Dr Julian König establishes research group at IMB

July, 2013.Dr Julian König has been appointed as a Group Leader at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB). He will study RNA biology, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene regulation, using a variety of high-throughput sequencing-based technologies.

Humans contain a huge diversity of proteins. Alternative splicing is the key mechanism by which cells generate this diversity. Dr König will investigate how protein-networks act to regulate this process. One of Dr König's major interests is the splicing of transposable elements. This is a common cause of genetic disease and, at the same time, also considered an important driving force of primate evolution. To study protein-RNA interactions Dr König uses a number of genome-wide approaches that provide us with a systemic understanding of the molecular mechanisms in action. Methods used in his lab include RNA-seq and novel methods that he has developed such as iCLIP.

Before joining IMB, Dr König worked in the group of Prof. Dr Jernej Ule at the renowned Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK. Here he developed the iCLIP technology and discovered a general mechanism that protects the human transcriptome against the erroneous splicing of transposable elements.

With his expertise of high-throughput sequencing-based RNA tools, Dr König’s lab will complement the research portfolio of IMB.

Further details
Further information about Dr König’s research can be found at <link http: www.imb-mainz.de koenig>www.imb-mainz.de/koenig. 

Institute for Molecular Biology gGmbH (IMB)
The Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH (IMB) is a new centre of excellence in the life sciences which was established in March 2011. Research at IMB concentrates on three cutting-edge areas: epigenetics, developmental biology and DNA repair. The institute is a prime example of a successful collaboration between public authorities and a private foundation. The Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation has dedicated 100 million euro for a period of 10 years to cover the operating costs for research at IMB, while the state of Rhineland-Palatinate provided approximately 50 million euro for the construction of a state-of-the-art building. For more information about IMB please visit: <link http: www.imb-mainz.de>www.imb-mainz.de. 

Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation
The Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation is an independent, non-profit organisation committed to the promotion of the medical, biological, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences. It was established in 1977 by Hubertus Liebrecht (1931-1991), a member of the shareholder family of the company Boehringer Ingelheim. With the “PLUS 3” Perspectives Programme and the Exploration Grants, the foundation supports independent group leaders, it endows the internationally renowned Heinrich Wieland Prize as well as awards for up-and-coming scientists. In addition, the foundation has endowed 100 million euro over a period of ten years to finance the scientific running of the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) at the University of Mainz. For more information about the foundation and its programmes, please visit <link http: www.boehringer-ingelheim-stiftung.de>www.boehringer-ingelheim-stiftung.de.

Press contact for further information
Dr Ralf Dahm
Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH (IMB)
Ackermannweg 4, D-55128 Mainz
Phone: +49-(0)6131-39-21455, Fax: +49-(0)6131-39-21421, Email: <link>press@imb-mainz.de

Press Release (<link file:1329 download file>PDF)