NeuroCure researchers awarded prestigious EU grant
07.11.2011
Two researchers of the Cluster of Excellence NeuroCure at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch and the Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie Berlin (FMP) have independently of one another received the renowned European Research Council (ERC) research award. Neurobiologists Prof. Gary Lewin (MDC) and Prof. Thomas Jentsch (MDC/FMP) will each receive an ERC Advanced Grant of 2.5 million euros in research support.
With this support, Prof. Jentsch and his group want to investigate ion channels regulating the intracellular milieu and cell volume. These channels are important for the entire organism and play a significant role in the development of diseases of the nervous system and other organs.
Prof. Lewin researches the African naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber), one of the earth’s most unusual mammals which thrives in an extreme habitat and feels no pain. With his ERC grant Prof. Lewin wants to identify the genes enabling the naked mole-rat’s unusual lifestyle.
These outstanding scientists were chosen out of several thousand applicants. The research grant covers five years beginning in 2012.
