Dermatologist Ulrike Raap and anatomist Anja Bräuer have successfully acquired DFG funding.
Two new devices are now available for medical research at the School V - School of Medicine and Health Sciences: These are an "Olympus FV3000 Confocal Microscope with FLIM/FCS Upgrade Kit" and a central flow cytometer "Miltenyi Biotec, Type: MACSQuant Tyto" - a special measuring device for analysing and sorting cells. The new microscope, worth a total of 720,000 euros, is particularly suitable for imaging molecular processes on membranes, such as protein-protein or protein-lipid interaction of living cells, as well as for observations in deep tissue. The flow cytometer, worth 345,000 euros, not only enables the analysis of different cell types, but also the sorting of cells so that they can subsequently be analysed in more detail and functionally characterised.
Prof Dr Anja Bräuer will use the new microscope for various research projects in the Department of Anatomy. For several years, Bräuer has been investigating how nerve fibres grow in the brain and the influence of lipid metabolism and the interactions between fats and proteins on protein-lipid interactions. In this context, together with her colleagues from the Department of Anatomy, she is investigating a class of proteins that has been little researched to date and plays an important role in the formation of new synapses on the nerve cells in the brain, synaptogenesis. A better understanding of these molecular processes could help to better understand and treat neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, in the future.
Prof Dr Ulrike Raap 's research group is investigating, among other things, eosinophil and basophil granulocytes in inflammatory skin diseases associated with itching, such as neurodermatitis. Gentle sorting while retaining full functionality is crucial for the functional characterisation of these cells. This is made possible by the new cell sorter, which sorts the cells in a sterile, closed cartridge via a solenoid valve on a microchip at a very low pressure (3 PSI). More precise insights into the properties and interactions of these target effector cells will help to develop new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.
Both devices were acquired thanks to funding from the DFG and are available to other interested users of the School V - School of Medicine and Health Sciences, as well as other faculties, as a core facility.