Events

Prof. Dr. Walter Nickel from the Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center will held a talk about „Molecular mechanism and machinery driving unconventional secretion of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 from tumor cells“ during the MBExC Lecture on 7 July, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at the library of the Humboldtallee 23, room 1.122.

Abstract:
The vast majority of secretory proteins contain N-terminal signal peptides for ER/Golgi-dependent transport into the extracellular space. Exceptions from this general mode of protein secretion from mammalian cells have been discovered more than 30 years ago, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these alternative secretory pathways have remained elusive until recently. Proteins following such secretory routes have fundamental physiological functions in both health and disease, with Interleukin 1β and Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 being prime examples. The discoveries revealing the molecular mechanisms driving unconventional protein secretion did not only solve long-standing problems in molecular cell biology but also paved the way for new strategies for the treatment of for example inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Host: Prof. Dr. Peter Rehling, University Medical Center Göttingen

Poster of the talk:

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to „Meet-the-PI“ and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Professor Karen Steel, PhD, FRS, FMedSci, from the Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre, King’s College London will held a talk about „Which types of hearing loss can be reversed?“ during the MBExC Lecture on 20 August, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. at the Michael Lankeit lecture hall, German Primate Center (DPZ), Kellnerweg 4.

Abstract

Progressive hearing loss is very common, particularly as people get older, and there are no medical treatments to slow down or stop the progression for the vast majority of cases. Hearing loss is highly heterogeneous, both in its causes and in the resulting pathology. Therefore, we are likely to need a range of different therapies for different causes and different sites-of-lesion within the inner ear. Some types of pathology may be treatable, even reversible, while other pathologies may not be treatable. Therefore, diagnosis of the cause, or at least the site-of-lesion, will be important to stratify patients for clinical trials, then to select the best treatment for each person. In this talk, I will summarise our understanding of the different ways we can lose our hearing, our progress using model systems to establish which types of pathology could be reversed, and how mouse mutants are giving us clues to how to distinguish different sites-of-lesion.

Host: Dr. Barbara Vona, UMG

Poster of the talk:

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to „Meet-the-PI“ and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Internal Event of the Hertha Sponer College

Hertha Sponer College Retreat 2025

DATE: 22 September 2025
VENUE: „Schlosshotel Blankenburg, Blankenburg, Harz