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| Heidelberg,
Monday 18 July 2005 |
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| Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit initiates second phase |
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Press
Release 18 July 2005 [PDF]
[Deutsch]
The first rate research from the Molecular Medicine
Partnership Unit [MMPU] is now set to continue for
the long-term. The European Molecular Biology Laboratory
[EMBL] and the Medical Faculty of University of
Heidelberg, who formed the joint venture in 2002,
have announced their plans to initiate a second
phase of the MMPU. The Unit has always combined
the strengths of medical science with that of molecular
biology. In this second phase, the links between
the institutions will be strengthened. There will
be an increased focus on recruiting additional research
groups from each organisation as well as intensifying
activities in post-graduate training.
"This second phase highlights the commitment by both
EMBL and the Medical Faculty to use our strengths to
continue in a partnership in the critical area of molecular
medicine," says Iain Mattaj, EMBL Director-General. "The
on-going convergence of biology and medicine has
created a great opportunity for our institutes to work
together in the long-term."
"Our two institutes are now intensifying their first-rate and
long-standing cooperation," says Peter Hommelhoff,
Principal of the University of Heidelberg. In his view, the
recent excellency initiative from the federal and state
governments in Germany serves as a clear indication of
the fact that politicians, too, have come to regard the
increased clustering of universities and non-university
research centres as an indispensable prerequisite for
Germany's future in the scientific world.
Matthias Hentze from EMBL and Andreas Kulozik, Head
of the University's Department of Paediatric Oncology,
Haematology and Immunology, initiated the first phase of
the partnership. Last year, the work of the MMPU was
reviewed by an external panel of international experts and
was considered to be 'first rate, extremely impressive and
clearly internationally competitive.'
The development plan for the second phase of the Unit
calls for additional partnered groups with joint leadership
from both institutes to join the MMPU and concentrate on
molecular medicine topics. Groups studying cystic fibrosis
and degenerative diseases due to iron mismanagement
have signaled an interest to participate, as well as another
group involved in identifying tumor markers for cancer
diagnosis.
The new phase also plans for the MMPU to be
transformed from a virtual unit into a physical entity. The
groups are discussing the possibility of a move into a
common space provided by the University of Heidelberg.
The new centre will generate true critical mass and the
best opportunities for sharing of e1xpertise.
Plans are underway to intensify efforts in post-graduate
training where both medical and basic science graduates
will work side by side and have the opportunity to obtain a
joint Medical Faculty/EMBL PhD degree. Students and
MMPU members will be able to actively integrate into
EMBL seminars, symposia and journal clubs.
More information on the Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit.
Press contact
Trista Dawson
EMBL Press Officer, European Molecular Biology Laboratory,
Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Tel: +49 [0] 6221 3878452
E-mail: trista.dawson@embl.de |
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