Latest Updates from the Max Perutz Labs

Grants and Awards

Two ERC Consolidator Grants for the MFPL

Nov 28, 2017

MFPL group leaders Claudine Kraft (University of Vienna) and Alwin Köhler (Medical University of Vienna) are each awarded a prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant. One of the most meaningful awards for researchers in Europe, the ERC Consolidator Grant will support their research in recognition of their future potential and past achievements. The funding amounts to EUR 2.000.000 over the course of five years for each grant. 

Publication

Veni Vidi Vici: How natural killer cells conquer the superbug Klebsiella

Nov 16, 2017

Multidrug resistance of microbes poses a serious global threat to human health. Such resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae significantly reduce therapeutic options for the treatment of Klebsiella-induced, potentially fatal pneumonia or sepsis. Pavel Kovarik and his team at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL), a joint venture of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna, together with colleagues at Queen’s University Belfast now report new insights into how immune cells communicate at the site of infection and join forces in the fight against Klebsiella infections. Their results, published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, might be used for the development of alternatives to ineffective anti-microbial drugs. 

Awards

The 2017 VBC PhD Awards

Nov 09, 2017

The 2017 VBC PhD Symposium ‘Continuum’ ended with the traditional VBC PhD Award ceremony on November 10th. The award is granted to postgraduate students to acknowledge outstanding PhD theses. It was inspired by MFPL group leader Renée Schroeder and is supported by the research institutes involved in postgraduate education at the VBC.

Awards

Laura Gallego Valle is Researcher of the Month November at the Medical University of Vienna

Nov 03, 2017

Congratulations to Laura, PhD student in Alwin Köhler’s lab! She is awarded on occasion of her recent publication “Structural mechanism for the recognition and ubiquitination of a single nucleosome residue by Rad6-Bre1”. This paper is the result of a multidisciplinary study carried out between the MFPL and the IMP in Vienna, and groups in LMU (Munich, Germany) and HHMI - University of Washington (Seattle, USA). 

Publication

New molecular mechanisms of a class of anti-cancer drugs discovered

Nov 02, 2017

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) regulate a great diversity of cellular processes, among them DNA repair, transcription, mitosis and cell fate, making them attractive targets in cancer therapy. PARP inhibitors, agents that block the activity of PARPs, have been undergoing multiple clinical trials in recent years. One of these inhibitors, olaparib, has eventually been approved as therapy for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer in the US and the EU in 2014. However, the molecular mechanisms of PARP inhibitors have not been fully understood.

Obituary for Denise P. Barlow

Oct 24, 2017

It is with deep regret that we have to report the untimely death of our colleague at the CeMM (Austrian Academy of Sciences), Prof. Dr. Denise P. Barlow. She passed away on October 21st, 2017 at the age of 67 after severe illness. 

Event

MFPL Career Day 2017

Oct 18, 2017

At the MFPL, career development on all levels is paramount. The MFPL therefore organizes a Career Day on a biennial basis for PhD students and Postdocs, as some of the most important career decisions are made during the PhD or Postdoc time. The Career Day offers a fantastic opportunity to explore a wide variety of career possibilities in the life sciences and beyond. 

Grants and Awards

Three FWF Stand-Alone grants for MFPL scientists

Oct 12, 2017

We congratulate Christa Bücker, Alexander Dammermann and Bojan Zagrovic on winning three prestigious FWF Stand-Alone grants. The FWF will support their research projects with a total of more than €1.1 million over the next three years.

Events

Cancer Research Run 2017

Oct 09, 2017

This year’s Cancer Research Run, organized by the Medical University of Vienna and the Initiative for Cancer Research, once again attracted thousands of supporters. 

Fellowship

Three uni:docs fellowships for MFPL PhD students

Oct 04, 2017

We congratulate our PhD students Madhwesh Coimbatore Ravichandran, Merrit Romeike and Adriana Savova for winning the uni:docs fellowship for highly qualified doctoral candidates of the University of Vienna!

Professorships

Five new full professorships for MFPL scientists

Sep 28, 2017

MFPL group leaders Verena Jantsch, Sascha Martens, Isabella Moll, Kristin Tessmar-Raible and Bojan Zagrovic have recently been promoted to full professors at the University of Vienna. We congratulate them to this great accomplishment, which recognizes their outstanding scientific achievements and dedication to education.

Event

Interscience – First interdisciplinary symposium of the Vienna Doctoral Schools

Sep 25, 2017

On September 14th and 15th 2017, the Großer & Kleiner Festsaal of the University of Vienna were the setting of the first joint conference of the four current Vienna Doctoral Schools (VDSs): Cognition, Behaviour and Neuroscience, Mathematics, Molecules of Life and Physics.