Bernd-Uwe retires - EMBL Grenoble

Photos:ChristinePanagiotidisResearchers from the Medical Faculty of theUniversity of Heidelberg got together withEMBL scientists on 27 November for the 5thMolecular Medicine Partnership Unit(MMPU) Research Day.Predocs, postdocs and physicians from thefive MMPU groups – which are headed byone group leader from EMBL together withone from the Medical Faculty – presentedtheir recent findings on understanding RNAquality control by NMD, paediatric brain tumours,lung diseases, colon tumours andregulators in cholesterol uptake.The partnership, which was set up in 2002by EMBL’s Matthias Hentze and AndreasKulozik from the Angelika-LautenschlägerThe MMPU Research Day: What did you think?“It’s an opportunity to hear from theother groups and see how we mightcollaborate in the future. It’s also niceto be in the new ATC!” – Marcus Mall,MMPU group leader. Recentlybecame the first ever recipient of a HeisenbergProfessorship at Heidelberg’s Medical Faculty“I’m used to always talking toclinicians, so an audience of basicresearchers is a real change. TheMMPU bridges the gap betweenthe two very effectively.” – Guestspeaker Stefan Pfister, DKFZOpen doors atthe MMPUHospital for Children and Adolescents atHeidelberg University, aims to strengthenthe link between molecular research andmedicine by combining studies of the basisof common human diseases with applicationsin diagnosis and therapy.“The MMPU Research Day, held twice ayear, is becoming a conference not only forMMPU members but also for the medicaland scientific community in Heidelberg,”says Britta Schläger, who supports the managementof the MMPU. “It’s a platform for abroad scientific audience to learn about thelatest translational projects of the groupsand to get in contact with EMBL scientists,as well as with Medical Faculty clinicians.”“The open day has provided anopportunity for students in theMMPU groups to present theirdata in a relaxed atmosphere,despite the very tight schedule!” –Heiko Runz, MMPU group leader, HeidelbergUniversity“It’s a great way for me to getsome insights into the work of theMMPU, as I’m planning to joinHeiko’s group downtown as apostdoc.” – Carolina Tangemo,EMBL PhD student, Pepperkok teamELLS in GenoaIn October European Learning Laboratoryfor the Life Sciences (ELLS) officersRossana De Lorenzi and newrecruit Tommaso Nastasi from EMBLMonterondo took part in one of Italy’sbiggest scientific outreach events,Genoa’s Festival della Scienza.In the hallowed surroundings of thechurch of Sant’Agostino, Rossana(below left) and Tommaso used anewly-developed activity, ‘Naturallyunbiased’, to introduce some of the200,000 festival-goers to the world ofmicrobes. Participants were helped toobserve microbes in their own salivaand from yoghurt, after which theylearnt about how sequencing is producingan ever-growing bulk of dataand allowing scientists to discover newmicroorganisms and functions.Building bridges: the Postdoc Retreat‘Retreat (n): 1. the forced or strategicwithdrawal of an armed force before anenemy; 2. an asylum for the insane; 3. periodof retirement for religious exercises, mediationor study’. For the 84 EMBL postdocswho made the journey to Lago Maggiore on4-6 November, their annual getaway was acombination of at least two of these three.Held at the Hotel de Palma in Stresa, Italy– the midpoint between Heidelberg, Monterotondoand Grenoble – this year’s retreatenjoyed a rise in attendance, especially fromthe outstations. As well as being a chance forpostdocs to get away from it, hear all abouteach others’ work and network with theirpeers, the event boasted distinguished andinspiring speakers in the shape of LewisWolpert, Miroslav Radman and EMBLalumnus Carlo Petosa. While Lewis sparkeda very philosophical discussion with his talkon causal beliefs, Miroslav challenged theaudience with his creative, high-risk research,and Carlo calmed frayed postdocnerves with a comforting story of how a Naturepaper really gets written.The location certainly lent itself to relaxationand reflection. When they weren’tbusy in the scientific sessions, the postdocsenjoyed several dips in the hotel’s panoramicjacuzzi, as well as a boat trip to neighbouringislands. “It presented all the eerie charmof a deserted tourist trap off-season, and waseven devoid of locals,” comments RemcoLoos. “It’s not every day your conferenceposter gets reflected in a set of gold-framedbaroque mirrors,” adds Aidan Budd.“The overwhelming success of this year’sretreat is thanks to everyone lending a handto make sure everything went smoothly,”says SebastianGlatt, who led theorganising committee.“I’d alsolike to thankEICAT for coveringthe rise in attendanceso thatwe didn’t have tobe limited to 60people.”Top: invited speakers Miroslav Radman, LouisWolpert and Carlo Petosa; above, the PostdocAssociation Committee; beautiful LagoMaggiore. Below: the 84 attendeesPhotos: Jan Medenbach10EMBL&cetera • December 2009