University of Giessen Lung Center

Signalling Mechanisms in Lung Physiology and Disease (SMLPD)

The existing structures of the International Garaduate Program „Molecular Biology and Medicine of the Lung” provides an optimal basis for an extended, coordinated Graduate Program with the Albert-Einstein College of Medicine and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, both situated in New York, USA. While the Lungcenter in Giessen is internationally accredited for adult pulmonary medicine, both centers in New York exhibit great expertise in pediatric pulmonology. Thus, the nature of this proposal is synergistic. Each center offers a number of complimentary expertise’s: Whereas the center in Giessen is highly accredited for adult pulmonary medicine, both centers in New York exhibit great expertise in pediatric pulmonology. This allows the integration of all projects from a developmental viewpoint and the approach of the pathophysiology of lung diseases from a very broad scope. Research topics in this program include most relevant aspects of respiratory medicine, addressing both basic and clinical science aspects In particular attention is directed to pulmonary hypertension and its underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms, lung fibrosis and lung tissue remodeling, mechanisms of alveolar inflammation, lung development and regulation of alveolarization, pulmonary oxygen sensing and hypoxia driven lung abnormalities, airway inflammation and remodeling, and the contribution of advanced glycation endproducts to lung pathology.

On the basis of a synchronized study program with a comprehensive curriculum, the Program aims to further an existing and synergistic, intercontinental research community in Germany and the US. The Program „Signalling Mechanisms in Lung Physiology and Disease” (SMLPD) is the first transatlantic biomedical Graduate Program between a German and two American Universities. Incoming students will be recruited internationally and will be mentored by both an American and a German Primary Investigator for the time of their graduate studies. The scientific projects will mainly be performed at Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, but a mobility period of 6-12 months is a definite part of the intense graduate education in pulmonary medicine. A lively exchange of junior and senior researchers enhances the cooperation and is promoted by regular guest visits of faculty of either partner. This exchange will lead to mutual cross fertilization of teaching concepts, thesis supervisions, cutting edge technology and their systematic application to advance the knowledge of the (patho)physiologic mechanisms underlying lung diseases.