well
as established participants will be evaluated with cell-specific in vivo approaches. The
wire induced vessel injury model will be used as a second in vivo disease model,
assessing for cell-specific effects on neointima formation. In addition, the molecular
mechanisms mediating the cell-cell interactions between dendritic cells and platelets will
be explored that could be relevant to atherosclerosis in vitro and potentially in vivo.
Universität Tübingen
Medizinische Fakultät
Professor Dr. Harald F. Langer
Geissweg 5
72076 Tübingen
Tel.: 07071 2984484
Fax: 07071 295749
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