The M3 Scientific Advisory Board brings together internationally recognized scientists whose expertise spans organ development, cancer biology, microbiome research, immunology, and biomedical data science. Their combined knowledge, rooted in cutting-edge research and clinical translation, provides invaluable strategic guidance to ensure our work remains innovative and impactful.
Scientific Advisory Board
Nordheim
Prof. Dr. Alfred Nordheim – Head of the Scientific Advisory Board
Head of Department of Molecular Biology, University of Tübingen
Research Group “Vertebrate Organ Development and Function”
The research group focusses on the molecular genetics of vertebrate (murine, human) organ development, organ function and pathologic organ dysfunction.
A recent focus of the groups research activities is directed toward cancer biology. Specifically a murine model for progression of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcioma, HCC) has been developed and is currently being analyzed by multi-omic technologies.
Bork
Prof. Dr. Peer Bork
Director of EMBL Heidelberg
Research Group: “Deciphering function and evolution of biological systems”
The focus of the group is the analysis of microbiome data, from both the human gut and the environment.
The group works across spatial scales, from genes, proteins, and small molecules over molecular and cellular networks to microbial communities. They focus on the computational analysis of microbiome data from both the human gut and the environment. By integrating large-scale datasets of public and in-house metagenomic data, they aim to find diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of diseases, and look for patterns that only become apparent at a global scale, such as enterotypes or variations in microbial load.
Kohlbacher
Prof. Dr. Oliver Kohlbacher
Professor for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Tübingen
The Kohlbacher lab currently consists of two different groups at University of Tübingen (Applied Bioinformatics) and the University Hospital Tübingen (Translational Bioinformatics).
The Chair for Applied Bioinformatics focuses on research in the analysis of omics data (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics), structural bioinformatics, and computational immunomics. They are working closely with experimental labs and develop and apply novel methods and algorithms to solve problems in the life sciences.
The Institute for Translational Bioinformatics at the University Hospital Tübingen is working at the interface between medical informatics and bioinformatics. As part of the DIFUTURE consortiums, they are working on the development and establishment of Data Integration Centers as part of the German Medical Informatics Initiative.
Tasdogan
Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Tasdogan
Director of the Institute for Tumor metabolism, Clinic for Dermatology, University Hospital Essen
Research Group: “Tumor Metabolism”
The research group is focusing on metabolic changes in melanoma cancer cells and stem cells i.a. in patients. They focus on cancer metastasis which is a complex process where cells have to adapt their metabolism in order to survive. They also work with hematopoietic stem cells that are known for the tight regulation of their metabolism esp. during regeneration.
They are using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry to assess metabolic differences in cells. They also use stable isotope tracers to better understand and dissect metabolic fluxes in cells.
Overall, their goal is to gain more insights in cancer metabolism during metastasis to assess metabolic adaptations.
Macpherson
Prof. Dr. Andrew Macpherson
Principal Investigator, Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern
Research Group: “Mucosal Immunology”
Prof. Macpherson’s work has shown that there are different pathways of induction of immunoglobulin (Ig)A in the intestinal mucosa by commensal intestinal microbes, with and without help from T cells. He has also shown a compartmentalisation between the mucosal and systemic Ig responses to commensals, since mucosal immune responses are driven locally in the mucosal compartment by dendritic cells that have sampled commensals at the epithelial surface.
His lab has developed methods of reversible colonisation of germ-free mice to allow intestinal colonisation with commensals and mucosal immune priming to be experimentally uncoupled, to address mucosal immune memory and the functional consequences of mucosal immune responses in host-microbial mutualism.
The research group studies the way in which IgA is secreted into the intestine to promote the peaceful coexistence of intestinal commensal bacteria and the host. They will focus on how live microbes are prevented from entering the tissues of the body, yet provided with the right environment next to the intestinal membrane to form stable growing communities.
