Emerging Fields Initiative

The goal of ADVENDO-LIFE at the interface between optical technology development and application in life sciences and medicine is the realization of a novel endoscopy-technology. Using laser-based multiphoton excitation of marker molecules, this technology aims to detect tumours and inflammatory processes in tissues already at the earliest possible time point and at the cellular level. As a second goal, multiphoton image data from diseased tissues will be systematically analyzed and implemented into a database describing the “ultrastructure of organ disease”.

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Advanced Optical Laser Technologies for Life Sciences and personalized Medicine (ADVENDO-LIFE)

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer that causes mortality in women. The extraordinary complexity of the corresponding tumour forms is considered to be the main reason why comparatively little is known at present about the development of breast cancer. This means that the currently available treatment methods lack predictive accuracy and options for verifying success at an early stage. Although the introduction of more effective medical techniques such as genome analysis and immunotherapies has improved prognoses significantly, there is still no targeted method of treating breast cancer successfully that is associated with few undesirable effects.

Participating in the Emerging Fields project entitled BIG-THERA is a multi-disciplinary team of internationally recognised researchers at FAU and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. The aim is to jointly develop new strategies with different approaches to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of breast cancer. The team has outstanding expertise at its disposal in the fields of clinical and preclinical breast cancer research, immunology, genetics, imaging, nanomedicine, ethics, theoretical physics, pattern recognition and Big Data management.

CYDER is an international interdisciplinary consortium of cell cycle experts, which aims at a better understanding of how cell cycle activation results in processes as diverse as cancer, regeneration and chronic organ failure. We pay particular attention to the discovery of novel mechanisms and unappreciated inter-cell type commonalities governing cell cycle exit and terminal differentiation. Ultimately, through these efforts, CYDER aims to generate an integrative view on cell cycle control and thus the foundation for the development of therapies for cell cycle-related diseases and the development of regenerative therapies.

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Cell Cycle in Disease and Regeneration

Science and literature represent two diametrically opposed ways of viewing the world. In combination they could develop a productive potential. ELINAS aims at creating an interdisciplinary infrastructure for research, dedicated to the reciprocal transfer of knowledge between physics and literature. The project studies the importance of language and metaphors in physical research as well as the discursive and narrative modulations of scientific theories in literary texts.

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ELINAS

‘Chemistry in living cells’ is a project that involves an interdisciplinary consortium of nine academic research groups based in Erlangen and Frankfurt that are working on the development of non-enzyme-dependent chemical reactions designed to run autonomously to intracellular processes. The reactions are intended to enable minuscule, membrane-permeable particles to merge inside living cells to create complex agents, fluorophores and radioactive sensors. The reactions will be designed to take occur only if particular bio-molecules specific to a disease (such as miRNAs, ROS) are present. The long-term aim of the project is to develop treatments for human diseases (including cancer) and to improve diagnostic methods.

Chemistry in living cells

Endoscopic molecular imaging represents a novel diagnostic procedure that enables us to identify mucosal lesions at an earlier stage and predict response to specific therapeutic strategies in different diseases.

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Ludwig Demling Center: Endoscopic Molecular Imaging

Up and coming new applications in biology, nano-technology and medicine make it necessary to find ways to connect objects and machines in dimensions that can be measured in nanometres and micrometres. The standard electromagnetic approaches for designing the corresponding communication systems are unsuitable in connection with magnitudes of this order. Communication between nano- and micro-objects such as bacteria and other cells, however, is widespread in the natural world. Signal molecules often function as information carriers in this regard, thus providing the basis of a physiological molecular communication system. The project concentrates the expertise available at FAU in the fields of electrotechnology, biology, materials science, mathematics and nano-medicine to design and implement synthetic molecular communication systems on the basis of natural mechanisms and processes.

The process of singlet fission opens a way to generate two excited electrons from one photon and to increase the efficiency of solar cells. The project aims at the fundamental understanding of the physical process leading to a knowledge-based design of novel materials for solar cells.

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Singlet fission in novel organic materials – an approach towards highly-efficient solar cells

A successful transformation of our energy system towards a smart energy system crucially depends on adequate investment incentives and the attractiveness of the business models of involved stakeholders. The aim of the research project “Sustainable Business Models in Energy Markets” is to develop new and urgently needed insight into the interaction between business models and regulation while taking into account the technological framework, and to allow a more informed discussion and advice regarding political and regulatory frameworks to ensure a successful transition towards a smart energy system.

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Sustainable Business Models in Energy Markets: Perspectives for the Implementation of Smart Energy Systems

The initiative “Synthetic Biology” aims at establishing an interdisciplinary research platform between the fields of Biology, Informatics, Mathematics, Material Science and Physics to understand biological phenomena at the nanometer scale, to explore rational metabolic engineering of living cells, and to create bio-inspired nano-devices. Such studies of synthetic systems will shed light on the workings of complex natural biological systems.

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Synthetic Biology

This project aims to identify bio‑objects as a driving factor for biotechnological developments, to chart their multidimensionality and to examine their effects on agents and society.

The Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics (ECAP) focuses on research at the interface of the fields of astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology.

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Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics (ECAP)

The research team of the EFI project ‘Medicinal Redox Inorganic Chemistry’ examines redox-active metal complexes and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), both capable of inactivating or modifying ROS/RNS. Here, the research focus is two-fold: the metal complexes and hydrogen sulfide will be studied (a) as pharmacological tools for analysing the function of ROS/RNS in (patho)physiological processes and (b) as agents for the regulation of the intracellular redox status and immune responses, as well as for the treatment of disease states related to immunodeficiency, inflammation/infection and neuropathology.

This project systematically explores the interplay between nutrition and neurofunction.

The ever-increasing demand for energy has lead to a significant increase in the research and development of alternative, non-fossil fuels. The research project ‘Next Generation Solar Power’ has the objective of developing a ground-breaking platform to produce chemical fuels using solar power. In doing so, the new centre will focus on future generations of photovoltaics, on nanotubular metal oxide architecture (NMOA) for solar water thermolysis and on artificial leaves (AL). It is hoped that fuel and electricity will ultimately be produced as efficiently and as sustainably as possible and that energy costs will be comparable to those of current energy generation from fossil fuels.

The reconciliation of quantum theory and the general theory of relativity into quantum geometry is regarded as one of the biggest challenges in modern fundamental physics. The FAU research project aims to help unravel this mystery.

The overall aim of this project is the fundamental research and development of cell-based tissue structures and, based on this, the complete regeneration of damaged organs, for example, the regeneration of bones with integrated vessels. It is intended to reproduce the micro-anatomical structure of bones and blood vessels based on the combination of new manufacturing processes for three-dimensional scaffolds in conjunction with bioactive materials, specific growth factors and patients’ own cells. It is hoped that these processes will pave the way for new intelligent therapies via the application of customised biomaterials and the production of complete organs or parts of organs in the laboratory or directly in the operating theatre on or in patients. This combination would eliminate the need for the complicated and protracted cultivation of tissues.